Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-15
LoOTERS OF THE HOTELS.
Women Particularly Active In Taking
Tableware for Souvenirs.

From the New York Sum-
One need not go to China to study the
ethics Of loot and the psychology of the
looter. The managers and stewards OF The
hotels of New York could give full informa-
ton upon these subjects; but the urbaaity
of their craft would perhaps lead them to
speak of souvenirs and souvenir collectors
instead of loot and hooters. 1t costs one
9Th avenue hotel $4,000 a year to replace
the various small articles its patrons carry
off Silver spoons, knives and forks. wine
glasses, ash trays, match safes, table linen
even coffee pots and tea pitchers, are taken.
"Oh, they're not particular about the size
of a thing" explained one steward; ANY
thing that isn't nailed down will do. The
last run has been on fancy line of cream
jugs we've just put in. But our orange
spoons and fruit knives have always been
deservedly popular"
This tendency on the part Of guests is
met in one 9Th avenue hotel and in another
on Broadway in a novel fashion. The stew
ards make a note of the little things which
may be admired and send them to their
guests in boxes kept on hand for the pur-
pose. And such farewell offerings are doubt
less often enough very good investments.
Other hotels, again, which are less fond of
making entries in their profit and loss col
umns, allow their guests to purchase arti-
cles that have pleased their fancy. Even in
the most charitable of houses 1t must be
noted that when u patron takes entirely too
much his collection is charged to him.
This is delicate matter, however" said
one informant, land 1t calls for some fine
discriminating. The black sheep of a promi-
nent family might purloin great deal dur
Ing short stay with us. and we would not
speak of 1t, but cheeky unknown from
nowhere. If he took only quarter as much,
would have his account sent in In short
order. Everything Is taken. We used at one
time handsome brass cuspidors, which cost
$40 Dozen but SO many men hacked them
1of hof
we were obliged to substitute porcelain
ones. One hotel lost heavily from souvenir
fiends till the landlord put away all his
good silver and substituted thinly plated
ware. Then he marked several hundred
large spoons Take one,' and the result was
what he expected-they were all left on his
hands"
Proprietors and stewards agree that wo-
men are the greatest purloiners. Much of
the silver and china lost vanishes when
meals are served them In their rooms 1t is
the souvenir value and not the money
value of the thing taken which has de-
pleted the majority Of hotel sideboards.
The name Of the house-provided. of course.
that 1t be a famous one-only makes an ar
ticle the more valuable. Some time ago q
young New Yorker of distinctly original
genius set out to furnish the small silver
for the table Of a prospective bride. He
collected spoon here. a knife there and a
fork from some place else. He was able to
present the bride with a dozen knives, forks
and teaspoons and four tablespoons. They
were marked with the names Of thirty or
more hotels and restaurants. When she is
certain that 1t Is safe she sets the table
with them and prides herself on these
stolen fruits.
The wine cup seems to have great power
to increase the ardor Of the souvenir COL
lector. The other night three youths had
dinner in the cafe Of prominen. hotel
On the table was heavy brass match safe,
marked with the name OF the house This
one OF the happiest Of the youths arpro-
priated. The party went from the hotel
to two other cafes. At both places the
young man exhibited his booty With much
triumph, and finally left 1t at third res
taurant. Thence 1t was returned to the
hotel 1t had come from with the story of
its wanderfngS The same night q waiter
at the same house recovered from another
jolly fellow a three-dollar silver pepper
shaker. and put aside huge beer glass
from a German Broadway restaurant; 1t
was so large that 1t seemed impossible for
any one to get away with Il. Occasionally,
too. people will take things quite openly
waiter in q downtown lunch room was re-
Gently struck dumb by the cool impudence
OF a new patron.
"Just as the young gent was leaving"
he said, che turns to me and hands me q
big silver spoon OF the table. Go and
wash 1t and bring 1t back says he done
It. and that fellow put 1t In his pocket,
buttoned up his coat and walked out.
was 30 stunned that couldn't say word.