The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-03-23
THE SOUVENIR HABIT
BREEDS SOCIETY THIEVES.

Society thieves, That's what they are.
That's the plain. unvarnished term for these
souvenir fiendS. I'll wager that the
New York caterer who was forced 10 make
an assignment the other day. because the
guests, presumably the best people in the
land. carried off all the silverware at the
something stronger yet.
Is this terrible custom. which is growing
almost beyond c%redence. a purely American
curse? / fancy 80. i have not yet heard
that Marlborough House or Potsdam has
suffered from the depredations of these
sneak thieves: and it must be admitted,
though with the blush of shame. that bridal
couples, who make the White House their
objective point. have to be watched with
the vigilance of secret-service men. or
they'd pull down and carry off the very
cornices of the East Room. 4 story such
as was telegraphed all over this country
and Europe after the fatal breakfast ia a
shocking reflection on the honesty of a
nation. It's a frightful blot on the glory
and the perfect arrangements of Prince
Henry's visit. 1t has no peer in history.
Let us bring the trouble nearer home.
Ask any of the hotel managers in st. Louis
what happens yearly to their tableware,
glassware and linen. Ask them what be-
comes of their bric-a-brac and their pic
lures. You Will hear tales that VIII aston
fish YOU.
When the Planters Hotel was refurnished
and refitted a couple of years ago. many of
the handsome suites were provided with
works of art in the shape of French water
colors: etchings that were excellent and en-
cravings that would do credit 10 the Daniel
Catlin gallery or any other. Most of these
We're small and attractively framed
Il went down to the hotel one day TO call
on some New York friends. who We're in
49,. --s
knows everybody from Maine TO Pasadena,
land found them packing their trunks
preparatory to departing that night. The
wife came into the room where her hus-
band and myself sat. smoking. and eN-
changed greetings with me. though she de-
clared herself too busy to tarry more than
a minute.
by the way. Harry she remarked,
don't forget TO take that picture down for
me- pointing to a pretty little water-color
that hung just over the steam radiator. L
want TO put it in the bottom of my trunk
1t may be said TO the credit OF Harry,
however, that he not only looked decidedly
annoyed, but made no move toward the
picture in question. ] happened TO visit
their New York fat six months later. and
saw that selfsame picture. a Mexican water
carrier. hanging on their library walls: so
I presume Mrs. Harry triumphed."
HOTELS ARE vICTIMS
OF SOCIAL HIGHWAIMEN.
Mr.. Henry Weaver can tell you dozens of
stories like this. and so can Mr.. Henry
Lewis of the Southern. Large and ponder
Gus works of art. which are impossible to
remove without assistance, are the only
ones which hotels find at all practicable.
As for silver and glass. the thefts are In
finite. and almost impossible to avoid. They
happen daily, and in just such manner as
the following story shows. 1t would give
me a really fiendish pleasure to tell you the
name of the girl In this story. for you know
her well. You see her aristocratic features
almost weekly at the theater. and you could
spell her name without the mistake of a
single letter.
She went TO the St. Nicholas one night
this winter TO dine with a young bachelor.
who is decidedly chary OF his attentions to
girls. though when he does entertain il il
always to the queens taste. They had a
toothsome repast. and finally reached the
coffee and creme de menthe. The latter was
served in delicate little glasses. especially
made for the hotel and of really fine work
manship. The young woman finished her
liqueur, and then. remaining. What a
pretty glass; stuffed It IN her sleeve,
which had loose. fluffy rufies of lace about
the wrist. The bachelor watched her Idly
for a moment. believing the act 10 he a bit
Of playfulnsss. He was soon undeceiyed.
After finger bowls had appeared and his
bull was paid. they made ready to leave.