The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-23
TIPPING TERROR IN ENGLAND
Fashionable Folly That Has Reached
Its Climax.

cradle rules the world has the merit OF
fundamental truth, says the London E1-
press, but there Is much to be said also
for the new and revised version, The
hand that slips the silver rules the roast.
The wealthy traveller puts his less for
tunate fellows to considerable inconven-
ienoe when he secures a railway carriage
to himself by tipping the guard the
wealthy hotel visitor. by preliminary and
promissory tips to the head waiter, secures
lightning service at the expense OF the
poorer visitors, and the wealthy guest at
country house, whose generosity Ii known
to the family butler, receives the almost
undivided attention Of the servants.
The evil Of the tipping system u uni.
versally admitted and deplored, but until
recently little effort has been made to miti-
gate 1t. 1t is a fair instance OF poetioal JUS
tice. The insidious system, II 1t did not
originate in these isles has, at any rate,
grown to be most rampant among the Eng
lish speaking peoples.
There are really cheerful signs, however,
of rebellion against form OF oppression
which weighs heavily on men and women
with moderate means.
popular firm Of caterers has dared to
open a huge restaurant where their en-
ployees are absolutely forbidden to receive
gratuities of any kind.
Countless tea shops In London thrive
on the mo gratuities' plan. Then. why
should not restaurants conducted on the
same system prosper equally we'll? It Is
well known that hundreds of London walters
work without a wage and are absolutely
dependent for their living on the tips they
receive.
II tips were abolished in all hotels and
restaurants there would probably be
strike Of walters. That would be unpleas-
ant, Of course, but in the end the proprietors
would be forced to pa y each man q fair
wage, and the public would triumph.
In country house life some half dozen
hostesses are leading a reform movement
which, 1t is expected, may have far reaching
results.
In one large houss where a big shooting
party has already foregathered a small
collection box is placed in the room OF each
guest Into this DO K, when he or she de-
parts the guest places a general offer ing
to tn indoor servants.
The hostess holds the keys Of all the
boxes and these are opened at the end OF
the season, when the contents are divided
equally among all the men and women
employed in the household:
In the gun room is another box, where
similar collections are made for the keepers
and outdoor servants.
In this way no servant or k,eper can
possibly tell which one of the guests de-
posted the .c5 note or which one the hVe
shilling piece.
Instead, therefore, OF that subtle in
| equality Of treatment which he 10 usually
compelled to endure at the hands OF SER
x,.han ha country hONap Visiting,
the comparatively poor man meets with
the same attention in the morning and
evening as the millionaire.
Nor, can the head keeper with his GA.
bolical memory for bygones and Insufficient
tips put the DOR man in the worst position
when shooting the coverts.
In the other houses mentioned. general
collection box for indoor servants rs kept
in the smoking room.
The difficulty encountered by these daring
host esses lies in the engagement OF servants;
each servant must be told OF the system
before he or she is engaged, and In many
cases the mere suggestion OF the collection elton
shuddering from the premises, but when
the system has once been firmly established
1t is said to answer admirably.
At present hundreds OF men who are fond
of sport are compelled to refuse tempting
invitations to country houses because Of
the tipping terror" which Is in them.
Here is the little abil" which confronts
the English country house visitor.
The coachmsn or chauffeur who drives him. 60 10
The butler who smiles at him .,............. !
The The head head Keeper who places" HIM.
The under keeper who looks at him ,....,. 10
The above items are based on a three
or four days shoot. For a fortnights
stay the figures would be nearly trebled,
In Scotland, where collection boxes
would be difficult to institute on large
sporting estates where fishing. stalking,
and grouse shooting entail the employ
| tips make the visit Of a poor man to big
place impossible, and wealthy Americans
and South African magnates have not
improved the situation.
Whether all the railway lines in the king
dom are electrified or not, railway portersy
| like the poor and appendicitis, we shall
| always have with u.s. and IT Is extremely
| improbable that shareholders OF railway
! companies will ever cry with loud voice
Raise the wages Of the porters, and abolish
tips"
Nor will many people grudge the pennies
given to men who shoulder heavy trunks
and answer inane questions from morning
to night.
ter, the night porter, the boots. the head
waiter, the housemaid-who makes the
travellers life burden. On the day OF his
departure the hotel guest is confronted by
! smiling faces, most OF them quite unlafnli-
lar to him. His way to the cab Is through
an avenue Of palms. and the proprietor,
aiding and .abetting with his presence.
stands like cold Fate In the hall surveying
the scene. ,.,
It cannot be denied that the English
man has brought the trouble upon him
self, and that the American has made mat
ters worse. In out-of-the-way places In
France, Germany and Italy. where tips
are measured in halfpennies, the arrival
OF an Englishman or an American sends a
thrill through the only walters heart.
He scents tips to which he Is not accus.
toned. and, what is more. II he does not
get them he is inclined to be indifferent in
his attentions.
The dread Of christmas boxes sends
thousands Of people out Of London every
year, and no number Of tips can make up
Tor the consequent loss OF trade,
The postman, the tradesmen's carriers
and messengers, the coalheaver, and even
the unfamiliar dustman are only few
| OF those who combine to make the house,
| holders life a burden at Christmas time.
| A good start, however, has been made
with walters and domestic servants. The
rest Of the remedy lies with the public
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| How MeNicans Test EEgs.