The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-08-22
TIP GIVING IN ENGLAND.
A Custom That Proves Embarrass-
ing to Americans.

ing AmteElcUnHs
From the Chicago Times Herald
London, Aug. S-One English custom
that has it's phases Of embarrassment for
an American is that OF giving tips.
There is no difficulty. of course in the
ordinary or as you may say vulgar expert
ences Of daily life. 1t is quite understood
that you tip your waiter in the restaurant;
that you remember in coin of the realm
porter, chambermaid. bellboy. ETC.. etc.
in your hotel; that you give your cab
by six-pence more than the legal fare;
that the men, women or children who
handle your luggage are to be coppersd
severally; that the lad who RECEIVERS your
wind-obeying hat must be encouraged in
we'll doing; and thap1verger, sexton,
guards, crossing-sweeps, cooks-in short,
the army of servants and obsequious tor
ments who beset each and all of your
waking moments is entitled to all the
change that is not demanded by landlords
butchers, bakers and sun-like pensioners
on the private purse of enslaved human
ity. There are men who have such cal
lous nerve that they airily disregard the
practice of their less sternly organized
brethren and pay no tips not nominated
in the bill They hand up a shilling fare
with a nonchalance that so staggers the
driver he Is unable to discharge his more
formidable explosives until the provoker
of cockney wrath is out of hearing. Some
times this observance of the strict letter
of the obligation breeds annoyance, and
the victim regrets his or her economic
impulse.
But a few days ago a lady arriving
from the continent gave the driver of
the four-wheeler that brought her and
her boxes from the station precisely his
f1xr
drivers Of GROWERS" are ancient chaps,
who mutter their discomfort and empha-
size II by curious jerks of the head to
advertise to every passing cabman or bus
driver the fact that they have just let
down a regular one" But II was a
lusty young fellow with a pudgy face
who delivered the said lady at her man.
sion, and he roared out his resentment
to make the neighborhood aware Of IL.
"WotW he exclaimed, turn my cab into
a luggage van for two bob? Not hi as
you may be sure! 1 wants another bob,
that's what / wants" Altogether he
was a disagreeable person, but the lady
went serenely into the house, her serv-
ants took in her traps, bags, etc, and
the door closed. I could see from my
window for the next half hour the fxity
Of that cab before the entrance and
twice when a servant showed at door
or window the cabby piped up "a nice
y
out of his money this ere way"
It is on a higher plane that the mex
perienced find the embarrassment of
dealing with this almost peculiar English
problem. Suppose it is a fashionable din
ner party, private house, private servants,
what are you to do with the funky who
helps you on with your coat and hands
you your hat? In America gentleman
would feel guilty of an indignity to his
host were he to tip a servant on such an
occasion; in London the servant would
feel justified in believing you to be mot
of the right sort" If you neglected to tip
him. 1t is often the case, to be sure,
that extra servants are had in" for
parties, receptions, dinners, etc; indeed
il may be said the regular corps is al
ways augmented for such events; but the
wages of the special attendants had in
are paid by the host, naturally and 1t
is difficult to understand either the equity
or fitness of the tip
But everyone tips-except those inevi-
table ones who make superfluous FUN
BILE in their waistcoat pockets and say in
a vague, indefinitely way, "Humph; bless
me; no change; can't see what I've done
with it," escaping as they speak.
What is true of a dinner is true Of the
SWEETEST reception at which you give your
hat and coat into the hands of a servant
At a very distinguished, seni-state func-
ton, where footmen in imposing liveries
haunted the corridors and stairs, was
curious 10 see just how the extremely re-
gal person in charge of the cloakroom
would support the dignity under the or
deal of the tip. He did it with the admir-
able proficiency Of an expert He tender
ed the hat with grave ceremony in such a
way that while his thumb and first finger
held the brim at the most convenient
angle the plain Of his hand formed cup
liked receptacle, into which It was possible
to drop a sixpence in the very act Of TAX
ing the hat Then, as he said Thank
you, SIR" in the tone of one bestowing a
benediction, his hand circled down grace
fully to his pocket and one perceived that
tipping could be raised TO the plane Of a
fine art, the coin 50 deftly given and re-
ceived not being for an instant in evil
dence; its clever transit being but an in
ference, though an inference that admit
ted Of no doubt No servant in the world
Is the equal Of the well trained English