A Fortune of 60.000dols Accumulated by Exacting Fees from Patrons.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 324, 12 December 1888, Page 6

A Fortune of 60.000d01s Accumulated by Exacting Fees from Patrons.

Thk United Stales Hotel at Saratoga has lof-b by death the head waiter, John Lucas, who had servod in that capacity fourteen years, ov ever since the hotel opened, in 1874. A New York paper, when mentioning: his death, says he left .^60,000. Lucas was a negro from Ale*\andiia, V.i., and his remains wcie taken from New York to his native city for interment. Lucas was fifty-eiyht years old, and belonged to that class of head waiter?; who exacted fees or meted out punishment. His $60,000 in fourteen years represented the profits of his position The influence of money always found n ready response in Lucas. Early in the season a family would arrive at the ' .States,' and, as the dining; room is comparatively empty the first month, eligible seats would bo secured. A month later a man and hi& wile would arrive, stop at the main door of the dinnerroom, place $25 in Lucas's palm, point out the table occupied by the family who had been there a mouth, and say, ' 1 want that table.' Lucas would walk to tho gentleman and say : ' Tho^e scats have been engaged since Mr and Mrs Moneybags left here la%t year; chey have ai rived and I will show you to anothei table.' After beinjj sealed Moneybags would send to the head cook, "and he would send better prepared dainties than others vho paid -^7 a day, just' as he was paying for himself and wife. Of course one of tho best waiters in the room would be detailed to wait on Moneybags and hii wife, and he, too, must be liberally fed each day oi week. A lady told me last summer that she put #2 in Lucas's hand after he had seated her and said : l J want a better place in the dining-room than this one near the pantries.' He, in angry tone, flung the $2 back and said : ' It' you think that $2 will buy my good-will, you ate mistaken.' Many persons told me that they had complained to the proprietor about Lucas' airs, but they could get no redress. Mr Thompkins would say : ' Lucas hab charge of the diningroom and I don't interfere with him.' The fee system is becomingso importunate that people of moderate means can't stand it. Bell boys expect to be liberally paid each time a pitcher ot ice water is brought to the room. If it u not ■paid there are ways to inflict punishment, for you must be careful not to incur the displeasure of your , chambermaid or anyone whose services you think you are paying for whsn you engage board at tho highest, rates. — 'Louisville Courier- Journal.' l

OltSl^UX & • CRANWEIiL arc »«^ Furniture and Carpets very • cheap. Iron Bedsteads and Spring Mattresses afc greatly reduced prices. Bedding of all kinds ready for delivery. Oil Cloths from -Is. square yard. „L inoleum, from 2s 3d. 'Blankets, 4heets, quilts, curtains, and all' furnishing ( roods splendid value. - Wire* ' Wove Mat tresses much cheaper than they used to be. A strong Iron Bedstead ' and '.Wire Wove Mattress for 55s cash. >■ Simple, lron 'Bedstead and Wire Wove Mattress' for 38s cash price* Our goqds,aro^carefu]ly packed, evo jr attention paid to prevenfc^anmgo by '.vansit., Buy all your household goods from ' JA^LIOK ati.d^CßAN^'iElil;,? Cabfegfr ; , pkhrs: QiVeen street, Auoklan^ '