The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-08-12
SPURNED SMALL TIPS.
Two Similar Incidents With-very
Different findings.
A CONTRAST IN METHODS.

One Of the Experiences Was In New
York and the Other In Philadelphia
and the Outcome Left the Honors
With the Latter City.
Recently I witnessed couple of
tipping incidents that, it occurred to
me, illustrated a certain difference of
spirit in two cities,' observed a Wash
fngtonian who gets about good bit.
"One of the occurrences took place in
New York and the other in Philadel-
phia.
'"The New York incident reduced my
collar almost to a starchy pulp merely
to look at, although, of course, 1T was
none OF my business
IAN elderly, dignified, goateed man,
who struck me as being a not very
prosperous southerner marooned in an
uncongenial environment, entered
big, brass band Harlem restaurant and
took table close to mine. He ordered
sardine sandwich and a bottle of
beer. AS he addressed himself to the
beer and sandwich with no very mani
fest gusto, it seemed plain that he had
entered the place chiefly for the pur
pose of listening to some of the band
music and that he had given his mod
est order as sort of method of pay
ing for his enjoyment of the music.
The elderly mans bill was 30 cents.
He placed n half dollar on the table.
1.-The waiter picked the half up. Civ
Ing vent at the same time to q sort OF
smothered snort and. pulling two
dimes from his change pocket, tossed
Them In front of the elderly man ana
stood waiting, with a glare on his face.
The elderly man tucked one of the
dimes into his pocket and gently push
ed the other over to the edge of the
able for the waiter TO pick up. The
snort which the waiter gave this time
wasn't smothered at all, and then he
deliberately dipped the ten cent piece
Off the table on to the floor.
THE elderly man flushed from where
his white hair left off at his forehead
to where his somewhat frayed but Inn
maculately white collar began. Any
body could see that he felt the insult
and the humiliation keenly. Just as
he picked up his hat from the chair be-
side him to go out the pompous head
waiter passed close to his table, and
the elderly man summoned him.
".Sir,' / heard him say in a low
tone to the head waiter, who listened
to him with stoIid Indifference, 'one of
your walters has just subjected me to
a gross and uncaled for indignity. |
Reluctantly and entirely against my
will, but yielding to the custom which /
prevails in this city. gave the waiter
for his own use a sum of money
amounting to just one-third the price I
of the food and drink of which had I
oil pofn
temptuously threw that amount Of I
money on the floor. where it still lies.
1 have summoned you to inquire il
such gross disrespect toward a guest
has the approval Of the management I
of this establishments
1.-The lordly head waiter shrugged
his shoulders with sort of bored dep
recation and without a word of reply 4
turned his back upon the elderly man
and strolled away. The elderly man
arose and walked out, his face still
crimson.
1.-THE other tipping incident took
place a few days later in a Chestnut
street restaurant in Philadelphia y
man at the table next to mine had or
dered a couple of deviled crabs and a
bottle of ale. His bill was % cents.
4
waiter brought back quarter and
two dimes on a silver salver. The ,
guest picked the quarter and one Of
the dimes from the salver. The waiter
gave grunt and chucked the remain
ing dime off the salver on to the table,
then walked away with growl in his .
throat. The guest picked up the dime .
and stuffed it into his change pocket /
ho
waiter and told this waiter that he
wanted to see the manager of the res
taurant at once. The manager was at
the table In less than a minute. The
guest told him what he had to say in
a few quiet words.
"'Tell No. 10 to report here to me-
said the manager to the first passing
waiter.
"No. 10, the waiter who was so far
above dimes as tips that he tossed
them back at the givers, appeared in a
jiffy.
"'Go to the cashier and get your
time said the manager to the waiter
Then put on your hat and coat and
come back here TO me-
The waiter walked away and was
back presently, with his coat on and
his hat in his hand
You are suspended for n week.
said the manager to the waiter, but
before you leave 1 want you to apollo
gi8e to this gentleman for your con-
duct
"'Oh, there's other hash houses in
Phillie. / guess said the waiter i'm
pudently, turning to go.
THE manager. a medium sized but
muscular man. had that waiter by the
shoulders from behind In a good deal
less time than it takes to tell ii, and
he booted that waiter. holding him
that way by the shoulders from be-
hind all the way to the entrance and
then all the way across the sidewalk
to the curb ditch. where the waiter
was sent spinning like top, only pull
Ing up and getting his balance out in
the middle of the street between the
car tracks
II don't think the two incidents re-
quire any comment as to the difference
kx