The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-06
TIPPING IN GERMANY.
Curious Readiness Of Thrifty Peo-
pie to Give Small Fees.
Berlin Letter In London Post.

The question of giving gratuities to wait
ers and servants is as much a vexed one
in this country as Ii is on your side of the
channel. Even your man servant or maid
expects in Germany tip from your
guests after they have dined or lunched
with you. and 1t constantly happens that
on engaging a servant you are asked,
How about tips? Can / expect much from
this source. and may 1 keep all 1 get, or
have / to share the tips with other serv-
ants?" l have even known mistresses hold
out as an inducement to servants the fact
that they entertain good deal, whereby
the wages are considerably supplemented
by gratuities from guests.
One very curious feature about German
everyday life is the readiness of people to
give a "trinkgeld," the equivalent Of the
French ''pourboire. under which name the
donation is more familiar 10 English ears.
The feature is curious, because the Teuton
is by nature thrifty, and many of them are
more close than thrifty. And yet the same
person who will expect a Woodworking
teacher of languages to give lessons at
from six pence to one shilling an hour will
often be seen to bestow groschen on the
shop servant who has brought parcel To
his house, or a half penny on the tramway
conductor for handing him his penny tick
ct. The postal officials who pay the money
orders and bring the money to your house
are entitled to charge half penny for do
ing so, but look very sour IL you do not
add another half penny of your own ac-
cord Small tips all around are de rigeur
in German daily life.
1t is always understood that the porter
and the boots at a hotel may expect a
gratuity from the guests. Now, the porter
does little more for you than hand you
your key and take off his hat to you as you
enter and leave your hostelry. and in small
towns he summons the boots at your de-
parture by vigorously ringing his bell, and
for these amenities he is rewarded in a
sort of geometrical progression. The boots
really does render services; he blacks your
boots. and brushes your clothes, and is
ready to assist you TO pack, and sits on
your portmanteau for you If need be when
you want to lock il. Notwithstanding this
il often happens that he comes of second
or third best in the way Of rewards.
1t has, however, always been supposed
that the largesse assigned to him was a
voluntary one. This idea has now. accord
ing to the decision of a court at Chemnitz
in Saxony. been shown, at the expense OF q
certain commercial traveller who recently
visited that town. to have been an Illusion
The man in question remained at Chemnitz
for four weeks at a local hosiery, per
forming his mercantile duties, and or
leaving handed to the boots for the usua
services rendered by that functionary the
sum Of four shillings as a gratuity. The
boots demanded twelve shillings-that Is e
say, at the rate of three shillings a week
AS the higher sum was not paid he brought
an action against the traveller, and tn.
court declared that the latter was TO pay
ten shillings. The reasons given for ths
received board and lodging from the land
lord he was paid nothing in cash; on tn,
other hand. he had TO give remuneration IN
money out OF his own pocket TO two as
sistants who helped him TO do the work o.
boot cleaning and clothes brushing.