Norwich bulletin., 1921-07-22
SHIPPING CUSTOMS
 IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES

'The tip has it's geography no less than the coin with which it is paid. | Extending it may be graceful courtesy in one part of the world and a matter of a forced assessment in another; a virtue on one side of a political boun- diary and crime on the other, ac- cording to a. bulletin on the tipping costums in various countries issued by the National Geographic Society.
 Tn 1917, a few weeks after the long awaited Russian Revolution had start ed," the bulletin says, American traY- elers in Petrograd cheerfuly paid percentage of their bills for service and were glad the necessity of buying their hats several times over as modern man does if he frequents some of the res taurants in America. It was almost impossible to give tips in Russia then. One man was questioned regarding the matter and his reply was that if he took a tip, he could not call the giyer tovariSche'- he could not exact grat- l uity from a 'comrade.' During the el- l even months in Russia,> the tipping bill | of one traveller would not have satiS- ! fled a metropolitan bell boy for show 1 ing a guest to a free check room. l Last summer in Prague, charge of hotel bills. This high rate was due to 20 per cent. for service was added to
 
 strictly regulated but the price of wages was not. In Carload, now call | ed, but little known as Karlovy Vary, at one of the best restaurants the | CZechoSlOVakian walters also refused to accept tips. The 15 per cent added to the bill satisfied them and they seemed glad to be able to look one in the eye rather than the palm. The 15 per cent was as much a part of the tf1 o1, . .f
 bread and butter, and coulg be counted
 on in advance.
 Such self discipline on the part of
 those whose fingers have had flypapel
 qualities in former years may be g
 monopoly of the Slavs, for there are
 few places where a servant places sell
 respect ahead of his financial interest:
 And there are few expense account
 travellers, or others who do not have tG
 count the cost of the added 15 pel
 cent but like the sensation of dolint
 out largesse.
 In West China a few years agC
 chair coolies, after many days of harC toll, were delighted to receive a littl,
 present to be used in providing a porl
 feast. Throughout remote regions O
 the world, the gratitude that is evok [ ed by small present graciously giv
 en is very charming to one who's f pochetbook is the subject of seige ever, 7 time he makes a move in civilizet
 zones.
 Last summer traveller arrived a Triest at midnight to find the city ii f darkness and without trans because o a strike in the electrical plant Anothe 4 strike had wiped the carriages an
 taxicabs off the street. For a tip, tn 7 custodian of the baggage room open : ed his storage chamber, for anothe a tip a porter carried the checked bag f gage from the train. The only conso h lation left to the midnight arrival wa Q that the money was cheap.
 l. At two thirty a.. m. the travela s was in a bed and out a fifty lire ti l. although the price of the room wa l., only IS lire a day. A week later tn Ie traveller was in the prize hostelry m Venice blessing the Italian race ar m the founders of the city because u ,s porter at the desk allowed him l. pay for a room without forcing hi d to pay for the privilege.
 Throughout the East, tipping is If general and so moderate in the sea ,t of donations that it seldom causes en r. barrassment or hard feelings, But u w outgoing guest sees more servants ths m the incoming traveller dreams { tv Speeding the parting guest in Asia re one best bet. The most satisfacto plan for the traveller is to hire a bea 7- CT, tell him in advance how much m will allow for tips and then let | It tactful employee gamble his desire f le gold against his willingness to ha re HIS ancestry curoeu qhte the daS 1- a servant recently offered to have
 special car added to the train for t
 accommodation of a single traveller f
 a consideration of one rupee The tra
 eler refused the offer indignantly a pc suffered much inconvenience becau ts of changes which he would have avoi
 ed by accepting the princely gift