The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-11-07
A Tip to the Tipsters

evolution Of the clipping evil" through
the medium Of which We are annually
mulcted out OF the price OF Wool
worth building or . pair Of battleships
we can but admit the pith and
merit OF an argument recently ad-
vanced by an English landlord to an
irate guest who refused to pay trib-
ute for service.
IL will not pay tips" declared the
irate guest, land l will not. accept
poor, or even mediocre service! Now,
do YOU want my PATRONAGE"
FRANKLY" admitted the landlord,
"I do not--that 10. not under the sys-
tenn which am compelled to use at
present in tho management OF my
hotel.
"You. my dear sir. are one Of q
very small percentage of persons
less than FIVE per cent to be more
exact-who are attempting to abol-
ish the tipping evil. The other ninety
Ave per cent of my guests apparently
believe In tipping. or at least submit
| 70 it-and we base our wage-lists and
our guest-rates on the custom OF that
majority.
To-day can hire hrst-class wait
or for ten shillings week. a porter
for eight and chambermaid for ive.
They are glad to take comparatively
nominal wage because OF the tips
they will receive, and because these
tips are practically assured am able
10 offer good service at reasonable
rates.
The ten-shilling waiter. for example
probably picks up another thirty
shillings week In tips. ana 10 satis-
fed. Were tipping to be abolished
and guestrates advanced. could
probably pay this waiter forty shill-
inrs a week-but n do 90 now, with
the tipping evtl extant. the man
would be grossly overpaid and spoil
ed.
Thus. you see. the patrons Of my
hotel are practically co-employers OF
the servants in the house--and when
the small minority In which you boast
membership, refuses to pay its share
OF the wages, the servants refuse 70
work for it-just as any employed
person refuses to work for the man
who doesn't pay.
LAS long - ninetyAve per cent OF
the travelling public insists upon los
tering and encouraging the tippine
evfl the other Ave per cent which
refuses to give tips-wfll either have
to put mp with surly and Indifferent
service or stay at homo. The hotel
manager IL powerless in the matter!
Hence, as you refuse to accept this
condition amiably, and will probably
say hard things about my establish
ment when you are gone. I should
prefer recommending you to another
hotel around the corner. where an at
tempt IL being made to enforce the
'anti-tip' idea!"
We cannot blame this landlord In
view of conditions-yet It seems
strange that. with the tipping and
subsididxing that II now demanded
In European and American hotels, the
rates Of accommodations continue te
grow. rather than diminish, and the
service gets "wuss n wuss" instead
Of better, no matter what We pay!
In this connection It ID pleasing
to 'the five percenters," at least
Ito note that the organized walters are
campaigning for a law against tips
Realizing that the public IL getting
mighty tired Of the eternal puzzle Of
what shall give him." the metro
politan biscuit-shooters and tablemer
are circulating q petition aimed al
the tipping evil. and have already
secured more than 1000 signatures
among their craftsmen.
With q $500 fine hanging over the
head Of the would-be tipeter and tipee
the nerve-racking system would soon
become q lost art-to the relief oil
both servitor and customer. neither
one Of whom is satisfied with the ex
listing conventions In the, matter
New York Commercial
|
Our Rulers.
Tho cook, who has charge OF the
department OF the interior.
The courier, who takes charge Of
foreign affairs.
The charwoman, who cleans US out
Of house and homo.
Tho coachman, who drivos, us hith
er and yon.
The janitor, who sometimes 'roasts
us" and sometimes gives us q cold
shake
The Iaundress, who often wrings
our bosoms.
The lady's maid. who keeps her
mistress In order.
The man servant, who keeps his
master In order.
The parlor maid, who makes
clean sweep daily.
The white wings" who get away
with our dust"
The elevator boy, to whom We owe
many OF our ups and downs.
The footman, who ofton let's US In
The waiter, who puts us IN our
places.
The butler, who 80 largely controls
four spirits.
The gardener. who often cuts down
our supply Of asparagus.
The chauffeur, who runs the whole
machine.-Geo. b. Norwood. In
1 YsxAN