Show I Spanish Hotel Servants The demeanor of the servants at the Gran Hotel de Paris teaches a wholesome lesson to those who find cause ot complaint en this head in I American hotels There were two in the diningroom a man and a maid the latter l a most slatternly person who dressed her hair elaborately every afternoon and stuck a flower in it without changing her soiled apron next morning the apron is still more soiled the hair was rough nod the I flower ia faded but still there The waiter was trimmer spoke a little French and was called El Chico on account of his stature like Boabdil the last of the Moorish kings This pair used to present themselves a quarter of an hour after the bell sounded for a meal and lean on either side of a largo arched doorway communicating com-municating with the pantry which opened into the kitchen and amuse themselves with oar impatience us the food was not serves for another fifteen minute the boarders who were apparenty officer in garrison lawyers and men of business who messed there and lodged elsewhere would remonstrate goodbumoredly at first and then rumble lie servants ser-vants leaning against the doorpoatg laughed aui chafed them ironically congratulated them on their appetite and inquired if tbey would have their food now or wait until they got itJ with similar facetiae Once during the midday breakfast which oorre eponda to luncheon in England and America a buret of military music and the measared tramp of feet announced that soldiers were passing The servants immediately set down the dishes they were serving ran to a window threw it open and stepped upon the balcony where they remained re-mained talking laughing and looking look-ing at the regiment until it was out of eight The meeker spirited of the guests joined them J following them back into the room when they deigned to return Before the repast was over the drums were heard again out rushed the servants a second I time nobody else stirred and a gloom fell on the company but it did lot in the least disturb the cheerful neaa of the couple on the balcony who came back at their own pleasure and chatted gaily with eaoh other as nobody else wouid speak to them This was my introduction to the extraordinary ex-traordinary i democracy of manners which prevails throughout the most aristocratic and toplofty society in the Old World |