The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-03-28
Single Women in Hotels.

There never Is a time when a woman
more seriously needs the defense, comfort
and guidance of a knowledge of etiquette
tnan when putting up alone at a hotel.
Here, without a chaperone, the crowds of
busy travellers. or idlers of her own sex.
who haunt the drawing rooms with a keen
relish for gossip, are either suspicious and
critical or coldly Indifferent; clerks and
proprietors look upon the solitary female
guest with very little friendly interest, so
she is left the one stronghold Of careful
good breeding behind which to intrench
herself.
Now the first day. especially of young
and unmarried woman, obliged 10 stop at
MOTEL, is to make inquiries beforehand as
| 10 the best hostelries in the city TO which
she is going. She sho1ld try to find hotel
that Is patronized by quiet, conservative
people. and on arriving enter by the ladies'
door Here, in the waiting-room set apart
Tor her sex, servant will take har bags in
hand and lead the way to the clerks desk.
III room or rooms are engaged she ought
never to fail TO learn their exact price by
the DAY and inquire whether the establish
| meht IS conducted on the European or the
| American plan. After this she VIII be able
10 exactly calculate. by mental arithmetic,
what her bin Will probably be and quickly
| conclude whether or no that is a hotel
| quite within her means
| IN the register she must write if she is
unmarried. simply Miss Jones'" or Miss
Brown the name of the town and state
IN which she resides, but not the number
| OF her home nor the name of it, if she is a
| country woman. In this latter case she
gives the name Of the postoffice town near
est her country home and then the name OF
| the state. If a married woman is called
upon to register her name. she follows ex-
| acty the same rule, only giving her full
| title' as Mrs. George /. JONES' for in
stance, and If accompanied by servant,
the register should show Simply Mrs.
George l. Jones and maid On whatever
| plan the hotel is conducted, 1t IS in better
form for the lonely female traveller to eat
her breakfast and dinner in the public din
| nlg-rooms, taking her luncheon where she
| likes, and if she entertains a masculine
guest at dinner. though he be her brother.
she must sit before and after the meal In
the public drawing-rooms Should she go
out with him TO the opera. theater or con-
cert, her return ought to be timed well be-
fore midnight
With callers and friends she should con-
verse not in whispers, nor yet in a consp.cu-
Gus tone of voice, but carry on her CONVEX
satonS at the table and in the drawing
room In quiet, low tone, carefully re-
framing from either staring at people who
SIT near or turning to observe every new
arrival. AT breakfast, dinner and lunch
con the same toilet may be worn, and
nat or bonnet always retained if one pre-
fers it so. The frankest display of bad
taste in hotels is shown by the women who
costume themselves many times day, and
wear jewels in the evening.
The woman alone can scarcely select too
quiet toilet for every meal, and when she
is alone in the evening a grievous error Is
TO sit forlornly staring about in the bright
ly lighted parlors and corridors After din
ner, II it is amusing, to loiter a half-hour
where the others are is well enough, but
after that, when the sojourn is for a week
at most, an unchaperoned girl will wisely
go to her own room and make out her even
ing with books and letters Under no cir
cumstances should she speak to or be spok-
en- TO by any of the masculine guests Of the
house. If she needs any information what
soever, the clerk will gladly give it to her,
or help her TO get it.
Should a man of any type address her
she can quietly say: II think you have
made mistake" and, turning her back,
move quickly away She may safely do this
from the knowledge that none but a cow
ard or yulgarian would so presume upon
her unprotected position.
But If any man in the hotel does her a
small service she must not let him assume
ii will serve as an opening for an acquain-
tanceship. A very slight bow, without any
smile, when she meets him face to face is
sufficient to show she recognizes his pres
ence, while any effort at conversation on
his part should be met with a cold indir-
ference. gentleman she may be sure
would not presume to speak on the strength
of such an opportunity. and if a gentleman
whom she has met but does not recognize
in the hotel or one who is a near friend of
her immediate family. yet not known to
her, desires TO speak to her, she must let
him send his card 10 her room and await
her in the parlor.
If she does not wish to renew or make
his acquaintance she can send word she
begs 10 be excused, and fail to look directly
at him when she knows he is near her, or
passing. With her own sex woman alone
must be almost as circumspect. If she feels
compelled to speak to any one of them, to
solicit aid or advice, let her select an elderly
and quiet person for her confidence. But,
as rule. she need not make any advances
If for two or three days she IS seated at
the same table with the same woman she
may bow and smile, but must always wait
for her 10 make the first advances In con-
versation and then confine her remarks to
perfectly impersonal subjects.
If a kindly lady. seeing her lonely poss
ton, offers TO make her acquaintance. let
her not eyer refuse but carefully refrain
from any sudden intimacy or condolences.
gently insisting on pleasant but perfectly
formal intercourse. This is the best and
safest way, unless the lady in question
proves by her manner. associates and con-
versation, a person of refinement, enjoy
ing the acquaintance of some mutual friend
and pleasantly revealing her fun name,
residence, etc, TO quite reassure her pro-
tega.
In leaving a hotel, where a stay OF some
length has been made and acquaintance
gained, ii is correct TO take formal fare
well OF them. Where individuals are absent. |
when one is leaving, visiting cards, bearing |
the written letters p. p. c., or some word |
of farewell. ought to be left for them with |
the clerk, every card IN an envelope and |
bearing the ones private address in full. |
On leaving tips must also be distributed |
among the servants. Where the hotel IS |
conducted on the European or American |
plan tip. not less than 10 cents. having /
been given the waiter after every meal, no |
extra fee, when leaving. is required. but
the other attendants will expect some gra-
tuity
These can be dispensed among the maid
who has attended to ones room. 10 the boy
who carried down ones bag. etc. and 10 |
the man who serves at the door. perhaps.
Other servants can be tipped where one is
blessed with full purse and LAVISH hand.
but those indicated ABOVE are the only obli-