Los Angeles herald., 1905-07-24
HOPKINSON SMITH
ENCOURAGES TIPS
AUTH0R-ARTIST PREPARES
FOR EUROPEAN TOUR
POCKETS $500 IN CHANGE
Tip and BE Glad" Is the Motto Of the
Generous Writer, Who Replies
to Article Of Mr..
Box

II love to give tips 1 always do It,
/ am delighted to have an opportunity
of showing that 1 appreciate the little
attentions of porters and walters and
all the other people who are so willing
to go out of their way to make me
comfortable. It's one of the luxuries
Of travel. If couldn't give tips I. think
I'd stay at home"
F. Hopklnson Smith, author, artist,
traveller and man of affairs, leaned for
ward in his chair. his eyes shining with
enthusiasm and emphasized these revo-
iutionary statements with outstretched
hand. The other hand, plunged deep
in Mr.. Smiths trousers pocket, seemed
about to extract a willing half dollar.
The blue smoke of his cigar curled
about Mr.. Smiths carefully brushed
gray hair as though it had been gen.
erously dealt with and loved to linger
around him.
Mr.. Smith was induced to give his
views Of tipping after perusaI of re-
lndTh5 ny buWdTu W. DUN tile IIiild-
delphia philosopher, on the same SUBJ
ject Mr.. Box has been saying things
about tips. He is troubled by the
thought that the practice of tipping
and the size of the tips are both on the
increase.
Mr.. Box says that the influence of the
vulgar. ostentatious rich of New York
has so exaggerated the tipping evil
that it threatens to BECOME national
plague, and he wonders how he can
criticise employees of the government
for taking bribes when we ourselves in
dulge in bribery to wit tipping, almost
daily.
Mr.. Smith does not agree with Mr..
Box He does not undertake to criti-
else the Philadelphia social observer
for thinking as he does but Mr.. Smiths
temperament and experiences in life
have led him to a different view.
Pleasure Of Tipping
Dickens remarked Mr.. Smith,
brushing aside the dolorous views of
Mr. Box little reproachfully, as he
might wave away cold soup, Dickens
said that he never looked oyer news
boys shoulder that he didn't long to
give him a shilling That's something
like my case. 1 love to tip walters,
porters, stewards and all the rest of
those who help me to get along COM
fortably. They deserve it, and 1t is as
great a pleasure for me to give as it
can be for them to receive.
Now look at it. The Pennsylvania
railroad, for instance, cannot be ex-
pected to provide corps of men to
carry my bag from the train, put 1t In
destination. The state provides that
the railroad shall carry passengers at
the rate of so much per mile; the COM
pany cannot add dollar to the legal
charge. Yet there you find these
porters, perfectly trustworthy and re-
liable, ready to take care of younr bag
or telegraph your wife or find the cab,
all in addition to their proper duties.
Isn't it only reasonable, then, that you
should help to increase their small
salaries by giving them a tip for their
trouble?
Il love to give darkies twenty-five
cents / always do it. / find them in
return polite and prompt and willing
to do anything for me. / took one of
them with me to Mexico once as mes
senger. There never was q more faith
full. trustworthy and willing darky
than that fellow.
Tips Are Merely Expenses
"The same thing in going abroad.
regard tips as part of the legitimate
expenses of the trip. 1t is proper and
fair that you should be willing to pay
for the extra attentions and kindness
you will receive, attentions which no
steamship proprietor could be expected
to provide for you, but in which the
traveller finds half the pleasure of his
holiday. So, when / estimate the ex-
penses of my trip put down so much
for steamship and railway fare. so
much for hotels. so much for other ex-
penses, then add 5000 for tips-money
just to give away. / have the worth OF
1t many times over In the comforts /