The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-04
OF ALL LIARS YOU
THINK THE NIGHT CLERK
Is THE BIGGEST WHEN HE
SAYS HE'S LONESOME
(Times-Union)

If anyone believes the night clerk
in a Jacksonville hotel has sine
cure. ask him. Don't be contented
with a eyes" or "no"-go into de-
tails and have him relate incidents
which prove that his lot is a hard
one, and that he is probably the
most prosecuted individual employed
at either weekly or monthly sti-
pend. When you fish the interview,
reach a conclusion; and there will
be a mutual understanding and SYM
pathy between you.
There are hotels and hotels; there
are hotels in Jacksonville and hotels
elsewhere, but the local group, prob
ably more than those in any other
city of these United States, draws the
most varied group of guests beneath
its shelter on any single night.
Especially is this true during the
busy tourist season. There comes
and registers the child, the maiden
in the full bloom of youth, the an
cient specimen of single femininity,
the married of all ages and condition
of finance, the decrept, the lame and
the halt There are those with
irascible dispositions and those with
equanimity. They come to be rest
full and satisfied, or to rant and Obj
iect to the slightest thing, which,
although intended to contribute to
their comfort, is different from what
they have been used to at home, as
though any hotel could be as COM
Portable as the domestic hearth.
When you enter the portals of a
big hotel in this city during the
small hoursof the morning, find the
lights dimmed to the incandescent
rays from one or two bulbs and see
the night clerk bending over his
books checking up late corners,
everything about the place probably
will give you first impression that
throughout the institution all is
resting peacefully But nay nay!
stick about and watch for what is
about to happen.
The Clerk Is Genial
The night clerk, whom We shall
say is a genial fellow, comes forward
and you engage him in conversation.
ardly have you uttered the first
! words, when the bell boy attending
to the house telephone switchboard
responds to a miniature illumination
before him, which indicates that the
guest in room No. 514 wants some
thing. The clerk pauses to receive
the news.
lice water to 514!" calls out the
/ operator, and there is a shutting of
feet, as another hop" grabs up a
pitcher and disappears.
The conversation, which may be
about night clerking, the war, base
ball or moving pictures, is resumed
to be interrupted moment later by
another flash on the switchboard
This time it is No. 600, who wants
bowl of soup. Another bell boy
is dispatched to a restaurant to gel
the desired edible.
The next call is from 1912. A gen.
tleman guest is demanding to speak
to the clerk.
ooh, Lord" means that individ
ual, sis that souse awake at thit
hour; wonder what he wants any
howl"
He excuses himself and answer
the call.
Hello. Yes, this is the clerk
What's that? Why, the manager
outfit won't be back until tomorrow
You can see him in the morning
Yes. yes, I know; but I tell you h,
isn't here. What did you want t,
see him about? Didn't like the mu
sic in the dining room tonight
What was the matter with it? Well
I'm sorry Of that. You'd better Sc,
the manager in tha mnrninp III