The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-12
LUCK OF STUDENTS WHO WAIT.
MANY A START IN LIFE FOUND
AT a SUMMER HOTEE.
Ono Poor College Man VINO Became Hotel
Naanager-An0ther Now a Banker
business Chances Found by Walters
nnd Clprka I'm NaCatlOn Time

II wonder whether he is a college man
with vacation job?"
Three years later the girl went to New
York and stopped at one Of it's apartment
hotels. A few days after her arrival, when
she stopped at the desk to pay BILL she
was surprised to see a man who looked
| very familiar to her ordering the clerks
about.
-Whyl' she exclaimed half aloud in her
establishment, why, it's our old waiter
at the 10y
! The young man heard her and turned
around
/ why he exclaimed AZ he saw the girl,
you here, Miss Smith," And no walked
toward her with extended hand.
Then he saw the puzzled look on the girls
face and laughed.
| You don't know whether or not 1t is
! proper to greet your old waiter, do your
F, he asked. frankly. He laughed again.
But I was waiter that l might 60 back
| to college the next year. Does that help
, you any2"
She blushed. then replied. triumphantly.
II always told mamma you were college
man." Then she allowed her woman's
what are you doing here?"
The story that her old waiter told her
was one Of opportunity; and many college
youth who has worked at summer resort
could tell a similar story Of his rise in the
world II he only would.
After she had left the resort he was as
| signed to wait upon a table at which
cranky old man. his wife and his elderly
daughter sat
You'll have plenty of trouble, his pre-
decessOrs, all Of whom had been deposed
by the caprioes OF the cranky old man,
had warned him, but he managed to please
the family from the start.
They remained the rest Of the summer
and never 80 much as offered a tip in all
that time. But the day that the resort
was to close the old man remained at the
table after his wife and daughter had left
and motioned to the matter.
Your service has pleased me-" he be-
gan; you haven't worked for tips like the
rest. I've made inquiries about you and
know why you're waiter. Now, when
you are through college, understand
t will be next fallconsult this card, come
to me. II you have nothing better in prospect
and I'll start you in business.
With that the man got up from the table
and walked away. and the waiter looked
at the card 1t contained the mans name
and conveyed the additional information
that he was the proprietor Of the -
Hotel in New York city
And So" concluded the young man,
two years ago. upon my graduation.
came here and the man started me in
as desk clerk. and took all the pains pos
sible to instruct me, as a reward for not
working for tips, but for the work ITSELF
az he explained 1t.
six months ago he died. and after the
funeral the wife sent for me and told me
that was to manage the hotel for the
estate-that it was her husbands wish.
And there you have the story of why
am here In managerial capacity and will
not be able to serve you at dinner tonight
personally"
This young mans rise Il typical OF what
happens to many Of the hundreds Of Ameri-
can youths who find employment at the
summer resorts in order to get through
the vacation and lay aside a few dollars
for further education in the fall.
They are not walters in the dining rooms,
markers in the bowling alleys clerks in
the hotel offices, bankers for divers amuse-
ment enterprises and ticket sellers, be-
cause of the fun that's in it. They work
because they have to; they taste the worlds
labor before they have fully prepared for
it: and in order that they may he the better
prepared, they work earnestly.
So it often happens that a business man
sees future possibilities in vacation
working college youth, and the latter has
his lifes work cut ont for him then and
there. Such one Is ice-president of
bank in Philadelphia.
Ten years ago, upon his graduation from |
the University Of Pennsylvania, he fol-
lowed his usual vacation custom of working
as clerk in an Atlantic City hotel, His
idea was to keep his eyes open while there /
for a place in the fall The opportunity /
came in an unexpected way.
II happened one Monday morning that a /
large number of guests decided rather !
Unexpectedly to return TO the city and, ,
without any previous notification to the ,
office to have their bills ready, they swooped
down upon it, expecting to have everything ,
settled up in time to catch the train.
The college clerk was on duty, and AL |
though 1t seemed impossible to him for !
all the accounts to be balanced before |
at hand. he went to work with will. He |
had been noted for his powers OF lightning
calculation at college, and now no brought /
them into full play.
Bills were made out, money taken In and
change given in quick order.-in fact, so
fast that the departing guests scarcely
had time To indulge In even transitory |
speculation as to whether they'd catch
the train all right,
When it was all over and the last man
had gone, baggage and all, and the clerk
had counted the money twice to see that
he had not made wrong change in the hurry,
n guest who was known To The clerk as a
Quaker City banker walked up TO the desk. /
Pretty lively fifteen minutes, wasn't
it1' he inquired, plea sanity.
The clerk replied in the affirmative.
"Didn" make any mistake in making
change did your he went on in the same
toneFy; talking for the sake Of CONVEX
sation.
The clerk answered this time in the mega
tive.
That's good. was the reply. Thought
maybe IN the rush you might have made
n mistake, and wouldn't want to know
you were out of pocket because OF your
attempt to please guests"
Then the banker walked away, but a
few days later he was again in oonversat ion
with the clerk.
What are You going 10 do in the fall?"
ne inquired, in an otfhand sort OF way. !
I'm keeping my eyes open for an oppor-
tunity,' was the reply.
The guest smiled.
How would you liketo become banker?'