Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-12-27
TIPS TABOOED.
How m Adirondack Club Rids Its Mem.
bcra Of the Annoyance.

At Lake Placid. up in the Adirondack
country. 200 feet above the level of
the sea, the constructive genius Of man
has made 1t possible 90 enjoy in a unique
way some of natures finest hande
work. Some ten years go n number
of gentlemen who desired an ideal sum
mcr home in ideal surroundings formed
the Lake Placid club and buIlt a club
house on the shore Of Mirror lake, a
short distance from Lake Placid proper.
The aim of the club was TO secure health,
comfort and convenience, and conEen!al
Companonship and attractive recreations
in beautiful natural surroundings, at a
moderate cost as was consistent with
high standards. The plan was worked
| out and so successful has ii proven that
at the present time the plant comprises
5000 acres, including golf links. forest.
field and farms on Lakes Placid, Mirror
and Heart and on five rivers and numer-
Gus mountain brooks. 1t has complete
| sanitary city water works and drainage
four central club houses n cottages and
lodges and all other needed buildings and
facilities. Tho plant now represents an
outlay of over 500, go.
From the summer home it was but
step to the winter home also. for it is
now recognized that the charms of the
Adirondacks in winter are not less than,
though different from, those in summer.
Il was to meet these new conditions that
the newest of the club houses is now kept
open all tho year While it has all the
comforts OF the firstclass hotel. it is not
| n hotel and it is not even open to the
public. The club adds to its numbers only
| on personal invitation Of present men,
| bers but gladly extends such invitations
| as fast as It finds thoroughly congenial
people 1t has no bar. no gambling. stock
| ticker or sensationalism; no pretentiouS
| menu. but plenty of healthful we'll
| cooked food; ii disNpproVes elaborate
| jewelry, toilets. display and fashion. lne
! club has "A few rules and some of them
| have to do with tips. The evils and an
noyances of this custom are so generally
conceded that the regulations of the Lake
| Placid club in the matter are worth read
ing. The club believes in simpliied spell
| ing and the rules relating TO tips as post
ed in the office. read as follows
Tips are given for one or more of the
| following reasons:
| a Custom. which is mere imitation
b Fear of being thought mean, which
is cowardce
Desire to be thought generous, which
is vanity
Desire for some favor Inconsistent
with full justice TO others, which is br!-
beiy.
Desire to help the poor, which is
charity
f Because in some places no reasonable
service can be had without tipping, which
| is n hold up" by servants
| Il Because some extra service is wisht
not coverd by the price paid, which Is a
commendable desire to pay for all re-
ceivd.
| h Appreciation of satisfactory service
already renderd, or of personal liking,
which is generosity and good will
| Our club employees have been selected
as selfrespecting and unwilling to put
themselves in the place of mere hotel ser
wants. They are neither objects of char
ity nor social brigands. From the first
five motives our members should be free,
and from the sixth our servants are free
If prompted by the last two. all should be
willing to accept tho plan carefully ma
tured after ten years experience and
study, to pay for extras in the regular
bills and to reward for specially merito-
rious service only at the end of visits.
A. the close OF the visit individual gifts
may be made II desired, but ii is better to
place in the cooperative fund box In
the office such sum as each wishes 20
give in recognition of good service and
freedom from annoyance of tips and fees
Commentator or criticism will assist IN
distributing gifts pro rata and In choos-
ing staff for another year. Any empoye
violating the rule against tips and fees
thereby forfeits all right to share in this
gsparoi fund