The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-11-07
THE TIPPING EVIL.
Proof Conclusive That is Is as Old
ChfVaJry.

us
From the Newark Evening News.
The tipping evil is as old as Eagle
Rock. Every once in a while some
body discovers that such an evil ex-
lists; but, discoveries of old things are
always being made. and this observa-
ton is itself no new discovery. IT. in
stead of bewailing the increase of tip
ring we stopped to study the history
of the subject, we should be moved
to fling hats in the air and rejoice that
the evil is even diminishing. What a
puny, paltry people we are to groan
at leaving a quarter under the coffee
cup when N the old days a man flung
away weeks wages and thought no
more of it, In the old days-ah!
there is a fascination in the words, a
charm that leads us to the bookcase.
Here is 'Knervy the Knight" on page
so we read:
rs there aught more, sire?" whis-
pered the serf.
aye" replied the good Sir Gadzooks,
taking his lance from the hand of him
that spokenst. Fright merrilee havest
thou served me this day, any faithful
Joan. Here, take this, my purse. 1t
is all that l haveth about me present.
ly, but no matter"
So saying he STROBE away into the
gathering shadows, to what further ad-
ventures-etc.
There was the tip evil, A. D. 1925,
according to Patricia Pentonville, one
of our foremost historical authoresses.
Here. again, in Under the Red Mobe,"
page 279
Snatching the letter from Ginevra's
clasp she tore it open with trembling
hands.
He liyes!" she cried. "Oh, Grinny,
Ginny dear. do you not hear? He
lives! Here, take this ruby necklace.
1t is but poor reward for these glad
news"
THANK you, mademoiselle, thank
YOU sobbed poor Ginny. 1T is too
much"
But Berenice de Boubon had swoon-
ed.
Whether Miss Boubon swooned be-
fore or after Ginevra's last remark is
question left to the imagination.
The main matter is that tips were
given in the year 1888 How was it in
King Arthur's time Tennyson does not
say:
How now!" up spoke the Knight of
crimson Rose,
IncenSed and all-tar-gazing in his
"An were this set before hungry
mule
He'd eat it not, nor neither I, SO
there!"
Then Towel-on-Arm, that waited by
his side.
Did tremble like an awning in a gale.
mo tip for thee!''-The varlet slank
away
And cursed His Nobs behind the pam
try door.
A natural curiosity s excited here
to know whether the knights and la
dies of the Table Round enlivened the
whole meal with conversation on the
subject of the horrid need of tipping
walters to secure good service. Of
course the knights and ladies of this
refined day find more elevating mat
ters for talk.
1t remains to conclude that modern
tipping seems a minor affair, a sort
of curbstone transaction when COM
pared with the tipping of other times.
How much of the evil in it's present
form comes from the reading of his
torical novels, who can say? The born
instinct to be lordly is too strong in
us, or 1t is, and exciting it to further
follies is positively criminal. Here we
have dug down to the secret of Pow
erty. Joan probably took his girl to
the restaurant on his first Sunday off
and, in Sir GadZooks' best manner
gave his precious purse to the waiter
And Ginevra's ruby necklace went, no
doubt, the same way. Money is not
the root af all evil: it is the want of
money that makes the trouble. And
what but the tipping habit kept Joan
and Ginevra in want all their lives?