The Redwood gazette., 1894-05-10
FEEING THE WAITER,

FEEING THE WAITER.
weight, and it then goes to the factories
and consumers of the old world. Quite
quantity of it comes back in the shape of
mixtures. We buy it because it is Eng
lish, and many of our fastidious young
men like it to smoke in their brier pipes.
They enjoy it much more because it has
the London brand on it, though it is not
really SO good in my own estimation as
it is right from Kentucky and before it
has been favored with various drugs,
paints, oils and varnishes.
The American cut plug tobacco, when
properly cured and before it has been
doctored, is the best and least injurious
tobacco for smoking of which I know.
Paducah has been conservative, as the
south generally has since the war, and
for that reason the panic of the past year
has had less chance to nip inflated busi-
ness than would have been the case.
Very beautiful hard wood of all kinds
is grown in the vicinity of Paducah, and
every year here where these four big
rivers come together vast quantities Of
useful and ornamental woods are pre-
pared for the market. Three and half
millions of spindles and bobbins for the
factories of England are turned out each
year.
The first hotel ever built in Paducah
was built of logs, and guests washed
their faces in the kitchen, using softsoap
and wiping their features dry on COM
munistic towel. The odor of fried pork
dwelt most of the time amid the rafters
of the roof, and the man who asked for
a finger bowl got shot.
This hotel was erected in 1881 regard
less of cost, the ground alone on which
it stood costing over $12. AS it began to
put on more airs in 1882, the Indians
were not allowed to eat at the first table
unless they came from Virginia.
For breakfast, the menu was tea or
eggs. Lunch consisted of bear meat and
rhubarb pie. Fresh rhubarb was sent
in each week by Louisville pharmacist.
Now a beautiful hotel run by Colonel
Reed is one of the ornaments of Pa
ducah. Colonel Reed is leading spirit
in the city's onward march, having been
mayor several times, with his portrait in
an annual "write up" of the city. He
not only made us happy, but introduced
us in Paducah society without hesitation.
This shows that the old spirit of chiv-
airy is not dead in Kentucky. even
though Colonel Breckenridge has retired
after being betrayed, having left the
honor of Kentucky in other hands.
Any young woman who sought the
overthrow of Colonel Reed would find
him ever standing up for the right.
Rather than go down forever with the
silver tongued orator to life of shame
he would get out of the carriage and
walk home through the mud.
Paducah has good schools, good news
papers, good streets and good car serv-
ice. Occasionally one sees few Berk-
shire hogs strolling down the street, but
they do not bite unless provoked, and
human life is as safe in Paducah today as
it is in the hands of the New York police
Coming out of Paducah we passed
through a small town where we threw
off mailsack and caught another one
without stopping. It was small town,
consisting of set of scales and Mug
wump hog. There was also little store
containing two clay pipes and stick of
candy. Over this was the sign Ward
Bros. & Son.
I have been trying for five weeks to
figure out who this son is. Is he son
of the firm, or where does he come in?
Mr.. Smith, too, has worked at it of even
ings, but he is still at loss to know.
Will the reader figure this out and write
me care of No. 45 Park place, New York?
The first one giving correct answer
will receive promissory note that was
taken from good man last fall and
liable to be paid most any time.
We stopped at a very nice hotel yes
terday called the Rudd House. On the
bottom of the menu were these words:
"Do not fee the waiter. We pay them
enough to insure good service, and
guests will confer favor by giving
them nothing more, as it interferes with
the service"
It would be fine thing if all hotels
would indorse this. In many places now
decent attendance is only obtained by
tipping the waiter, and it is thorough
ly un-American in every respect. May
we not hope that some day every man
who runs a hotel or other business will
make such arrangements with his help
that we need not while travelling here be