Tips

Tipping in the U. S. has long been a question hotly debated. Does it debase a freeman to accept a tip from a peer who, born his equal, also happened to be born with more money? The Yeas have hung up signs in their restaurants, boot-parlors, or what not, saying "Please do not tip," or "Our Employes Are Strictly Forbidden to Accept Gratuities from Strangers." The Nays remind their patrons: "Don't Forget the Hat Girl." Will new signs appear, "A Waiter's Life Is No Cinch"--"Give Your Bus Boy a Few Days at the Seaside?" Will lounging millonaires be requested to "Send Your Doorman to the Mountains," "Let Your Dollars Shine the Life of the Man Who Shines Your Shoes," "Help the Elevator Boy on His Way Up?" Will hotels display the admonition: "Let Your Barber See Europe?" For 21 years one George Wagner has shaved the face of William H. English, Manhattan banker, accompanying him on business trips in his private car, journeying to his home to shave him on Sundays. Last week Banker English gave Barber Wagner a two months' holiday in Europe. Was this, people asked, the correct tip for Mr. Wagner's period of service? What is the right pourboire for a 25c shave? For $1 worth of shave, haircut and conversation? The tip for a 25c shave is ten cents, critics recently agreed. A talkative barber may be snubbed with no tip. It is not necessary to tip a man who shaves you every day, but you should give him something at Christmas. If possible, find out his birthday and surprise him with a present. An expert haircutter is always worth a tip of 20c or 25c. This high ratio is accounted for by the fact that a barber exerts the power of life and death over his patients. Gratitude for present escape and trepidation for the future combine to stimulate the gift. Waiters must be content with less. Fifteen percent on checks under two dollars, ten percent over that. On all checks between seven and eleven dollars a dollar is the correct amount.