Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-04-05
ATTACKS
THE TIP
HABIT
Editor Ladies Home
Journal Tells Ex>
perience
1t Costs More in New York
for GratuitieS to Ser
wants Than for
Meals

The editor of the Ladies' HON,
Journal has once or twice freed hi
mind on the narrow point of view o
New Workers. But he has never me
so much general truth in short arti
Gle as he has in an editorial in The
April number of his magazine.
Living in the quiet seclusion of the
millionaire-crowded Philadelphia Mr.
Box finds a trip to New York almost
as dangerous to the pocketbook as q
trip in the jungle would be to human
life. But the enjoyable part of it to
the man who has been there is, not
that Mr.. Box roasts New York, but
that the instances of extortion which
he presents had each it's penalty at
his hands.
The tip habit is fragrant in New
York, and will remain so as long
as the newly rich American goes
there to help 1t on. The man who
knows better must constantly defend
himself-as Mr.. Box was obliged to
do. At first thought this sounds easy.
Learn what a thing should cost and
then pay just that. That's easy. No
trouble at all. Well, let's sea-
Read Mr.. Bok's personal experience
and then ask yourself II you did not
suffer the same graft-and ask any
man Of your acquaintance If he did
not go through it also. You will be
surprised to find how universal is the
custom, and how few are the men who
have for the sake Of principle stood
against the system as did Mr.. Box.
Says he:
I ordered, and ate, a light dinner
costing $h40, and gave the waiter
fifteen cents as fee. He looked at
the two pieces of money contempt.
uously and muttered to another wait.
er standing by, That fellow1l get
rich quick"
! called the manager and said:
This waiter here just brought me
$1.4O worth of food that did not be-
long to him and which he is paid
to serve me, l gave him ten per cent.
Of the bill as a fee: the most can
get for my money is six per cent. He
not only accepted that fee contempt.
uously but chose TO insult me-"
left. So did the waiter.
The next day friend asked me to
lunch with him in what is known as
a very "swelp restaurant.
| ordered a bowl of milk and crack.
ers. wanted to see what would
happen.
1t happened! It took the combined
efforts of two walters and the head
waiter to see what was going to do
with such a strange order! So far
back is childhood of the average New
York waiter!
When the CHECK" came my simple
order cost sixty cents.
called the manager and asked
him to point out on the bill-of-fare
how the price was arrived at. He
studied and then figured out that
had had the equivalent of a pint Of
milk, and my crackers numbered
exactly eight
Change that check to twenty
cents, he said
| begged my friend to allow me to
pay the check; had special reason.
l did so and gave the waiter ten
cents as fee.
He looked at the dime, tipped the
coin in the air and put it into his
pocket without word of thanks.
l asked him to let me see the coin
a moment He did So put it in
my pocket and strode out
can still see the look on that wait,
er's face. 1t was study in expires.
sionl
went into an antique" Cd shop.
and saw an old Dutch plate.
"Seventy-five dollars" said the smil.
ing salesgirl.
And this Delft shoe?" | asked.
Ten dollars"
Real Delft. l suppose?" | asked.
"oh, yes, sir" she replied.
Prom Delft in Holland?"
"Yes. sir; we imported it direct
from there"
I asked TO see the proprietor. He
verified all the salesgirl said. Then I
spoke In Dutch to him.
rs this shoe from Delft?" asked
II had. OF course. never seen Delft
or Holland. II WAS like so much OF
our cO-called Dtlft-made in Germany
And the $500 plate was offered