Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-06-07

tourist. is the European microbe; and
this kind of tourist is bound to suffer.
rather noisily, all through the exhibit
ton from its ravages. For him the
hotel employees of all Europe are
banded in a conspiracy to fleece the
English-speaking guest. They pry in
to letters and shadow new arrivals.
They demand commissions from
tradesmen. They mark trunks with
mysterious signs. So they soon know
all about your business, your fortune,
your object in travelling, what you are
going to buy and how long you are
going to stay. To a tourist in this
state Of mind the tipping system is
systematized bIackmail. For another
type of exhibition visitor, all Europe
now being new and delightful, tipping
is a pleasure. He tips early and often.
The humble menials know him at
glance and beam on him. He sees in
their delighted alacrity-Which is the
reflex of his own-an kindness. good
ness, friendliness-the reflex of his
own again. q find the regular charges
in Europe much lower than at home,
he would say, if he thought about 1t,
land by liberal tipping [ get better
service than l get at home. Look on
tips as a part of your bill; you will
see you pay no more than If the items
were all Jumped together as at home"
He does not protest against candles,
corkage, the hotel laundress, bedroom
fires and the other minute itemizing
of European bookkeeping. Is he
swindled? Does he corrupt the do
mestics? Is he taking mean advan-
tage of non-tipping tourists? Posi-
bIy-but he will see the exhibition
much more comfortable for it.
In truth. the whole Paris social
fabric has begun to itch in contem
platiOn of the benefits" and graft
tications" Of the exhibition season. In
the restaurant that I frequent, says
an American in Paris, the waiter girls
have just begun to practice the ma
neuver on which they evidently most
depend. 1t is to affect breathless
hurry and neglect the client. If his
native wit does not suggest a good tip
in advance the wretch will have to
put up with cold dishes, few and far
between. The cafe walters are rely
ing rather on judiCiOus TANNING"
complicated monkeying with change,
whereby the guest accepts a One-franc
or two-franc piece less than his due.
The sweet persuasion of the hotel
cham ber-maid is not to make the beds
till afternoon for un-tipful. The cab
bys speciality is to drive on coolly
without hearing you unless you offer
him a better rate than that prescribed
by law
These are the humble, the resigned
menals, who in all times and places
have held out the palm. In the Paris of
today different classes waiting to he
"gratified," surprise and sometimes
shock the straightforward American
mind. Perhaps the French friends"
that one picks up shock the strongest,
though the hangers-on of the Ameri-
can colony come a good second. The
climax, | think, is reached in the phil
anthrOpy of an American pension pro-
prietor, who, to protect his guests
from the designing, takes them per-
sonally to one of the best known Paris
jewelers.. There he takes 10 per cent.
commission on each sale! On the
other hand, what sympathy is one to
have for tourists who, letter of intro
duction in hand, coolly proposes to
make a guide interpreter out of the
American who lives in Paris?
Let it be taken, then, as q principle
that every one not your social equal
and certain others with the right O
claim that dazzling distinction nA&y
be "gratified," and to advantage, in
the Paris of the exhibition. Yet it Is
not a device established for the exciu-
sive ,fieecing of Americans. Not one
tourist in 20 freQuents the Paris the
aters, and theater tipping is one of the
most painful forms Of the social NAL
ady. The Partisan takes a cab to the
theater The legal fare is 80 cents for
the trip. He tips the cabman 5 to 1C
cents extra. As he draws up to the
entrance, a dirty, officious boy or man
hastens, unasked, to open the cab
door The Partisan tips him two cents
to get rid of him. On the sidewalks
ne is met by the volunteer program
seller. Then, inside, the box-openeI
claims him for her own 1t is an old
lady in black, an usher, we would say
but with increased duties-and pre-
negatives. The Ouvreuse, or box
opener, usually checks your wraps
but when the theater has a separate
cloakroom your dealings with her be.
come more complicated. Last week
went to the Bouffes with an American
newly landed There is the cloak.
room" said the old girl, and we pait
her for the checks. She handed u:
over to another ouvreuse, who asked
Have you no wraps?" Deposited il
the vestaire," we answered. Il hope
all the same" she said, that you will
not forget my little benefit" Mad
anne" said we, "nit!" In considera
ton of which she placed us behind ;
pillar. Naturally we went to the DO,
office to complain and ask for bette
seats. Why, certainly" said the af
fable controle, handing us over to
third ouVreuse-whom we tipped gen
erously, to punish, I suppose, the sec
ond. Sarah Bernhardt-whoi is goin
to play four matinees a week al
through the eXhibition-once tried t
abolish the ouvreuse, installing uni
formed ushers in the American style