The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1920-07-01
A GENIAL HOST
BY GEORGE E. COBB

The most agreeable. incident that
mad come into the boy life of Ted
Morse was that signalized by his stay
for one week at the Palace hotel at
Brompton, owned and operated by his
fathers brother, John Morse. Thence
forth the lad had one fervid ambition:
to become in time the manager or
proprietor OF a like establishment.
Uncle John was a poriS individual
who had followed the hotel business
for over a quarter of a century. He
was built for the task both in dispO-
sition and bulk, He knew every COM
mercial traveller on the road, he kept
fairly apace of the times in equipment
and improvements. The dazzled Ted
took back home with him Il pleasant
memory of the big arm chair in the
hotel lobby, filled by his big relative,
who was revered by his clientele, al
ways jolly and Joking, a typical
"mine host"
The years went on, but the glowing
memory never faded from the mind Of
Ted He became d clerk in the store
of his native village and one day re-
ceived letter that set his wits stag
gering. His uncle had died and had
bequeathed to him the hotel. The
dream of early youth was fulfilled.
"Your uncle had been failing for
about two years" the executor of the
estate told Ted when he arrived at
Brompton, "and the odds and ends
have not maintained the old systemat-
ic order. However young blood com
ing into the proposition will make the
best of a very promising situation"
1t was in Ted to make himself pop
uar. He faithfully copied his uncle's
methods. He became genial host, in
deed. He was ACCOMMODATING lenient,
agreeable. The travelling men took to
him and there was no stinting in the
menu and no deterioration in general
service. A new element came into
the situation later that harassed Ted,
His friends and relatives began to
trade on his liberal, easy going nature.
They came in swarms They came
with their families and sent their
friends as well. 1t seemed as though
every acquaintance he had received
Il tip that half rates, or no rates at all,
were accessible to those who had the
art to appeal successfully to the in
diligence of a man who loved to be
considered a genial hOst, and whose
ambition was to be known as running
the best hotel on the road"
BY the end of a year Ted began to
realize his weakness. Thus, a half
cousin had swooped down upon him
with a family of five, staying for over
Il month and departing without paying
his bill. A brother-in-law had passed
half a dozen worthless checks on the
hosiery, some old time friends had
borrowed several hundred dollars from
him. His manager had worked in
special friend as buyer for the hotel,
and Ted could not help but notice the
extortionate prices paid for supplies.
Something's wrong" decided Ted.
81 must find somebody to watch the
outlay while / sit around playing gen
tleman."
Ted was thus occupied in his favor
tie arm chair one evening when
little girl Of about ten came hurriedly
into the lobby. He could not help but
notice her deep agitation. She looked
wearled and her attire was poor and
old.
please, sir" she painted, mamma
is sick"
"Eh, hello what's that?' exclaimed
Ted. "Who sEour mamma and where
is she?'
Mamma is tired out and walked
a long way, and she expected to find
friends here, and they're all dead and
gone, and we're hungry, too. She's just
outside"
Big hearted Ted Morse stirred him
self with vigor ever present when
he could do anybody a good turn. He
followed the child outside. There
seated on the step Of the ladies' en-
trance was young woman, pale, with
closed eyes, and apparently overcome
with weakness. She looked dazed and
despairing as Ted touched her arm
and spoke kindly. In fragments she
weakly told her story. Both her hus-
band and herself had in years agone
been respectively steward and book
keeper of the hotel for John Morse
They had left for another position
six years previous. Her husband had
died leaving her penniless. She had
come to Brompton to see if her former
employer could not give her employ
ment again
$50 the finely kept books showing
a profit where my careless figuring had
loss. was your work, eh?" observed
Ted, when he had seen mother and
child installed comfortably. you've
come at the right time, Mrs. Award.
If ever | needed experienced advice
it's just now"
Within month Mrs. Award was
back at her old desk and the leaks in
profits began to diminish. Within
month Ted experienced his first love
and there was quiet wedding.
Genial host and genial husband to
a charming, helpful woman, kindly
father quite TO little Eva, it seemed as
though fate had led to his door the in
fuences that were to make him u sue