Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-12-27
TIPS AND CLASSES.
THE QUESTION OF FEES TREATED
AS A SERIOUS MATTER.

ating Unpleasant Observation-Disclosures.
tion Of One of America's Proudc.t Claims.
There arc persons still living who can
remember when tips or unearncd re.
wards, were unknown In our country md
We're considered utterly un.Amerlcnn.
Our working people, no less than nil tho
rest OF our citizens, wcro not only too self
respecting and Independent to ncccpt
thcin, but they were offended by tho offer Of
thoh. Their wages were honestly earned;
Their liitlo courtcsics and kinlnessos, that
were beyond "tho bond" they wurc nc.
custoned TO giyo as freely as any gcnilo.
man or lady In tho land, md therefore
class distinctions wero little known among
us. When every ono quietly exercised tho
honlest and dearest OF rights, that OF free
giving, each enjoyed tho respect Of each.
IL could not be otherwise. Respect can
not bo commanded or extortcd, but flows
naturally to those who hold themselves
above price and freely giSo themselves.
Tho mark that onco distinguished oil
Americans was this universal habit Of un-
paid serving, and when all gayc freely and
all took freely thorc could DO little class
distinction. mot one OF them would take
n fool" was tho amazed comment OF the
European visitor. "You must not offer
fees here. You will only offcnd people,"
replied the American. "Our people nru
all above fces" How proudly We said It'll
How VIC long to DO again able TO say i'll
In those days part OF tho travellers pleas.
uro came from the chnmbcrmaid's really
holpfulness, tho walters alert good WILL
tho passing strangers prompt kindness
he Yn IL. ,.ta go, ~,
kindness, oftuncr, perhaps that of the
poorly dressed and carcworn, the busy
workers moment Of free service No
smiles were for sale; no courtosics were
tainted with even tho suspicion Of mer.
cunury motives How tips have altered
and degraded our relations TO our neigh
bors, especially thuse between the served
and tho professional scrvcrsl We used TO
lead In independence and free helpfulness,
but we hayo dropped behind
The guards in the palace Of justice at
Paris arc not allowed to accept fees,
though there is no charge for seeing the
rooms. Not knowing this, fec was of
forod to an obliging attendant who had
guided some visitors. Tho guard drew
back, saying proudly, "Novor, madam,
noycrl" And In Switzerland tho same
traveller asked her way at humble cot
tago door. Tho fair woman who answered
tho inquiry insisted upon going some dis
tancc up tho mountain that the path might
not DO missed. A fec was Offered, but tho
! kindly iaco grew scarlet rs tho volunteer
guido drew back, saying, II, madam.
/ ll' The American thought, with pang,
50 our own people once took such an offer,
but nuwl Shall we rest content 10 be thus
outstrippodf
] And can tho tip fail to take the natural
1 sweetness from well earned wagcsH Wo
/ all feel great satisfaction In u hard won
gain until we SEQ others getting ns much,
} or more, without The toll. Then tho sat
isftctlon dwindles inevitably. Tho buggnr
aud tho tip takcr alike often receives moro
{ than the honest worker aud without ef-
( fort. Their easy profit must cause q
smartlng sense OF injustice and strike ut
Z tho roots of content.
| And what good does tho tip secure to
I balance its harvest Of ill' Whit can 1t Sc
curu but either tho unjust monopoly OF
good things to which tho givcr is not en-
I titled, or the just share Of those good
things for which he pays full pricoP Tho
hotel guest who secures more than his
| share OF service or VI table dvlicaclcs robs
! other guests OF what thoy hnvo paid for.
Who has not heard the admonition to thu
hotel waiter, Now, got tho bcst OF every
thing for mo and don't Keep me whiting,
and III not forget youl' In plain Eng
( llsh this means, II Will reward you If you
secure for me alone what Is meant Tor Sow
oral people and serve mo before those VINO
came before me-" Then tho obsoquious
bows md bought smiles Tho accom-
plished barter of the best part OF man,
degrading alike to buyer and bought II
As argued that hotel servants are not well
paid and are expected to supplement their
wages by getting tips, mud that they make
them alert. This spreads the dishonor.
But there nre proprio,ors Of hotels who are
moi willing that their employees should DC
considered beggars, or dependent on tips
and so do not deserve this imputntion.
Bnt upearned fees arc by no means con-
fined TO hotels. Tho evil has spread wide
Iy. Surely the employees OF tho churches
should be on as high plano as those oil
tho palacc Of Justice ut Paris. They nrC
far from being so. Tho churches allow
their presumably well paid sections &c
noeept fees for what is (again presumably
their regular worklng-tho Keeping IN or
Jar and opening OF church and parish
ss,-
buildings for the needs of tho community
sections are often feed for opening suoh
rooms cyon forthe good works OF tho mem
hers Of that very church, though the prop
or authorities have lent tho rooms freely
Tho receipts OF many struggling society,
striving to help sore need, are ' oi.g.
tnxed for q sextons fec and not Tor higii'
work. but In regular business hours
In nil tho present struggle among WORK
ers for their rights, Will not our amer
iean ones at least take back their birthrign,
Of holding themselves above price' LS,
them sell their time, their labor, thcl
skill. but not their smiles or their kiiiu
nosses by the way. Let them Insist upIl
Keeping something to give. why shonl'
not they. as well as the rest, have inc PRIV
ilere OF eivingf Well earned wages ar
honorable and are taken gladly oy a.
clnssos from the great artist 10 INC nv. ,i'
bootblnck. But tho acceptance Q, VI
marks n class distinction, the mse, pi n,,
ina himself in the lowest.--Philadeiph''
Press. -