The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1912-11-02
Hotels Employ Detectives to Re-
cover Stolen Goods.
Mania of Collecting Mementos Not
Practiced by Actors Any More
Than by Others-Provcs
an Expensive Fad.

New York; he concerted action of
the house detectives of all the large
hotels in America has removed the
points from two formerly excellent
stories, the first ascribed to an &C
tress, who, when asked once if she
had ever been in Kansas City, replied,
Il can't just remember, but ! will
look among my towels and see;' and
the second, the narrative of the young
man who was obliged to break off his
engagement because as he left the
dining room of large hotel with his
hancee a number of forks and spoons
fell from the sleeves of her gown.
The house detectives have devised
plan whereby the man or woman who
wants to take souvenir from big
botel finds his path blocked with
many obstacles.
First, the detective is provided with
complete list of everything which
10 owned by the hotel. Then he dele
gates the responsibility for the care
" them to various head walters, wait
rs, housekeepers and chambermaids.
Then he gets list each day Of new
trrivals and of those who are pre-
pairing to leave. From these lists OF
occupied rooms the detective picks
out the places where trouble might
arise and into these he goes with his
subdivided lists and checking-up
book.
| The chambermaid is required to
give an exact accounting of every piece
Of linen she has supplied to the man
or woman who is about to leave. This
is in turn taken to the laundries,
where a balance is made. If there is
q precise balance the matter ends
there, but woe to the woman who
believes that the towels she placed
carefully in her locked trunk will not
be missed"
Her trunks and bags, on their way
downstairs, are carried to the base
ment floor and there the house detec
tive, with the aid Of skeleton key
goes through them in search OF lost
hotel linen.
1t is very gently removed ano
checked up on the housemaids list
and the trunk is carefully repackee
and relocked Nothing is left to give
warning that the search has beer
made. And nothing is said to the de
parting guest.
She goes on her way, and is usual!
,erplexed to account for the fact tina
he towels and pillow cases that sh'
Knows well she put into her trunl
have disappeared.
And in the case Of silverware tn
matter Is almost as simple, thougl
remedying these thefts requires taR
Ing into your confidence at least TN
man who pays the bill. Every waite
has his eye trained to count up Tn
silyerware while be Is placing IN
finger bowls. and If so much as on
small spoon is not where 1t should pe
It Is placed upon the bill.
II used to be fad to have collet
lion of spoons from the hotels an
cafes The women seemed bent o
; carving of something to prove tna
they had been there-or perhaps
remind themselves OF party tne
{ didn't want to forget.
One of the house detectives OF
bfs Broadway hotel took occasion
: yindicate theatrical people from tne'
= time-honored reputation OF taKin
> ANYTHING out Of a hotel that WASH
nailed down. ~
.You know that old story OF tn
roller towels IN all the theatres
+ hotels and boarding houses 80 ina
actors couldn't steal them, ne sal
~Well that does for the comic sI
Q plement, but it's not fair. the trunl
W. have to rife to rescue the hous