The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-29
TIPPING IN PARIS.
Systcmatizcd BInckmaiI. But Not
Without Advantages.

.al tFrom tire Springfield Republican,
Tipping, according to one kind of tour
list. is the European microbe. And this kind
of tourist is bound TO suffer all through
the exhibition from its ravages. Fer h m
the hotel employees of all Europe are band
ed in a conspiracy to fleece the English
speaking guest. They pry into letters and
shadow" new arrivals. They demand
commissions from tradesmen. They mark
trunks with mysterious signs. So they
soon know all your business, your fortune,
your object in travelling. what you are
going TO buy and how long you are going
to stay. To the tourist in this state If
mind the tipping system is systematizei
blackmail. For another type of exhibition
visitor. all Europe now being new and de-
lightful, tipping is a pleasure. He tips
early aud often The humble men ais
know him at a glance and beam on him.
He sees in their delightful alacrity-which
is the reflex Of his own-all kindness,
goodness, friendliness. II find the regu-
lar charges in Europe much lower than at
home" he would say, if he thought about
it, and by liberal tipping l get better
service than | get at home. Look on it's
as part of your bill; you will see you will
pay no more than if the items were all
Jumped together, as at home" He does
not protest against candles, corkage, the
hotel iaundress, bedroom fires and the
other minute itemizing of European book
keeping. Is he swindled? Does he corrupt
the domestics? Is he taking a mean ad-
vantage OF non tipping tourists? Possibly.
But he viii see the exhibition much more
comfortably for it.
As for systematic tipping, the least that
a European will give is an average of 10
cents a day, TO be divided among the
chambermaid, table service. boots. and
porter. 1t makes at the end of the month.
when il is given in a lump say l. to 30
francs-fVe francs to the room service
five francs to the table service. five
francs to the porter and five francs to the
boots. When the careful European stays
only a week in a hotel he gives the cham
bermaid two francs. the boots two francs
the garcon two francs, and the porter
say. one franc. The monthly estimate
above is really rather skinny. and Ameri
cans will do well to double or treble it.
For the exhibition time in Paris in ordi-
nary middle-clsss hotels. when one has
pension rates, an average of between one
franc and two francs a day divided as al
ready indicated. In the smarter hotels
however this averaging process will be
impracticable. and the guest will be lucky
if he gets fair service at table for less
than 10 cents a meal. paid on the spot In
restaurants the Paris rule has always
beer for an expensive meal, . per cent
for a moderate price meal 10 per cent of
the bill
Tips must be given" is the way one OF
the bestknown American hotel proprietors
of Paris sums it up. The question has
been studied many times by the most com
petent men in our business. Why is it
that We all admire European walters, so
clean and tidy in their white waistcOats
and white ties? | have heard our women
say a thousand times to their husbands
on leaving the hotel: Give an extra tip
to such and such a one. He is such
nice. clean. obliging boy But if he were
greasy and neglectful would she think of
him? Look at our giddy little chamber
maids. who contribute so much 10 our
success. Are they not amiable? Would
you not like to take them home with you?
How nice she looks in her smart corsage
apron. Suppress her tips and double her
salary. treble it. Then come back In IA
year and see the difference. She will be
a different person, with Immature for her
least fault And it will be the same,
down 10 the boots. He will put coal oil
into the backing to get through the
quicker. Tip early and tip often"