The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-05-06
for lWomen

a Canadian who has been VISITING EuS-
land has on his return home been enlighi-
ening his fellow countrymeu on the .preya-
lence and universallity of tips. He found
the custom most annoying and vexatious.
Everywhere he went the inevitable tip
had to be given, and incidently he tells a
story thai when the good ship Canada
was leaving the landing stage at Liverpool
one of the passengers held OFT his hand
full OF small change and said: II tlcre Is
any man. woman or child in England tina
/ nave not tipped, | am prepared 10 do SO
now | am not at all surprised that Can
adam felt annoyed at the prevalence of
the custom. English people are just as
much exasparated at it as he. A man cam
not travel anywhere today without being
expected to tip all and sundry on the jour-
ney. If he has a foot warmer put into ms
carriage he mas to pay for it, If a porter
opens the carriage door he expects a tip
for his civility. Even at his club, though
he is charged table money and the man
agement says tips are not to be given. yet
if they are withheld he soon discovers that
the attentions which he naturally expects
as a member are not forthcoming. If he is
staving at the house of a friend he is, OF
course, expected to tip the servants.
The custom. instead of showing any
signs of abatement. seems to be on the IN
crease. TO. be becoming more and more
deeply rooted. 1t was once said that the
Americans were spelling all countries IN
this respect, they Were SO lavish with their
gifts to porters, walters and Servants gen
orally: and. of course, English people IN
their own country were expected TO 1oiio"
suit. There has been some talk OF forming
an anticipating association. but expect
it will end in talk. One has 10 make Inc
best of the circumstances, and get through
as cheaply as one can. Most people now
adays who are travelling by rail provide
themselves before they start with a pock-
etful of small change
Not only in England is the custom prev
alent. but also everywhere on the CONT
nent. AT all the hotels it is looked upon as
the visitors duty to pay the servants
though he is charged in his bill for at
tendance. 1 believe in some London res
taurants the waitors receive no salary at
all-it is even said that they pay a yearly
sum to the proprietors for the privilege
of waiting, They make their living ana
pay the premium out of the tips they re-
ceive from the customers. The annoying
part of the thing is a man hardly knows
how much he ought to give, while ne IS
conscious all the time that ne may become
a marked individual if he does not come
up to the proper standard in this respect.
Ii Englisf1men generally would banc
themselves together to put down the nuis-
ance it would be a great benefit to all con-
cerned.
When walters or servants or porters are
paid a proper wage land if they are not
properly paid by their employers they
ought to beg, then to expect the public to
supplement the amount is only a yelled
form of robbery, and the sooner it IS put
an end to the better-not only for the tip
pirg public, but for the Individual who
receives the tips. 1 would like to say that
though the Canadian complains SO bit
terry of the prevalence of this custom in
England. his own country is not free from
the vice. | found some years ago when |
was travelling in Canada hat walters at
hotels and porters at railway stations
were just as ready to receive tips as they
are in this country. and that they looked
just as black if the tip was not forthcom-
ing.
In Justice, however, to our own country,
it should be said that porters. walters and
servants generally are honest. There are
exceptions. of course. but they are COM
paratively rare. And What is more, they
are far more obHging than such servants
are across the water. On the continent of
Europe it is necessary that the traveller
should keep his belongings well under his
own nose. If he lets them go out of his
sight he runs the risk of not seeing them
again. | have had the lock of my port
manteau picked and some Of the contents
stolen when it was in charge of a railway
company's servants. Such a thing in this
country would be an almost impossibility-
Servants of all sorts may expect a tip.
but they are generally to be trusted.
English mourning. considered by smart
mantua makers to be in the best taste, is
heavier than before, but is worn for a
shorter time. says the Philadelphia
.sTimes.r A widow should wear her Grape,
henrietta cloth or bombazine and her
widows cap for one year. After that
time she viii assume all black without
Grape or cap, and at the end of the second
year put on whatever color she may de-
size.
a daughter wears Grape mOuIluuS loi
six months. all black for six more, and
then, if she wishes, puts on colors. The
sane rule applies to a sister, while a dis
tant relative or friend wears "compli-
mentary mourning all black, for three
months.
The stiffiy crimped net, which at one
time was worn at the neck and wrists by
widows. is no longer used. In its stead
fine lawn cuffs and collars. quite deep, the
cuffs having hens measuring half an inch.
while The hem of the collar is a little less,
are basted in the sleeves and neck after
the fashion of old turnover collar and
cuffs. These. it must be remembered. are
worn exclusively by widows, and the
three-cornered cap is made TO match.
Of course. the friends and a~cquaintances
of the bereaved should leave cards upon
them, but only those connected by ties of
blood or the most intimate friends should
ever ask 10 see those in grief. They are
at home, and many women. restrained by
their scruples of truth and courtesy. are
forced TO see thoughtlcss callers, when it
Is far from pleasant, if not absolutely
painful.
All cards Of inquiry are recognized by a
return card, black bordered, and should