Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-18
MAN Who D|Dh' TnT|P'
On a Two Weeks Vacation and
Never "Dug Up" Once.
IGNORED THE OPEN PALM
Personally Conducted Anti-Tipping
Crusade.
CARRYING OUT THE SCHEME
How It Feels to Play the Role Of a
Tight-Wad at the seashore-A
Martyr for Principle.
CARRYING OUT THE SCHEME

The nerviest man In the western hemi-
sphere returned to Washington a couple Of
days ago from fortnights vacation at
the seashore. He does not claim that he Is
the nerviest man in the western hemisphere.
but the fact that he was and Is became
perfectly patent as he progressed with his
story. He did not narrate the same in @
gloatful or even In an unduly elated tone.
He just told it in a matter-of-fact way,
wearing neither the hectic flush OF triumph
nor the aureoie Of victory.
All that I am maintaining" he said.
at the beginning. SIS that I probably hold
the record. I don't know positively that
do hold It, but I think I do. What rec
ord? The record Of having spent two
weeks in vacationizing at the seashore
without having shelled out single tip.
For about twenty years the tipping busi-
ness has eaten me up alive. SO to speak,
while on my summer vacations. Before
went away this time l made up my mind
that wasn't going to dig up one tip during
the entire trip. l got by with it. 1t was
hard work. It took a lot out of me- I got
the name among the untipped ones Of be-
mig the meanest, onneriest marked-down
skate that ever went hunting for a coat of
tan, but won out 1 haven't made up my
mind yet whether the games worth the
candle. nor do know whether I'll ever try
1t again. But I've tried 1t this once and
beat 1t, and that's some satisfaction, any
how. =.
Il came near falling down at the very
outset. when the baggage wagon man
called for my trunk to take 1t down to the
station here. I'd always been good for
TWO bits for the trunk hustler. and. II q
tip Is coming to anybody, I think 1t is due
to the fellow who picks up your big box
and grunts his way down the stairs with 1t
to the wagon. But had firmly determined
to make beginning Of my personally con-
Quoted anti-tipping crusade with the bag
gage man. and I didn't slip him anything.
although he surveyed me keenly before
lifting the trunk to see whether my hand
was going to my change pocket or not. But
I held the change-digging hand rigid. From
my front window I heard that baggage
hustler say to the driver OF the wagon, as
he banged my trunk viciously to the pave
ment before tossing it to the top of the
trunk-formed pyramid. This route Is full
another dead one.' but in inaugurating my
anti-tipping crusade I had steadled myself
against just such cracks, and so 1t didn't
bother me.
Getting Into the Habit.
''The black man with the gray uniform
and the red cap, station porter gave me
another bit Of practice before got actually
out Of town. I probably looked like live
one to him. and he met me at the depot
door, calmly took my two suit cases away
from me. asked and found out what train
l was taking and the number Of my parlor
car seat. wasn't particularly anxious to
have him carry those suit cases. I could
have carried them myself without any in
convenience. But he took them right AWAY
from me without any by-your-leaye and
80 felt absolved from tipping him on an
additional ground. He carried the suit
oy,6 1-.k
alongside my chair. I was right after him.
and took my chair. He stood waiting. with
q grin. 1 made no move. although / muir
INJURED that was much obliged. A certain
wan quaiity appeared at the corners Of his
grin. but he thought he had a little way
OF making his gouge stick.
Hot day, boss. he said, removing his
cap and scratching his forehead Man
a-hustlin' Is lible t. git thirst, suh'
Ye-eh,' I said, dryly, and he positively
scowled at me and retreated down the aisle
of the car. muttering. I'd always been
there with at least Is cents for the station
porter who carried my grips to the car,
but by this time I had renewed my deter
mination to stick out my anti-tipping stand,
and, though felt certain flush Of humili-
alton. I let him go tipless all right. I re-
Elected that he was paid by the railroad
company to help travelling folks with their
hand luggage. This reflection didn't help
me much. so abject had become by years
OF habit in the tipping business, but 1t
helped little.
THE parlor car porter came and fused
around my chair after the train started,
putting on a new linen head rest over the
top Of the chair, quite needlessly reflxing
my umbrella and cane in the overhead
rack and SO on, and making a grinning
didn't expect his tip till the end of the
journey, when he'd do his childish little
brushing-ofr act, and I mentally foresaw
the surprise on his face when I'd alight
without handing him anything
Had the Porter Guessing.
There was a luncheon buffet attached to
the parlor car. and rang up this same car
porter. who ran the buffet. before we made
Baltimore, and ordered a sandwich and a
cup of coffee. He spread the table very
neatly for me. and when I flashed a big
handful of silver change in paying for my
slight rejection and gave him the exact
change a certain expression of suspicion
crept into his eyes. Plainly he expected
a piece Of backsheesh from those to whom
he served some lunch as well as, probably.
from the same folks at the journeys end I
think that car porter's suspicion crystalized
into conviction when. after leaving Will
mington, went into the smoking compart-
ment and rang for him to fetch me a bottle
Of beer. and. In giving him a quarter in
payment for the same, reached out for the
cents change. There was. a quite sulIen
look in his eyes when I pocketed that
nickel.
"But he swung along to my chair, all the
same, to do the brush-off thing shortly be-
fore the train reached the seaside resort
He took my straw hat out OF the rack and
brushed the ribbon first, and, when I saw
that was compromised that far, decided
that might just as well stand up and let
him finish the brushing Job. With some
thing Of desperation In his moves and ami
mated and made energetic by the suspicion
of me that consumed him. he busted me off
thoroughly. Then I sat down and looked
out of the window at the salt marshes Out
of the corner of my eye caught the dark
ling gaze OF pure hatred with which he re-
garded me. But the incident was over, and
he moved down, the aisle untipped by me.
Don't imagine that did these things in
serene mood. had, as 1 say. been
helpless victim of the tipping evil for too
many years to feel placid in such whitening
circumstances. But I was just sticking to
a thoroughly formed purpose, that's all.
THE station porter at the seaside resort
grabbed my suit case out of my hand almost
before / got down from the last step of
the car and asked me what hotel bus I
wanted. ] told him, and hes hustled my
suit cases to that hotel bus. looked him
square in the eye-I was gaining in pose
and nerve by this time-and told him was
much obliged.
Use glad yo. all feels 'bieegedfs boss he
replied fmpudently. but dat don't git me
nothifl', and with a heavy Scowl he went