Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1896-01-17
TIPS AMI 4SSES.
THE QUESTION Or FEES TREATED
AS A SERIOUS MATTER.

Monetary Remembrance Said to BE Gre
ating Unpleasant Observation-Disclosures
ton of One of Americas Prcuhest Claims.
There are persons still living who can
remember when "tips," or uncarned re-
wards, were unknown in our country and
were considered utterly un-American.
Our working people, no less than all tho
rest of our citizens, were not only too self
respecting and independent to accept
them, but they were offended by the offer of
them. Their wages were honestly earned;
their little courtcsies and kindnesses, that
were beyond "tho bond, " they were aC.
customed to give as freely as any gentle
man or lady in the land, and therefore
class distinctions were little known among
us. When every one quietly exercised the
nOblest and dearest of rights, that of free
giving, each enjoyed the respect of each.
1t could not be otherwise. Respect can
not be commanded or extorted, but flows
naturally to those who hold themselves
above price and freely give themselves.
The mark that once distinguished all
Americans was this universal habit of I'M
paid serving, and when all gave freely and
all took freely there could be little class
distinction. Not one of them would take
a feet was the amazed Comment of the
European visitor. "You must not offer
fees here. You will only offend people,"
replied the American. "Our people arc
all above fecs!'' How proudly we said It'll
How we long to be again able to say it,
In those days part of the travellers pleas
ure came from the chambermaid's ready
h%elpfulness, the walters alert good will,
tho passing strangers prompt kindness,
and by no means only the rich strangers
kindness, %oftcncr, perhaps, that of tho
poorly dressed and the busy
workers moment of free service. No
smiles were for sale; no courtesies were
tainted with even the suspicion of mer-
cenary motives. How tips have altered
and degraded our relations to our neigh
bors, especially those between the served
and the professional %scrvcrsl We used to
lead in independence and free helpfulness,
but W. have dropped behind.
The guards liz the palace of justice at
Paris are not allowed to accept fees,
though there is no charge for seeing tho
rooms. Not knowing this, IA fee was of
fered to an Obliging attendant who had
guided some visitors. The guard drew
back, saying proudly, "Never, madam.
nevcr!' And in Switzerland the Same
traveller asked her way at "a humble cot
tthEt NbbA Nv AfhA NOillttll W Nv hllN NNItb
the inquiry insisted upon going some dis
lance up the mountain that the path might
not be missed. \ fee WAS offered, but tho
kindly face grew scarlet as the volunteer
guide drew back, saying, II, madam,
~ The American thought, with IA pang,
so our own people once took such an offer,
but now, shall we rest content to be thu
outstrippcdY
And can the tip fail tn take the natural
sweetness from well earned va -? We
all feel great satisfaction in IA lard won
gain until we see Others getting rs mucl,
or more, without the toll. Then the sat
isfaction dwindlcs inevitably. The bcggar
and the tip takcs alike often receives moro
than the honest worker. and without cf-
fort. Their easy profit must cause a
slnarting SENSE of injustice and strike at
the roots of content.
And what good does the tip secure to
balance its harvest of illy What can it Sc
cure but either the unjust monopoly of
good things to which the giver is not en-
titled, or the just share of those good
things for which he pays full price? Tho
hotel guest who secures more than his
share of service or of table delicacies robs
other guests of what they nave paid for.
Who has not heard the admonition to thu
hotel waiter, "\ow, get the best of every
thing for me n don't keep me waiting,
and I'll not forget your In plain Eng
liSh this means, Il will reward you if You
secure for me alone what is meant for sew
eral people and serve me before those who
came before me- Then the obscquious
bows and bought smiles! The accom-
plished barter of the best part of "a man,
degrading alike to buyer and bought 1t
is argued that hotel servants are not we'll
paid n are expected to supplement their
wages by getting tips, and that they make
them alert. This spreads the dishunur.
But there are prupricturs of hotels who arc
not willing that heir employees should be
considered bcggars, or dependent on tips,
and 80 do not deserve this imputation.
But uncarncd fees are by no means CON
fined To hotels. The evil has spread wide
ly. surely the employees of the churches
should he on as high ii plane as those Of
the palace Of justice at Paris. They are
far from being SO. The churches allow
their presumably well paid sections to
accept fees for what is (apain presumably
their regular w~orking-the keeping in or
der and opening of church and parish
buildings Tor the needs of the community.
Sections arc often feed for opening such
rooms even iorthe good works of the mem
beers of that very church, though the prop
er authorities have lent the rooms freely.
The receipts of many Il struggling society,
striving TO help "a sore need, are often
taxed for "A scXtun'S fee and not for night
work, but in regular business hours.
In all the present struggle among work
ers for their rights, " will not our Amer
lean ones AT least take back their birthright
of holding themselves above price, Let
them sell their time, their labor, their
skill, but not their smiles or their kind
nesscs by the way, Let them insist upon
keeping something to give. Why should
not they, as well rs the rest, have the priv
ilcge of giving; Well earned wages arc
honorable and are taken gladly by all
CLASSES from the great artist to the little
buotblack. But the acceptance Of IA tip
marks u class distinction, the takcr plnc-
ing himself in The west.-Philadelphia
Press.