Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-06
PARIS, May %. 1908.

WOULD like to have the creature by
the ear who first invented tipping.
and he'd hear few things not
4 exactly complimentary. l fancy the
practice commenced in the ark. when
one OF the late corners hit upon this plan
to secure good accommodations. Whatever
the origin of the abuse. it requires almost
a superhuman effort to be charitable in
discussing this matter. but in the inter
est of universal peace let US suppose that
In acting in this selfish fashion the Of
fender had no idea of the heritage he
was bequeathing to posterity. l am sure
had he though. twice before he gave
once his hand would have been stayed
rather than incur the wrath of those who
have to suffer for his vulgar ostentation.
There is no getting over the fact that tip
ping is tyranny. We rail against II.
Still. none of US has the moral courage to
apply the remedy. Who Is there. when
the psychological moment arrives and the
subservient hand projects itself. that
dares tell the applicant to go about his
party at the Ritz the other night could
not produce the necessary nerve. al
though his theories We're all against this
kind of hold-up game.
AS an illustration of the practice of
tipping take the average first-class restau-
rant and you will md Ii veritable hot
bed of fee hunters. First of ALL here IL
Paris. there is the six-foot giant at the
door. the chasseur. who does nothing more
eXkausting than touch his cap when the
visitor enters and leaves. He must have
his share of the loot. The next claimant
is the cloakroom attendant, who probably
has an understudy to help him in case,
apparently, he should break down I'M
der the arduous load of carrying hat
and coat at the same time. Bang. Away
go few more sous. This, however, is
only the beginning of things. The real
business OF tipping does not commence
until the bill makes its appearance. Then
half the entire staff seems to come for
ward. There is. to begin with. the head
waiter. who until now has taken only an
apathetic interest in the proceedings. but
is thoroughly aroused at the present mo-
ment After him arrives the man who
has done the actual waiting. He has an
assistant and the assistant has n deputy,
although II is quite unlikely that either
of the latter has shown any signs of eX-
istence until now. These. unfortunately,
are but the advance guard. so TO speak.
for the wine waiter. the feZ-capped negro
who serves the coffee. the man who brings
round the cigars and the small boy who
telephones for theater stall all put in a
mute but none the less eloquent claim to
be remembered I tell you that to run
the gauntlet of gratuity seekers at real
" smart restaurant for anything much
less than a louis is a distinct achievement.
Graft at Weekend Parties.
At this time of the year, when we all
love to be invited to spend week end at
some charmingly hospitable country villa
or chateau without the gates of Paris. un-
less the exchequer Is in fiourishing con-
dition. we hesitate to accept the invita-
ton, knowing what a serious item the tips
will be-not that the amounts of these
tips are large. but that the staff of serv-
ants Is likely to be appalling when doing
out time comes around. In many of the
big country houses the custom prevails
Of placing a box in the billiard room for
fhe reception of these tips. But even the
well-meaning hosts good intentions are
often frustrated by people with more
money than manners who make surrepti-
tious gifts.
The principal objection To the pernicious
practice OF tipping is that there is no
rhyme or reason about il. In nearly every
case, too. il is the wrong person who gets
the tips-that is. not the person who does
the real work. At Il restaurant for exam
pie. Vile the walters and hangers-on
are literally recognized, the cook is ig-
nored altogether, and then We tip porters
and not engine drivers. 1t has always
seemed to ME that these latter are among
the few really deserving OF recognition at
the hands OF the travelling public. Yet
how often does the engineer receive as
much as Thank YOU for his RESPONSE
bile duties. Still. it's no use compla lining
1t is hard to kick against tips.
Dreams of LONELINESS.
The summer gowns Of our remembrance