The New York herald., 1922-09-03
Writes to Wife Threaten
ing to Make Omission
Known in All Britain.
OTHERS DENY EXTORTION
Folly to Organize Such a Sys-
TEN, They Say, Fear
ing Libel.

Special Cable to THE NFw YoBK HERALD.
Copyright, 1929, by THE NEW YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
London, Sept. 2.
Stories of chalk marks being made
on baggage and threads tied to coats
by hotel attendants to indicate persons
who do not give tips fade to insignifi-
canoe beside the experience of a we'll
known London man whose wife re-
ceivcd the following letter from the
head waiter of a famous northern
resort hotel where they stayed for
vacation:
Dear Madam trust you will ex-
cuse me for taking the liberty Of
writing, but since your departure !
have received urgent requests from
my staff to take UP the matter, but
before doing so feel it is my duty
to let you know before taking action.
"Your husband left without leaving
any gratuties to any of the staff which
is a most disgraceful thing for a man
OF his standing--your friends you left
behind think the same. Anyhow after
seven days from your departure from
this hotel | feel 1t to be my duty TO for
ward your names to my club and as
sociation so that every hotel in England,
Ireland. Scotland and Wales may know
your name and tho ungenerous way you
treated the above hotel staff.
yours faithfully.
Head Waiter"
The recipient OF the letter explained
that no tips were paid because the hus-
band and wife each thought that the
other had attended TO the NATTER, The
letter, which was written on the hotels
stationery, was promptly returned to
the management, which extended pro-
found apology.
No Need OF Extortion.
Inquiries In many quarters In London
failed to reveal the existence of any
thing like an organized tip extorting
system Of which the head waiter limited.
The head OF the union OF both British
and foreign walters laughed when asked
IL such system existed. There is no
need of asking that" well known hotel
waiter said to THE New York HERALD
correspondent. I'VE are pretty well
able to tell the unpublished man as you
say In New York, when we see him."
He admitted, however. that there was
much changing back and forth among
walters and hotel servants In the same
district. and a persistent non-tlpper was
sure TO suffer In the service he got. The
practice extends not only 10 fashionable
and expensive hotels but TO many pop
u'ar priced res.aurants-many in which
the non-tip rule Is emblazoned on all
menus. with the notation that the PEN
atty for accepting tips Is dismissal.
Neithers' Is what the walters call
the non-tippers here, and the word is
rapidly passed whan one OF them enters.
a. $. Haller, secretary of the Union OF
Helvetia, the largest hotel and servants
organization in the world. said II would
be folly to organize such system as
That walters letter hints at. for II would
be too expensive and at the same time
probably llbelous.
Organized for No Tips.
mo tips at all Is the answer 10 the
problem" said one OF the managers OF
Joseph Lyons. Ltd, a Arm operating a
chain of tea shops. restaurants and ho-
tells where the non-tip rule prevails
The public should realize that thou
sands of servants. particularly the Brit
ish, dislike the tipping system altogether.
We have a constant waiting list OF
those who seek posts In our non-tipping
establishments. The head waiter should
have been reported to the Hotel Pro-
prietors Association. They would have
tstN'H ddNlbH W the SuptINlSlOH
OF his employers"
THE New York HERALD correspondent
discussed the tipping system with scores
OF Americans a few days ago-tourists
who have sampled both the ordinary
system and the system prevailing In Italy
and some parts OF France. where 10 TO
IS per cent. IL added 20 the bills In lieu
Of tips. and no other tips are expected.
Though many favor the latter system.
more experienced travellers prefer the
old method because, they say, they hnd
that when fixed percentage Is added
10 the bill. they have 10 give small gra-
tulties anyway IN order to obtain better
attention. Few Americans. however. re-
port anything like persecution when
they fail to tip either through lnad-
yertence OF because they have not re-
ceiveo good service.