The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1909-01-01
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 witnessed q couple Of
opping incidents that. it occurred to
NE, illustrated certain difference OF
spirit In two Cities" observed a Wash
ingtonian who gets about a good III.
Zone Of the occurrences took place H.
New York and the other In Philade.
phia.
''The New York incident reduced M
collar almost to starchy pulp mere.
to look at, although, of course, it wa
none of my business.
IAN elderly. dignified, goateed man
who struck me as being q not very
prosperous southerner lsarooned in al
uncongenial environment. entered Il
big, brass band Harlem restaurant an;
took table close to mine. He ordere
sardine sandwich and bottle @.
beer. AS he addressed himself to the
beer and sandwich With no very mar.
fest gusto, 1t seemed plain that he had
entered the place chiefly Tor the pur
pose Of listening to some Of the band
music and that he had given his mod
est order as Q. sort Of method of pay.
ing for his enjoyment of the music
The elderly mans bill was 30 cents
He placed half dollar on the table.
'The waiter picked the half up, Civ.
ing vent at the same time to a sort of
smothered snort, and. pulling two
dimes from his change pocket, tossed
them in front Of the elderly man and
stood waiting, with 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
table for the waiter to pick up. The
snort which the waiter gave this time
wasn't smothered at all, and then he
deliberately tipped the ten cent piece
OF tho table on to the floor.
'"The elderly man flushed from where
his white hair left of at his forehead
to where his somewhat frayed but i'm
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.' I heard him say In q low
tone to the head waiter. who listened
to him with stoiId indifference, one of
your waters has Just subjected me to
. gross and uncalled for indignity.
Reluctantly and entirely against my
will. but yielding to the custom which
prevails IN this city. gave tho waiter
for his own use sum Of money
amounting to just one-third the price
Of the food and drink OF which had
partaken. Before my eyes he con.
temptuously threw that amount of
money on de door, whsrs It still lies.
I have summoned you 10 inquire II
such gross disrespect toward q guest
Of this establishments
The loNlly head waiter shrusged
be shoulders with q sort Of bored dep
recation and without q word Of reply
turned his back upon the elderly man
and strolled away. The elderly man
arose and walked out BIZ face still
crimson.
Tho other tipping incident took
place a few days later in q Chestnut
street restaurant in Philadelphia. A
man at the table next to mine had or.
dered couple Of deviled crabs and a
bottle Of ale. His bill was IS cents.
he gave the waiter q dollar bill. The
waiter brought back a quarter and
two dimes on 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 of the salver on to the table,
then walked away with growl in his
throat. The guest picked up the dime
and stuffed 1t into his change pocket
Then he summoned another passing
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 minute. The
guest told him what he had to say in
few quiet words.