The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1906-04-05

N N ANY of our readers, especially
M those unfortunates who have
Iv been in this institution num-
ber of years, can have no
conception of the rapidity with which
the nuisance of tipping is growing in
this country, tho as yet it is princi-
pally confined to the larger cities and
pleasure resorts, and not near as uni
versal as in European countries. But
it bids fair, not only to equal those
foreign countries, but to outdo them,
at least so far as concerns the none
tary value of tips. 1t may, therefore,
not be uninteresting to learn how, and
when, and where this custom origi-
mated.
Our oldest sociologic information
tells us about one certain kind of tip.
Seven and eight centuries ago, when
travel was scarce, and when inns and
other public houses did not exist, the
few persons, who were compelled to
undertake journey, had to rely on
the hospitality of friends and of stran-
gers. To pay for such hospitality
would have been deemed an insult to
the host, and visitor could express
his thanks for the favor shown by
words only. 1t was different with
those servants of his host who had
cooked after his comfort and personal
accommodation. To these gratitude
could be expressed by the donation
of money and other things, without
wounding the feelings of their masters.
And it,seems that was generally done.
In later centuries, when inns and
hotels had come into existence, the
traveller continued to reward those
servants of the house whose services
and attentions had pleased him.
How all this has changed in our
modern timesl When one travels any.
where on the Continent of Europe, and
is about to depart from hotel, then
a big bell is sounded, and before the
guest can reach his waiting carriage
he is surrounded by viritable host OF
domestics, walters, porters, chamber
maids, ETC., who with many courtesies
and smiles, and with faces glowing
with anticipation, have come to bid
him safe and pleasant journey
That all these persons expect tip
goes without saying. It is a nuisance
absolute robbery-for in those Euro
pean hotels every guest has beer
charged in his bill for SERVICE" aye
even for the candles or other illumina
tions he is supposed to have used
The landlords encourage this bare
faced imposition; they figure on 1t
and pay accordingly lower wages t.
their domestics. This kind Of opel
piracy, thank heaven, has not as ye
been introduced by our more practica
hotel managers, tho the tipping of in
dividual hotel servants is CONSTANT,
assuming larger proportions.
If tipping had remained confined T.
hotels, it would have been tolerable
That it became as obnoxious and uni
versal as it now is, can be traced to
custom prevalent in Vienna for tn
last fifty years, and it is almost ridicu
lous to think that such great annoy
ance should have originated from s
small a cause.
In the beginning of the ffties it bt
came customary IN Vienna, and 500
after in all parts of Austria, to charg
the guests in all public restaurants fe
the bread, mustard, butter and all othe
"extras" they had used with the
meals. When he is ready to pay b
bill, the waiter enumerates what tt
guest has ordered, and then asks hi
how many rolls, or slices of rye hrea
he has taken from the plate standiI
before him on the table. Butter, mu
tard, ETC., are not included in q mes
but the waiter knows if these thinI
have been used as he brings them, {
demand, in q separate dish. A roll.
slice Of bread, costs two kreutz
(less than half cent?, mustard thr
kreutzer, butter eight kreutzer, e1
That made inconvenient change, al