Etiquette and Tipping Servants

There are a few of the old nobility of England who set a laudable etiquette example by prohibiting their servants accepting gratuities from visitors or guests. –Victor Cavendish, the 9th Duke of Devonshire -photo public domain

Duke of Devonshire Prohibits Tipping of Servants, but Americans Find a Way to Get Around His Rule

There are a few of the old nobility of England who set a laudable example by prohibiting their servants accepting gratuities from visitors or guests. The Duke of Devonshire, for instance, makes it an inflexible rule that no servant of his shall take a “tip.” When, however, a party of Americans visited Chatsworth, the Duke’s Derbyshire seat, a few days ago and were entertained at luncheon and shown over the beautiful grounds by the Duke’s steward, the leaders of the party thought the usual “shell out” must be the climax of the day’s enjoyment.

The party consisted of four men and three women and among them $35 was subscribed. With commendable discretion, the money was not offered to the steward, who, of course, is above accepting recognition of the kind, but to an underfootman, who saw the party to and from the railway station. But the footman pointed out that it was against the rules of the Duke’s establishment to accept gratuities “in money.” That seemed to suggest a way of getting around the rule. 

The next day various articles of jewelry reached the steward from London with the request that they be distributed among the staff at his discretion. The leaders of the party were Edmund H. Abbot of New York and Alexander Cattanach of Salem, Massachusetts, and both had introductions from Sir Thomas Lipton. The Duke and Duchess were not in residence at Chatsworth at the time of the visit, but the latter sent one of her maids specially up from London to look after the ladies. The beauties of Matlock, Buxton and Bakewell were fully explored before they returned to town. – Los Angeles Herald, 1905

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia