River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1899-11-23
THE HEAD WAITER.
In Chicago He Expects M Fees ana
Is Otherwise a Curious
Creature.


ing-rooms-have been holding a con-
vention in Chicago, and have thorough
w discussed the chief matters of inter-
est to them. The gathering of the
head walters has naturally caused
more or less gossip, and the dignitary
of the dining-room has been more gem
orally reviewed in current converse
ton, perhaps, than at any time since
the days of ante-bellum southern hos
pitality, when the head walters of New
Orleans and other southern cities were
famed throughout the land. Inquiry
among the hotels and restaurants and
places where the head walters resort in
off hours indicates that the chiefs of
the dining-room service have a fairly
good grasp upon the comforts and even
Injuries of the world. They are well
salaried and supreme in their sphere.
Their word is law and there is but one
drawback to their sovereignty. A
head waiter can fire. but he cannot
hire.
1.-The head waiter in a first-class ho-
tel, said the manager of downtown
hosiery, sis paid from $50 to 500 a
month and board. Figure up what it
cots man to board outside, and you
will see that the average clerk or book
keeper has a small income in compar-
ison with head waiter.
Gle is in full charge of all the sub
ordinate walters, is responsible for ey-
erything that goes on in the dining
room, and can discharge any waiter
that comes under his displeasure. But
he cannot engage anybody. lie is thus
prevented from letting out competent
help merely that friends of his may get
the jobs. When he needs help he makes
out a card stating how many men he
needs, sends it TO the Office and the men
are engaged.
"A really Al head waiter is worth his
salary. There is something about his
massive dignity, his perfect control of
his subordinates, his attention to the
comfort and enjoyment of guests that
gives the patrons a feeling of ease and
pleasure They like TO eat in place
where every detail is seen to by so able
man. He almost hypnotizes them.
They believe that he makes it a special
point to find them the best seats, to
send them the cleverest and quickest
walters, to see that nothing is too hot
or too cold, and that the best portions
of everything are served at their par
ticular table. The head waiter is a ne.
cessity.
Second walters get $45 month and
board--not bad wages, either. We do
not allow tipping. Yes, | know that
the average waiter cannot resist tip
and will naturally do his best for pa
tron whom he knows to be liberal tip
per. The head waiter, fully believe,
always does his best not TO see the 9TH
err walters accepting any tips. 1t would
not be policy for him to hover, hawk
like, in the aisles and stop every man
who was accepting money-so, ire
spective of the rules, he forgets to look
at the man who is taking a dime or
quarter.
I'm hotels, where indiscriminate tip
ping goes on at all times, second
waiter will about equal his salary with
tips-that is to say, his income from
gifts per month will be from $40 to $50.
| do not think that head walters exact
percentage of tips from their assist
ants, although 1 have heard rumors of
such doings.'
particularly stately head waiter
declared that his profession was one in
which no ordinary man could hope to
shine.
"To be successful as head waiter,
and to gain the salary which is attached
to the position said he, "a man must
be suave, quick witted and command
ing. He must be able to enforce per,
feet obedience from his walters with.
out having to bully them or threaten to
fire them half the time. He must be
a man of good appearance-thatg goes
without saying. No one of scrubby or
undignified appearance could hold the
respect of his employees or act in man
ner pleasing to the diners.
MANY head walters are wealthy, and
several men have bought hotels of their
own, in two or three cases the very ho-
tells in which they were employed, A
man in such a position should be able to
save large percentage of his halary,
and the knowledge which he gains dur
ing his career as a headwaiter should
certainly fit him for the ultimate con-
troll of hotel or restaurant.
81 do not believe that many second
walters graduate to the rank of head
waiter. Good head walters are born,
not made, and fit naturally into their
positions.
"Tips? Well, in New York, Wash
ington or New Orleans tips will run
from $50 a month upward. / do not
think they will average more than $40
a month in Chicago. No, the head wait
er does not demand percentage of his
subordinates. Unless he could keep an
eagle eye on every waiter and note
down the exact amount each man re-
ceived he could not get fair percent
age-the men would knock down on
him and not report one-fifth of the
tips presented them. The head waiter
himself occasionally receives hand
some gifts from old patrons, but he
does not figure ON such things as rule.
He does not need to."-Chieago Daily
News.