The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-11-19
WOMEN WATERS.
They Are Supplant.
ing Men ia the
Business.
GIVE BETTER SATISFACTION.
Only One Hotel in the
City Employs Men
Servers.

women help is any sign of their gal
lantry Perhaps 1t is not that, but
rather cold business judgment that
prompts them to hire women. There is
only one place in this city where men
walters are employed. At the Bay
State House, Frank P. Douglass has
colored walters in the dining room and
very good walters they are. But with
the exception of that one hotel, girls
are found in every well-known restau-
rant in the city. Just why only girls
are found beaming with their saucy
glances from marble tiled cafe to oil
cloth fioored hash houses" no one
seems to know
People differ as to the comparative
merits of the man and woman in the
gentle art of waiting on a table, Some
prefer the obsequious gentleman of
color, others prefer the trim and buxom
serving maid. It's all question of
taste, as the cannibals say, when they
discuss roast missionary. The worthy
Worcester boniface prefers to have girl
walters for the Wonan's reason of be-
cause. The Spy man spoke to several
restaurant keepers and they said that
they had girls simply because they pre-
ferred them. There are many reasons
perhaps for this choice.
In the first place, those who keep eat
ing places naturally wish to cater to
the desires of their customers. 1t
seems to be the general opinion that
men, both married or single prefer
girls to attend to their many wants
The woman perhaps on the other hand
prefers to have man wait on her; in
fact, she is looking for that very thing
all through her life. But there is one
drawback that appeals to the sensitive
and economical soul of the woman who
wishes but a "sip and a crust" That
is they rather fear the portly man.
dressed in a regulation evening suit, or
perhaps a Tuxedo coat, with only a
snowy damask napkin to indicate his
calling. She almost fears to make
known her small order, and perhaps
ends up with ordering more than she
really wants, and when once outside
she hates herself for the extravaganza,
and VOWS she will never go to that
place any more.
And then there is the ''horrid tip"
that only wins the undivided attention
of a man waiter, It's a vicious
habit, but one that has been encour-
aged to such an extent that one has
to pay the salary of swell waiter
in order to get his best service.
All this bears on the reasons of the
public for preferring girl walters. Of
course, it is not fair to compare the
men walters at Young's or the Parker
House in Boston with green mattresses
in a small place. If it comes to that,
compare dainty waitress with some
of those vocation voiced plug uglies
that have made the district of the
Bowery famous in the annals of res
taurant life. No, no, far be it from
So" The same grade of help must be
compared to make theeomparison worth
anything.
1t is a fact well known to travelling
men, that girls are taking the places
of men walters all through the west
That wonderful system of railroad eat
ing houses run by Fred Harvey, on the
lines of the Santa Fe, are all in charge
of girls, and in many of them with fem
mime head walters. In San Francisco
there is one hotel, the Palace, where
there is as good service as can be OBJ
tanned in this country.
All the walters there are men, but
Frenchmen of the type of the best
walters one sees in Paris, and there is
really no need Of tipping unless there
is the usual "corkage" to be consid-
cred. AS the famous Coronado hotel,
just across the bay from San Diego,
dainty little mattresses clad in gray
with caps and white aprons, catch the
fancy of every one. The best type of
man waiter gives good satisfaction,
especially in grill rooms, while pretty
young women also are good. But it is
of the rank and file of restaurants that
one has to deal with, and more par
ticularly with Worcester places of re-
freshing.
In any good restaurant in this city,
one will get good service and not be
expected to pay toll for the same
With few exceptions, the girls are
bright, tidy, and know their business.
And 1t is business by itself. About
all the virtues and all the Christian
graces are needed to make a good wait
ress. She must observe the proprieties,
be deft and quick in her serving, and
most difficult thing of all for woman
hold her tongue when snapped at by
some crusty old bachelor or fussy
maiden lady
It cannot be said to be an easy en-
ployment. They get fair wages and
can live on the fat Of the land, al
though they rather prefer the lean.
The hours are long, and it is weary
business standing on ones feet all day
or rushing between kitchen and table
with heavy trays.
A automatically inclined person,
perhaps would like to have a caleula-
ton of how many miles a girl travels
during her days work in the restaur-
ant. but the public never cares much
about. the means and methods by which
tits fed. clothed and put to bed. They
nav FOR certain things and that ends it.
But many a girl working here in Wor-
cester could tell of long weary days,
hours of physical pain and weakness
when they would lie down if they could,
but instead brave it out
) The life of the restaurant girl has its
romantic side as well. Many happy
marriage has resulted from an ac
auairtance begun between customer
and a pretty, lovable girl who was not
too proud to earn her own living. Dur
ing the day, when there is hull in the
regular rush of hungry men and wom-
en-, the girl with a gentleman friend"
can find time to stand by his side for
moment while she brings him espe-
cially appetizing dishes, knowing that
the way to mans heart is through
his stomach.
A woman naturally likes the society
of man, and you cannot blame the pa
tent. tired girl who brings you your
meals from an occasional mild hhrta-
ton at the corner table, even II in tell
ing the young fellow all about dance
she is going to, your coffee is forgotten
and you become impatlent tor her SER
Vice
srhera NAV come a day when people
live on concentrated food in the shape
Of nils or capsules, and the girl in the
resfeurant will be no longer needed.
But may that time be far off for the
pleasure of eating is one of the rev
pleasures of life.
y .BICYCI,IsTS young or old, should
carry a bottle of Pain-killer IN tneir
saddle bags. 1t cures cuts ana Wo ,tnt1