A BOUT WITH THE HOTEL MAN
Allen, George Hoyt
A Bout with the Hotel Man By GEORGE HOYT ALLEN (Copyrighted 1910, The Robert M. La Follette Co.) rSHALL hunt up a new hotel on my next trip to Shanghai. I have always stopped, and am stopping...
...I didn't sign that "chit...
...I turned it over and wrote this "chit" on its back: Dear Sir: June 11th, 1910...
...You talkie he Mellican man in room 82 wantehie answer chop chop...
...I called the table boy to me, he had been watching the strange proceeding, and said, pointing to the manager's name on the bill of fare, "Boy, my wantchie you takie this chit to number one...
...And he explained that it was for the glass of milk I ordered at tiffin...
...At dinner last night my table boy brought me a chit to sign which read: "1 glass of milk, 15 cents...
...Will chits for bread, butter and potatoes ordered with my' meals also be presented...
...Savvey...
...I trust you are doing well in the Orient...
...I have always stopped, and am stopping today, in Shanghai at a hotel which is very prosperous...
...But I change my hotel next trip...
...When they take me for a globe trotter it's time to make a change...
...Hotels in the Orient are universally run on the American plan—a flat rate for rooms and meals...
...If you order cigars or liquors at meals, the table boy brings you a "chit" to sign for these extras...
...My name would have been endorsed on the "chit" if I had and the hotel would have collected for the milk...
...Give a table boy in China an errand to do and he will do it if it's in the realm of human possibilities to perform...
...I'd have been taken with an accute attack cf writer's cramp if I had...
...The very name of the hotel is suggestive of millions...
...At tiffin (lunch) yesterday, I ordered a glass of milk in place of coffee...
...They have made a lot of money...
...I was glad to know that I didn't have to sign that "chit...
...A bill or memorandum or letter or note or an I. O. U. is called a "chit" out here...
...I had gotten down to cheese and crackers when he came back and said, "Number one talkie you no needie sign...
...My savvey," the boy replied and he started off with that double barreled "chit" to do my bidding...
...But they mistook me this trip for a globe trotter...
...Wishing you a merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year and hoping you will send an answer by the bearer to the above question, because I want to know you know, I beg to remain, Truly yours, - I didn't sign my name to it...
...You bringie back answer...
...They don't know how to make coffee out here...
Vol. 2 • October 1910 • No. 40
