The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-12-17

ganization. The average hotel guest
has probably never heard Of LUnloD
GenevoIse, On che international Hotel
Employee society, as it Is also known.
The first IS the proper title, and, as It
implies. the society was formed In
Geneva, Switzerland 1t does many
things for the quiet men IN black who
serve the hungry in hotel dining rooms.
After having been thoroughly trained
and made competent to hold a place In
any civilized country the waiter is
sure Of assistance wherever he may be.
from Bloemfontein, South Africa, to
Boston. On arriving In a strange city
he has only to present himself at the
Offices Of the association and exhibit
his membership book, which shows
whether he has paid his dues and
whether he was honorably discharged
from his last place.
In case Of illness, after a man has
been a member from six months to five
years, he receives So cents a day. II,
on the other hand his membership has
spread over five years, the amount he
gets is $125 day; II more than ten
and up to fifteen years, S1.60, and for
anything above fifteen years, 50 for
each day. In order to qualify as
member Of the club it is necessary that
candidate be Of good character and
shall have been connected with the
hotel and restaurant trade for at least
two years. Above all, he must be
thoroughly competent and experienced
waiter,
"A first class waiter IS born, not
made" says a former head waiter of
the hunting room Of the Hotel Astor.
"From the moment that a man enters
on his duties as the most Insignificant
'piccolo, or omnibus, we can tell
whether be is going to be an efficient
servant He must be attentive with
out being servile, must be nolseless,
deft handed and, above all, must be
careful not to break things
"Even II he has a nataral aptitude
for the business the amount Of care
ful instruction required to form him is
very great, although his nationality
makes much difference IN the matter.
The best men are generally French, Ger.
man or Swiss, and these have often
had the advantages Of attending acad
emies OF even kindergartens estab.
lished at foreign hotels in Tie OH sea-
son, when they break plates. spoil sll
verware and generally sustain parts In
universal comedy Of errors, to the
great disgust Of the guests upon whom
they practice their trade. The walters
academy in Vienna is the foremost in
the world.
knowledge OF several languages is
very necessary qualification, and
hardly any scrap Of general informa
ton comes amiss, but tact and dlscre.
ton are the walters chief virtues. Hls
attitude should be that Of a soldier. al
ways at attention, always ready for
the word Of command. He should an.
sWer politely when addressed, keep at
respectful distance from the table
yet always be near enough to be easily
called when wanted In fact. a really
good waiter should need no calling, but
make point Of watching the guests
face, 50 as instantly to observe what Is
wanted almost before the guest him.
self has had time to form a wish"
In the hierarchy Of waiterdom the
head waiter stands first Next comes
the assistant head waiter, followed by
the captains" whc supervise each his
own part Of the dining room, the serY-
Ing walters and the piccolo" and
omnibus" men, who keep the water
carafea filled. remove dishes which
have been used and generally supply
the tables with what small articles
may be required from time to time
According to Augusto or the hunting
room. the head waiter should always
meet the guest as be enters and cour
eeously commit him 70 the cara Of one
q the captains, who places him at 4
table.
re la the duty Of the walter to heIp
people to eat" said Auguste. How
can pan who nearly always eats At
home lean to eat 1t a hotel without
some assistanceS The menu Is 70 hlmal
most q Chinese puzzle, which be studies
laboriouaIy and with little profit In
despair be orders three steaks when
one would do; then he is angry at hav.
Ing 70 pay Tor 90 much that "a not