The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-10-17
TIPPING The WAITER.
An Article That Gives the Walters View OF
the Matter

An Article That Gives the walters view OF
the Matter
Abroad, where walters are paid moth.
ing and have to rely upon their tips
entirely, the diner is always expected
to pay five per cent. of his check. In
striking contrast in America, where
the walters are even well paid, the
custom among gentlemen, bon viveurs,
the wealthy and even more cultured
people have established the rule that
the waite- should be given about ten
per cent. of the face of the check.
That is. if you take your friend to an
ordinary repast, to include good bot
tie of wine, coffee and cigars, and your
check is five dollars to seven dollars
and fifty cents, you should give the
waiter not less than ten per cent.
Some gentlemen never tip.less than
quarter, and consider it better to give
nothing at all than to give a ten-cent
piece. In America it looks awkward
to give less than ten cents; in fact far
better to give nothing at all. Where
as, in Europe. tip of FIVE cents or ten
cents is more the rule than the excep-
ton.
Very few people understand how
walters are employed at great summer
hotels. For instance, the head waiter
is instructed to secure as many walters
as the dining-roQm has tables. These
walters are paid so much a month,
varying from twelve to thirty dollars,
according to hotel and position, but
they ara not paid until their actual
services commence. In other words,
the head waiter assent les them al the
hotel, boards and lodges them without
cost aud without salary until the
guests begin to arrive, and each waiter
is assigned table. OF course one can
see that the head waiter naturally will
give the best waiter the best table;
but the walters usually have to take
their chances on tips As soon as a
waiter Is assigned to a taofe his salary,
as well as his tips, commences, but
until that table is assigned it is no
salary and no tips, and for this reason.
unless the head waiter is man of
strong personality and has a master in
fuence over the men, If the season be
backward, rs often occurs at some of
the SUMMER places, the walters become
dissatisfied and some of them leave to
accept positions at other hotels, which
are more fortunate in securing early
guests
Fhe'summer hotel head waiter who
has also q winter hotel to take his
crew. to, of course, is far more fortu-
nate IN securing the best of help. and
also>in Influencing his men to remain
with hiiIL even through dull season.
As to the customs and usages of all the
best hotels, the invaria BILE rule of all
proprietors. managers. and heads of
departments is that any waiter who
neglects = guest by reason of the guest
being rfoh.tiRper, shall be Instantly
discharged. There is an unwritten
law. however, which permits the head
waiter TO rather favor the best OF p.o-
pie who do tip. As TO the amount of
the tip. great many quests at prorai-
nent hotels have written me TO know
what is the custom. iWbrtier that they
may secure the best Of service Il is
this: IL gentleman and wife, say.
for instance, engage Accommodation
at ine hotel. at all the way from
seventy-STe dollars per week
upward the custom amongst
others of a like claS would
prompt the gentleman on arrival 20
give the head waiter. on being as
signed q seat At table. tip, varying
all the way from two dollars to ten
dollars. according as the gentleman
feels in good spirits aud liberali;y..
The waiter assigned 70 the table should
have tip Of at least one-dollar on thu
first service of dinnSr. Afterwards
either once q week, or at times during
the week, tips should be given him TO
the amount OF not less than two dol
lars or three dollars. or not more than
ten dollars Large tipping. in Amer
lea as in Europs. i vulgar. and i uxs-