The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1921-08-11
TIPPING CUSTOMS Il
IN MANY Lands \!
Courtesy in One Place, Forced
Assessment in Another. 4
PERCENTAGE SYSTEM USUAL

A Virtue on One Side Of q Political
Boundary May Be Crime on the
other-ln Early Days Of Revo-
luton It Was Almost Impossible to
Give Tip In Russia-Tippino in
the East Seldom Causes Embarrass.
ment or Hard Feelings.
1.-THE tip has its geography no less
than the coin with which it is paid.
Extending it may be graceful cour-
tesy in one part Of the world and
matter Of a forced assessment in
another; virtue on one side Of a
political boundary and crime on the
other" according to bulletin on the
tipping customs in various countries
issued by the National Geographic
society.
I'm 1917, few weeks after the long
awaited Russian revolution had
started" the bulletin continues, "Am-
erican travellers in Petrograd cheer
fully paid a percentage Of their bills
cessity of buying their hats several
times over as modern man does If
he frequents some restaurants In
America. 1t was almost impossible to
give tips in Russia then. One man
was questioned regarding the matter
and his reply was that If he took
tip, he could not call the giver
'tovarische'-he could not exact a
gratuity from a 'comrade.' During
eleven months in Russia, the tipping
bill of one traveller would not have
satisfied metropolitan bellboy Tor
showing guest to free checkroom.
Last summer, in Prague, charge
of 20 per cent for service was added
to hotel bills. This high rate was
due to the fact that the price Of rooms
was strictly regulated but the price
of wages was not. In Carlsbad, now
called, but little known as Karlovy
Vary, at one of the best restaurants
the Czechoslovakian walters also re-
fused to accept tips. The Is per cent
added to the bill satisfied them and
they seemed glad to be able to look
one in the eye instead Of In the palm.
The Is per cent was as much a part
of the bill as cover charge or the
cost of bread and butter, and could
be counted on in advance.
I'm West China a few years ago,
chair coolies, after many days Of hard
toll, were delighted to receive little
present to be used in providing pork
feast. Throughout remote regions OF
the world, the gratitude that is
evoked by small present graciously
given is very charming to one whose
pocketbook Is the subject Of siege
every time he makes a move in
civilized zones.
Tipping Ones Way in Trieste.
Last summer a traveller arrived at
Trieste at midnight to find the city
in darkness and without trans be-
cause of strike in the electrical
plant. Another strike had wiped the
carriages and taxicabs off the streets.
For tip, the custodian Of the bag
gage room opened his storage cham
Der, for another tip porter carried
the checked baggage from the train.
The only consolation left to the mid
night arrival was that the money was
cheap.
AT 2:3O a. m. the traveller was
in bed and out fifty lire tip
although the price Of the room was
only IL lire a day. A week later this
traveller was in the prize hostelry Of
Venice blessing the Italian race and
the founders of the. city because the
porter at the desk allowed him to pay
for a room without forcing him to
pay for the privilege.
'Throughout the East, tipping is
50 general and so moderate in the
scale of donations that 1t seldom
causes embarrassment or hard feel
ings. But the outgoing guest sees
more servants thai the incoming
traveller dreams of. Speeding the
parting guest is Asia's one best bet.
The most satisfactory plan for the
traveller is to hire bearer, tell him
in advance how much he will allow
for tips and then let the tactful I'm
ployee gamble his desire for gold
against his willingness to have hts
ancestry cursed unto the dawn of
time.
Where Hotel Rooms are Scarce.
I'm Central Europe, hotel room is
prize to be won by painstaking
effort. In Bucharest one may have to
visit 50 many hotels that his carriage
bill will make other expenses seem
impossible. After such fruitless
search for quarters traveller recently
obtained q lottor from a cabinet min