London to John (J Groat's. 91 



provisions he consumes, and for the rent of his bedroom. 

 This is the proprietor's share. Then, there is a sepa- 

 rate charge for each of the remaining items of the 

 entertainment, for cooking and serving up each meal, 

 for making up your bed, and for blacking your boots ; 

 just as distinctly as if you had gone out into the town 

 the previous evening and hired three separate indi- 

 viduals to perform these services for you ; and as if you 

 had no right nor reason to expect from the landlord a 

 dinner all cooked and served, but that you only bought 

 it in the larder. 



Now this is a peculiarity of the English hotel system 

 that is apt to embarrass travellers from other countries, 

 especially from America, where no such custom could be 

 introduced. I do not know how old the custom is in 

 Great Britain. Doubtless it originated in the almost 

 universal disposition and habit of Englishmen of drop- 

 ping gratuities or charity-gifts here and there with 

 liberal hand, either to obtain or reward extra service 

 in matters of personal comfort; or to alleviate some case 

 of actual or simulated suffering that meets them. It 

 was natural and inevitable that gratuities thus given to 

 hotel servants frequently to stimulate and reward special 

 attention should soon become a rule, acting upon guests 

 like a law of honor. When so many gave, and when 

 the servants of every hotel expected a gift, a man must 



