OTHER WAY ROUND FOR ONCE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1061, 25 February 1911, Page 11

OTHER WAY ROUND FOR ONCE.

Notwithstanding tlio rccont Bribery Act personal tips at Christinas have not been lower, says mi English writer. Tho sums doled out by heads of families cannot be intimated.' lint .some idea nf tlio burden can be authored from the Christmas gratuities distributed at the bis London clubs. At the Carlton more than JiiMOO was collccted, members subscribing anything from Jiaif a crown to ten guineas. At other clubs, a paw-boy received from ,£1 to i.'S; n kitchemnnid about tho same amount; an assistant cook from .62 to .CIO; a \\aitcr from .C----to .66: while a head waiter was disappointed if his share was not between .£l3 and Jii.'i. It is estimated that .125,000 was distributed among Iho London club waiters this Oliristmastide.

At one well-known Matlock Ilydro, the guests were not content with the recognised tipping system. They determined that tho extra work thrown upon the! servants should be recogniscd in a more definite fashion. A "'l'opsy-Turvy Banquet and Ball" was arranged. Tho 500. servants and their friends sat down to dinner, and the 400 guests waited upon them. Ono of the guests was appointed head-waiter, and. allocated tho duties to his fellows. Some acted as page-boys, others as hali-portcrs, bathmen, and waiters. Young ladies decked themselves in caps and aprons. Visitors arriving whilo tlio "Topsy-Tnrvy Hall" was in progress found everything as usual. Tlio lift-boy was a little smarter than Was customary, and tho liisgage was sent upstairs a little quicker than before. Otherwise. the .difference in tho staff would not have been noticeable. After tho dinner came tho ball. 'While the domestics upstairs were dancing, their self-appoint-ed substitutes were hard at work washing up. Nothing was left undone. The guest? m'ado it i> point of honour that tho servants should find the day's work dono when tho clock struck midnight. Even tho tablecloths were laid, ready for breakfast. If tlio topsy-turvy jest were often repeated, it might easily become a nuisance. But tho quaint notion does suggest tlio desirability of moro society women realising the circumstances under which their dependents work.