The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-06-04
A scoRneR OF FOOLS.


manners none excelled the grave dlgni-
fed Laurence Barber. who was not a
guest, nor visitor but who held the anom-
aIous position of waiter and general ut1l-
ity man he was one of those who are
known in vacation days as student-walt-
ers- The hotels at American summer re-
sorts are fun of them Young men. who
are paying their way through college and
who take turns in being guide. groom'
waiter. and do a stunt in the evening with
piano or mandolin in the parlor- They put
their pride in their pockets and serve
people who are not their equals in social
position, but have mora money
Laurence Barber was one OF these, and
he did everything that the other walters
did in the way of service. except taking
| a fee. He said the custom deadened a
| mans self-esteem and was un-AmeTlcan.
| II was the only part OF his work that
Inundated him. He waited on table Of
| a millionaire, who said it was insuffera-
! Bile impertinence in a waiter 70 refuse a
| tip, putting himself on footing with
| the guests. by Cad This was the head
Of the Bixby family, who belonged to the
steel trust. and whose family consisted
| OF a dissatisfied wife. a shrewish daugh-
| ter and a sor who was q cad. but the
best of the lot. Miss Clara Bixby. vhom
| no Petrucflio had come TO tame. believed
every man who looked at her was in love
1
that attracted at all. and her moths never
/ came near enough TO SINCE their silly
wings.
| The nl-humor and spleen Of the whole
| BsXby family were lavished on their
waiter. First. because he remained to
tally unmoved by the languishing glances
of the shrewish young woman; next on
| account Of his independence in mental
position. as they viewed it. The cad in
sisted on being familiar and calling the
| waiter Larry and getting off weak
pUns on his name. Once he went too far,
and the next moment was taken by the
| collar lifted from his chair. run the whole
| length of the dining-room. and elected
| by the application of vigorous boot
Then Laurence went TO the desk and gave
in his time
Some inferior characters have the saw
ing grace of recognizing superiority and
respecting it. The cad apologiZed, said
you're a better man" and made his tribe
take his view of it. Laurence stayed.
gave them better service. ard salved his
pride with Bobbie Burns, "A mans d
man for a that"
About this time there came to the Re-
sort House an old lady with seven
trunks, a dog, a parrot, and an entour
age of Jewels that turned the whole outht
al the hotel green with envy. She was so
old as TO be a curio.
with her jeweled lorgnette as soon as
she was seated in the dining-room.
II want you 10 wait on me, young man.
she said. and dropped piece of silver on
the tabiecloth, where it was allowed to
remain.
Not enough?' demanded the queer old
party, opening her purse.
Madame" said Laurence, respectfully,
Il am paid for my services, and l do not
take tips If you will speak to the man
agement I viii wait on you with pleas
ure.
He felt, genuinely sorry for the lonely
old woman. who had so much and yet so
little. and who lookI4< so fantastic in her
death S-head SplendOr. but whose speech
betokened a culture which also appeal
ed to him. 1t was no light task to wait
on her. for in addition to very arbi-
trary diet, she asked so many questions
that much of his time was mOnopolized
to the anger of the Bix6ys, who appreci-
atted him more than ever when they saw
how he stood with the new arrival.
Who are those impossible peorle?" she
asked. glancing in their direction in one
OF her quizzical moments.
Their names are Bixby," answered
Laurence. busying himself with finger
bowl and not particularly interested.
L knew it. | saw something familiar
in their features So They don't know
tune of a good many thousand dollars.
He died owing my estate. and now the
debt is outlawcd. His son, the old man
there. looks Just like him. Same beak and
small, squinty eyes They were New
York nobodieS then. but they did a Wall
street brokerage business and failed. and
I lost my money. These people have
tell them who l am
She looked at Laurence with such a
twinkle in her old eyes as she said this
that he was at a loss to account for it,
as well as for the affectionate interest she
at times displayed toward him. She was
registered as Mrs. Sylvester. but Lau-
renee doubted il that were really her
name, though why she should conceal her !
identity gave him not the least concern.
You must be young man of very little |
ambition" she remarked in her curt way
t. Laurence. with your education you
should be able TO do something better
tEan wait table. 1t is like being ser
want"
Il am a servant" retorted Laurence, !
proudly. so is the president of the Uni |
ted States. So is every man the servant !
OF those over him or under him One is |
4 servant to wealth. another 10 poverty. |
I am the last. But 1 do not acknowledge !
any disgrace or inferiority in the position. /
4
ir, a hotel. He was a good waiter, and |
nc is a good congressman"
People are never At their best when I
they are feeding" the old lady remarked /
sententiousiy.
Days passed and one morning Mrs /
Sylvester gave her waiter some letters II 1
pest As he carried them out to the box /
in the Office he happened 70 glance al the (
one that lay uppermost in his hand. de /
gave great start and stared at the name /
written there. Without posting the letter 4
he hurried back to the dining-room.
He stopped at Mrs. Sylvester's table. /
THAT letter." he said. abruptly, that Is /
my fathers name Do YOU know him 4
Pardon me. but 1 never heard OF another I
Sylvester Barber"
HE IS nv brother" said the old lady.
calmly. Yes I am the aunt you have
heard OF all your life and never saw.
Your father has had a sorry time OF IL
waiting for a dead womaus shoes. Oh.
know. We oJiarrsled over II before you
were born. / came here TO see II you were
IKE your father. and you are not Yoi
don't want my money. nor any money
you don't earn. You wouldn't carry my
dog ner uy parrot, bat you've been good
10 ne You've got heart I am not go-
ing 70 buy you and you re not in the
market I am glad you re going % be a
preacher. There'H be work for ycu 10 d..
You've begun with ne
This. then. was the aunt whose name
was quoted 50 often in his home. with
always the sddendum. when she dies
ze'n have e canforIs bic fortune LaB-
renee felt ashamed 70 look her ia the lace
cow that be remembered The sordid hopes
his people had built on the poss biiities
II her dying. but less than ever did he
zant her money. lie preferred his service
and his independence. Ard 4 vas noi DC