The labor world., 1903-11-07
ON THE COAST PATROL,
Young Women Who Spy on Guest:
at Summer Hotels.

) Young Women Who Spy on Guests
at Summer Hotels.
From the New York Sun:
The two friends met accidentally jE
the studio of the girl who draws.
! "Why, how do you do, Helenr ex-
! claimed the one who sings sweetly in
! light opera to the one who is blessed
with versatility. "Where have you
! been all summer? I heard you'd co=1e
into money and were doing all the swell:
! resorts Tell me about it,
| Il only wish I had come into money!
! responded Helen. But as matter
Of fact I have been doing the resorts
and living in way I'd like always to
live. But I'm being paid for it. Can
] you keep a secret? Will you promise
| not to breathe one word of it? We'll,
| then I'm member Of the coast pa
troll.
The light opera girl looked bewil-
dered.
"Yes, that's what they call u.s." said
Helen. Were not life savers or any
i thing Of that kind, but just number
of comparatively plain and unassum-
ing young women who go from one
big hotel to another, usually spending
a week in each. apparently as guests
but in reality as spies.
Now don't look at me like that! I
! know it sounds horrid but it's all right.
We don't send anybody to prison
report flrtatiOnS. Our business is
merely to see that the dining room and
upstairs service is satisfactory to the
average guest.
1T may seem strange to you but
it is not easy for the manager to get
trustworthy information about various
little matters that will commend or
condemn IL hotel to fastidious people,
Where he is, everything is as perfect
as the staff and help can make it, and
the star boarders, who are generous
with their tips, have things done for
them in the proper way.
1t is the timid little souls like me
who look as if they had come from the
interior and didn't care to complain
at the desk, that are apt to be neglect
ed. The walters and maids know that
there is q procession, of us on the
coast patrol going through the hotel
all season. and they don't care to take
chances with any lone woman, which,
of course rebounds to the good of the
whole service. -:.''..
We look to little matters: that no.
body suffietss1n tii iimpor-
tant to Justify. 4 complaint,I But which,
in the aggregate mean great. deal
to the reputation of hotel where the
rates are high. For instance, there are
the comparatively minor points Of
drawing back the chair promptly when
one is about to sit down in the dining
room, of keeping the glass filled with
water, Of the immaculate freshness of
the linen, OF the turning down of the
bedclothing by the chambermaid be-
| fore you enter your room to retire for
the night, Of the general tone and man.
ner of the servants. I could mention
a hundred little things that woman
will notice if she knows what is prop
er in these matters and has her eyes
| open.
We are all engaged in New York
| city by the same man, but we make
| frequent and detailed reports to the
manager of the hotel we happen to be
| in. After day or SO at one house.
each Of us goes on to another, acting
under directions from New York
! We're under no expense except for
clothes and the pay is pretty good
It's a life of ease and luxury. Tn
afraid it's spelling me for real work.