Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-09-19

n EW YORK, Sept IA month ago, a
NJ well-groOm gentleman of and
gracious manner registered in large
New York hotel. He occupied one of the
finest suites to be had, and Immediately be-
gan the distribution of large-sized tips which
created a sensation even among a hotel
force that had long since ceased to be sur
prised at anything. 1t soon discovered
that the gentleman was & chief stakeholder
in a big mining company, after which the
entire service of the hotel, from cigars to
taxicabs, was at his disposal, the vulgar mat
ter of charges being taken care of by the
cashier Only one thing married the enjoy
ment of the guest, and that was the failure
of his baggage, containing valuable papers,
to appear. After a few days, this also be-
gan to trouble the management.
Here the hotel clerk who told this story
the other morning paused to answer some in
formation for a waiting guest, and when
he finally got back to it he had lost in
terest in the details. He ended abruptly by
saying that before anything could be done
the well-groomed gentleman had disappear
ed, leaving a worn bag, containing a few
paltry articles, and a bill of three thousand
dollars.
While the majority of New York hotels
would not permit the extension of such
large credit, it is true that no hotel is al
together immune from the menace of the
dead beat
every year., says Mr.. Harry ]. Chouch-
erie, transportation manager of large and
extremely popular hostelry "our house loses
thousands of dollars through persons who
throw themselves on it's hospitality and then
suddenly disappear leaving practically
worthless baggage behind them. Just now
we are having more trouble with soldiers
than with anybody else, and during the war
it was much worse. I can't tell you how
many soldiers-men with ranks as high as
major and captain-we have been forced to
treat to a week in New York. There are
not many privates on our list
''But you must have some way of pro-
tecting yourself?" the visitor suggested.
"Our greatest protection, declared the
transportation manager, sis that at least
ninety-tive per cent of the people are honest.
And then we take various precautions Our
baggage department and our floor clerks are
instructed to be on the lookout for any
suspicious circumstances. For instance, if
a guests baggage is lighter than we think
it ought to be, we keep careful watch on
him and refuse him credit. We also ar
range so that no guest can leave the hotel
with his baggage unless we know it,
Naturally, however. the man who can't
pay his hotel bill rarely possesses anything
of value in his baggage, so that the hotel
makes scarcely enough from it's sale to de-
fray the expenses of handling and adyer-
Using. Occasionally, a drummer is dis
charged while on the road and leaves a
trunkful of samples to pay for his hotel
bill.
A drummer from Ireland who came to
this country to sell linen goods during
the war was compelled to leave a trunkful
Of valuable linen in one hotel, because
his firm suddenly cut Off his expenses;
but these cases are rare.
On the other hand, baggage stored in
hotels and not claimed, can also be sold
after thirteen months, according to law
Such baggage has greatly increased since
the war. The storerooms of most New