The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-09-21
TIPS AND CLASSES.
THE QUESTION OF FEES TREATED
As A SERIOUS MATTER.

at'-s Unpleasant Distinctions estruc
There are persons still living who can
remember when tips, " or unearned re-
wards, were unknown in our country and
were considered utterly un-American.
Our working people, no less than all the
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 courtosies and kindnossos that
were beyond 1.-THE bond" they were ac-
customed 10 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.
Ii 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 IN
paid serving, and when all gave freely and
all took freely there could be- little class
distinction. "Not of them would take
"a fee!' was tho amazed comment of the
European visitor You must not Offer
ices here. You Will only offend people "
replied the American. "Our people are
all above fees!' How proudly we said iti
How we long to be- again able 10 say it,
In those days part of the traveller pleas
IRE came from the chambCTmaid's ready
helpfulnoSs, the walters alert good will
the passing strangers prompt kindness
and by no means only the rich strangers
kindness, oftener, perhaps that of the
poorly dressed and careworn, the busy
workers moment of free service Ne |
smiles were for SALE no courtesies were |
tainted with oven 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 servers! We used TO
lead In independence and free helpfulness,
but we have dropped behind
The guards in the palace of justice at
Paris are not allowed to accept fees
though there is no charge for seeing the
rooms. Not knowing this fee was Of
fered TO an obliging attendant who had
guided some visitors. The guard drew
back, saying proudly, Never madam,
never!' And in Switzerland the same
traveller asked her way at humble cot
/
the inquiry insisted upon going some dis.
lance up the mountain that the path might
not be missed. A fee was offered, but the
kindly face grew scarlet as the volunteer
guide drew back, saying, Il madam.
l!' The American thought, with pang.
SO our own people once took such an offer,
but nowl Shall we rest content to be thus
Outstripped?
And can the tip fail to take the natural
from well earned wages We
all feel great satisfaction in hard won
gain until we see others getting ms much,
'r more, without the toll Then the sat. {
siaction dwindles inevitably The beggar '
md the tip takor alike often receives more I
han the honest worker. and without ef |
ort. Their easy profit must cause !
sense of injustice and strike at I
he roots of content :
And what good does the tip secure TO q
lance its harvest of i'll? What can it Sc /
ure but either the unjust monopoly Of c
rood things to which the giver is not en- o
tiled, or the just share of those good
Kings for which he pays full priceY The o
otel guest who secures more than his T.
hare OF service or of table delicacics robs ! S
ther guests Of what they have paid for. / +
'ho has not heard the admonition TO the v
otel waiter, Now get the best of every
ling for me and don't keep me waiting. %
nj / II not forget you!" In plain Eng
sh this means Il will reward you if Won ; n
'cure for me alone what ismcant for soy o.
'al people and serve me before those who ~
lme before me Then the obseauious 81
JWs and bought smiles! The accom- az
lShcd barter of the best part Of a man. Il
igradlng alike to buyer and bought II
argued that hotel servants are not well hi
ld ana are expected TO supplement their
ages by getting tips, and that they make M
eh alert. This spreads the dishonor.
Ut there are proprietor, Of hotels who are CT
't wiling that thcir employees should be II
hSlucrcd beggars, or dependent on tips. 10
III 80 90 not deserve this imputation.
but unearned fees are by no mean, con-
leu 70 hotels. The evil has spread wide
surely the employees Of the churches I
QUA Dc on as high plane as those Of do
palace OF Justice at Paris. They are IN
from being 50. The churches allow co
cir presumably well paid sections to To
lept ices Tor what Is (again presumably lis
'lf regular Worklng-the keeping i'm or. IN
ana opening Of church and parish IN
lldlngs for the needs of the community ha
Xtohs are often feed for opening such III
jms even for the good works of the mem. tn
rs OF that very church, though the prom. co
authorities have lent the rooms freely. he
e receipts Of many a struggling society. III
wing to help sore need, are often CIV
'ed for a sections fee and not for night lis
rk, but in regular business hours. pa
N all the present struggle among work Oh
Tor their rights, will not our Amer wi
n ones at least take back their birthripbt dii
holding themselves above priceY Let Ei
IN sell their time their labor, their II
il, but not their smiles or their kind III
aes by tho way. Let them insist upon SIC
ping something to give Why should at
they, as well as the rest, have the priv. ml
g. OF giving5 Well earned wages arc s"'
lorable and are taken gladly by all ca
'aes from the great artist to the little g.
i black. But the acceptance of a tin rr
rks class distinction, the takcr plac-
himself in the lowest. -Philadelphia 81.
So. 81.