The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-04-21
the GLAD IlnD OF
the PULLMAN PORTER
PERSUASIVE INFLUENCE AND
COIN GENERALLY BRING
DESIRED RESULTS.
The obiisins osbeial Has a Good 5usi-
ness, n Properly Followed. Ser
vice Stripes inausurased. The
Dog in the Baggage Car Ahead.

The GROWING point in the ambition
OF the ordinary colored man is 10 be
found in the uniform Of the porter uf
the Pullman sleeping car. One OF
these suits with four or five silver
stripes on the left sleeve is about the
climax One thus adorneu is cen
We'd by bis fellows; he is admired and
courted by the maidens OF the dusky
race
Such man must always be neat
and clean in his dress and lie mingles
with the bes; Of the travelling public.
His regulation dress is OF handsome
color and the metal buttons set il OF
In SNOWY MANNER. Beyond these out
ward features the position is attrac-
tive on account of the emolumants
which come with IT.
The salary OF the porter Is the
smallest part OF his pay. as a rule.
Some OF the best and Oldest pcrters
in the service receive scarcely more
than $40 month for long continued
hours. The minlmum salary Is $50.
The greater part of the income OF one
OF these men. however, is derived
from the general public and the earn
ings OF the porters on the best runs.
the transcontinental trains. often
reach 500 or $3.50 per month.
Must Be Done Just Right.
Feeling or tipping porter is a deli
cate proposition and is becoming
quite an art. To know lGst when the
tip will count Cor the m7sJ and when
il will be most appreciated is the prob
lem. There are men in the service
from whom a small fee given in tho
right way will bring more ,avors than
a much larger offering ii zen another
man What is more. the influence OF
the right action is long continued. for
the recipient will remember the Civ
er for many long DAY therea.ter.
A good story is told of one OF the
porters on the Union Pacific Over
land, showing the extent 10 which the
custom has gone on the part OF the
public and the good effects that are 20
be derived. A prominent Omaha man
had fine dog which he was sending
to San Francisco as baggage. Calling
at the buffet car. for the dog was In
the baggage end of the car. he asked
the porter il he would kindly give the
dog some water three times a.day and
a little of the dog bread during the
"trip across the continent
Now this particular porter has
charge of the lunch and the cigars
which are served In the buffet car.
Sometimes he is kept rather busy At
tending to the wants OF the customers
who wander in NO, sir. | haven't
time to water dogs" was the, curt re-
ply he gave the inquirer
In the same car Is BARRIERS chair
and the owner OF the valuable canine
turned TO the white-faced tonsorial
artist with the same request concern
ing his four-footed pet Yes" he an
swered. Il guess can find time to do
that for you"
We'll, II you will do IL viii give
these" and the man laid five silver
dollars in the open palm. "And when
you deliver the dog to the man. who
will call for 1t in San Francisco. he
will give you five more" The color
ed porter. Is said to havs turned al
most white as he saw this fat tip slip
past his hand Great Scott, Ten
dollars for watering a cur twice day,
aud I missed IL"
Graft is Rich One.
A man who has TO deal with Pull
man porters said the other day that IL
is no unusual thing for some OF the
richer class OF PASSENGERS to spend
from s. TO $40 on a porter while jour
neying across the country. Ere
quently," he said. "a man will put his
wife and perhaps a child or two on the
car in Chicago and then. hunting up
he porter. press So or so bill into
his hand and ask him TO look after his
'amily. / tell you. that family Is well
cared for after that"
The services stripes worn By the
men are matters OF no small honor.
The company has arranged for the
placing of a silver band around the
sleeve Of porter who has been In the
service five years. Another stripe is
added for every half decade In the
smploy- Watching these insignia one
will readily see that there are men
IN the cars who have been In the
service TWENTY-FIVE years or more
They are grey haired and well mara
ID with age and no more obliging ana
courteous persons are 20 be found any
where. These are the men who have
he best and usually the highest pay
ng runs and they have friends among
The hest families ~ sho land