The Wichita daily eagle., 1903-07-19
OSCAR AIITOCRhT

! L tomorrow. No? Well, l can see you.
but you must be punctual."
No the person who was talking was not
president Of a big corporation, nor a
| public official, nor a social leader. 1t
was Oscar Tshirky, maitre hotel of the
Waldorf-Astoria. Mr.. Oscar is the title
by which he is invariably addressed by
the thousands of hotel employees. Others
fond of displaying their acquaintance
with persons of Importance, call him Os-
car.
An autocrat with absolute power is Os-
car. He rules with a rod of iron 1900 en-
ployes of the hotel More than 700 wait
ers tremble at his slightest frown. He
has a private office with TWO telephones,
a private secretary, valet, his own car
riage and horses He is famous on two
heTnispheres. Bon vivants and men of
prominence the world over defer to him.
Oscar is Swiss. He came TO this coun-
try when he was but fifteen years old.
He has been an omnibus" or assistant
TO walters, a waiter, and knows more
about the mysteries OF cuisine than the
professional Chef. In the Waldorf his
word is law.
as that OF the lawyer or the physician.
has q merveious memory for names and
faces. He knows the personal tastes OF
every prominent patron of the great es-
tablishment, their favorite entrees, and
the kind of wine they prefer He has
achieved success because he has digni-
fed his calling. because he believes the
occupation of the waiter is an honorable
as that of the lawyer of the physician.
In America persons are apt TO frown
on walters and look down on them as re-
cruited from a class Of neer-do-wells,
said Oscar the other day In Europe the
occupation of a waiter is more than
trade. 1t is a profession. The man who
serves in first-class hotel is apt TO be
better educated than the patron. He must
know at least three languages, and many
speak seven or eight. French, German,
and English are regarded as absolutely
necessary.
There are schools for walters, and the
applicant must serve at least three years
before he obtains his diploma He must
know more than the mere handling Of
dishes, which seems to be all that is re-
quired in certain American hotels. He
must know how food is prepared in order
tive menu, in case the patron leaves the
ordering of the dinner to the waiter 1t
is necessary that he should be familiar
with every detail of the arrangement Of
tableware. For the first year he pays
tuition fee. about $50 and he is required
to do the most elementary work. For
the second year his fee is reduced. and
in the third year the student is required
to pay nothing, and he has the privilege
of receiving tips.
When the student has completed his
course he gets his diploma. and the
maitre d d'hotel usually gives him a letter
of recommendation to maitre d'hotel in
some other country. where he may pursue
his calling and learn a new language. and
gain an idea of the customs of other
places. For this reason many of the wait
ers in Europe are regular nomads. \ man
who is serving in Norway in the summer
may be found the next winter in the din
ing-room of Shepherds, in Cairo, Egypt,
In Europe the hiring Of walters is reg
ulated by contract recognized by law.
The applicant is taken on trial for two
weeks or so. If he proves satisfactory
contract is entered into for a stated pc
riod. At the end of that time the man
asement of the hotel is bound TO give a
certificate to him vouching for his char
acter and ability. II the waiter on ap-
plying for a position. is not able 10 show
such a certificate he is not employed. 1
have tried TO induce the Hotelkeepers'
Association Of this country 10 introduce
such a system. IL would improve the
service in America to a great extent. SO
far they have been unwilling TO take the
step: At present. when we hire a waiter,
we know nothing about him. except what
he is pleased TO say Of himself man
who we have discharged for theft can
find employment at any other hotel in
this city on account of the lack Of
proper safeguard.
For this reason we welcome the in
creased immigration OF walters from Eu,
rope to this country. They are a de-
sirable class Of citizens educated. refined.
and capable of earning good living.
America presents excellent opportunities
TO them. over there they receive little or
no salary. In many cases they are obliged
to bid for positions. Here they receive a
salary Of at least s. month and all
day. and sometimes more
We have = school for walters al the
Waldorf. and I insist on the attendance
OF all the walters. The sessions are held
twice a week in one II the large dining
rooms upstairs. I sit IN the center OF my
headwaiteTs and CAPTAINS on s raised
platform while the others are in a body
Of the room. All hesdwaiters and cap
tains are instructed 70 notice mistakes
made by the walters IN the dining-room-
These errors are noted on memorandum
books kept for the purpose. Al the semi
weekly sessions Of the school these mem
orands are read and I make a short ad-
dress"
The Kaiser is about FIVE feet ten in
height. but he likes 10 surround himself I
with giants. and by comparison looks /
shorter than he IS
The Pennsylvania terminal 10 be erected 1
in Manhattan VIII be the biggest railroad /
station in the world. with accommoSa- /
tons for handling 2o0eco passengers a !
day OF about 7oeooo ooo or Se.aooo 90 a year. |
From sixty TO ninety trains will enter /
and leave II hourly. The tunnels viii be |
lighted and trains viii be moved by cleo |
tricity.