Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-07-26
WHAT'S APOOR
CHECK GIRL TO
DO THESE DAYS
With Prohibition and Everything,
Maibelle Says Dime Is Larg-
est Tip She Gets.

THE old Job isn't ike It used to
be before John Barleycorn left as,
soIiloquized Mafbelle- accent on
the belle" the check girl. as she
sat idly on her stool in front of the
check stand in one of the hotels.
Business is on the blink. OF
course, it always falls off in the
summer, but since June 80 it took
a dive and hasn't ever come up for
breath Yesterday they let two OF
the girls go and expect before it's
over some more OF US will follow.
And then, what's a poor check girl
going to dor
Maibelle stopped long enough to
powder her nose and turn in few
stray wisps of her dark brown hair.
Smiles Have Less Value.
Now Just stay here a minute and
watch this man coming up" she
continued out OF one corner of her
mouth, while her eyes and smile
were on the customer. He's regu
lar around here and in good old
days he always used to be good for
quarter. He always stopped
downstairs for a highbail or two.
and it sort of warmed him up a bit.
I'll bet you he doesn't give me more
than a dime and III give six bits
worth of smil's."
1t was just as she said. The
customer was bright and CHEEKY,
but he only placed a dime in her
hand in return for the hat and the
smile.
"Of course it makes no difference
to US, one way or another" she con-
tinued, resuming her place on the
stool. I'VE get a regular salary,
based on how good we are. Some
girls can draw more than others
from the men, and they get paid
better. Our wages vary from So
to $50 a week. The hotels and
cabarets usually lease out their
checking privileges and we are hir-
ed because we're good looking and
smile lot and kid the trade along.
A good kidder always gets more
tips and that means more pay.
Average nights the girls would
take in Sc, $40 or sometimes as high
as SIS apiece. My best night was
$50. But now? With all these
dimes and nickels you are lucky to
take in SIS in the afternoon and
night.
Pennies to a Check Girl.
"Why. they've even taken to Civ
ing US nickels. Who ever heard Of
the like. Nickels to a check girl
One man came in here the other
night and gave one Of the girls
three pennies. She was so mad she
threw them at him. OF course she
shouldn't have lost her temper. but
think Of it, three pennies for a hat
and a dollar smile. And they never
used to give us less than dime.
We usually checked in at night
with more quarters than dimes, and
there was always a sprinkling of
half dollars and a dollar or two.
"Bu: no more. A man. with two
or three drinks will give you a half
dollar or maybe a dollar occasion
ally. But if he hasn't had drink
he'll never hand you more than
dime.
''If this business keeps up some
body's going to lose some money.
We girls won't because we get
salary, but we're liable tn lose our
jobs and the tipping business will
be back where it belongs. The ho-
tells and cabarets won't capitalize
smiles and good nature. but they'll
have to pay the girls themselves
and stand a loss instead of making
big profit on 1t. All because old
John Barleycorn left US.
Tipping Is ON the Bum.
81 got to get busy. Here comes
the boss, and we're notisupposed to
talk to trade any longer than nee
essary or even count our money, for
that matter. If they catch us
counting our tips they think we're
trying to knock down some dimes. |
Just tell 'em for me the tipping
business is on the bum, but don't |
put my name in the paper because |
I'll get canned soon enough as it is, |
with business so poor"
And Maibelle slipped behind her |
little counter to catch the noon |
.rade coming out--and smile and |
collect her nickels and dimes.