Rensselaer Republican, Volume 15, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 September 1882 — European Hotels---The Outstretched Palm. [ARTICLE]

European Hotels---The Outstretched Palm.

One would think, from the exact way the dinners are gotten up and served on the continent of Europe, that this meal had been prescribed by a congress of nations and could not be violated in the least particular. During my time on the continent my dinners were all exactly alike, to ’the minutest particular. I did not see during all this time any bread but sea biscuit; not a baked or boiled potato; not a cake or fruit pie of any description; not any cooked fruit; not any baked meat, except veal; not a cooked egg, except boiled; not any puddings, butter, pickjes, cheese, tea or coffee. You will ask, what did I have ? Dinner was always a 3 follows: First, sea biscuit; second, soup; third, fish; fourth, baked veal cut in slices; fifth, peas or string beans; sixth, boiled chicken sliced up cold; seventh, lettuce, eighth, strawberries. No two of the above dishes were on the table at the same time. X°u are required to be just so long and no longer in eating each dish. At the ringing of a little bell the table is cleared and the next plate is served, and so on till the end is reached. If one does not take the dish as passed he has to wait until the next comes along. The hotel charges are make up as follows: So much for the use of the room, so much for chamber attendance, so much for soap, so much for candles (no gas is burned in the sleeping rooms), so much for towels, etc., etc., each being a separate charge. The meals are upon the European plan. Most always my bill was “stuffed.” I speak truthfully, I think, in saying that every waiter, clerk and officer has his hand stretched out for a gratuity from every one he comes in contact with. When I left America I resolved I would not submit to the demoralizing {•ractice, but, when I found I was negected on every hand on account of not conforming to this custom, and I found the small amount it required, I tumbled from my lofty position, and became an expert, so tho travelers say, in this disgraceful business. It has become such a custom that no traveler will receive any favors if he does not drop pennies into these outstretched hands. It is a contemptible practice but “they all do it.” —Judge Chatterton, in tlieLansing Republican. A recent visitor to the Hermitage plantation, Andrew Jackson's home, found it attractive, the house (a substantial brick building) in fair condition, and the general aspect of the place far from poverty stricken. The tomb is in a secluded oomer of the garden, but' there were “no markß of footprints to show that any pilgrim had very reoently offered homage at this shrine.” It was intended to make the plaoe the site of a military aoademy, but the project Jailed.