Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 104, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 August 1904 — Origin of "Tip." [ARTICLE]

Origin of "Tip."

Apropos of the question whether it were better "to tip or not to tip” waiters, the origin of the odd little word, which so greatly influences the treatment of uiau in public dining houses, goes back a - couple of centuries to the coffee houses of England. At the doors of the eating rooms a brass-bound box with lock and key was hung up, and Into the slit at the top customers were expected to drop a colu for the waiter "To Insure Promptness,” according to the phrase engraved upon It. lienee the word “Tip" spelled from the initial letters of the three words on the box, and ever since used to express the fee of waiters.