(Mental notes:--) Towel-horse broken always broken. Chair-back ditto ditto. Door-plate cracked ditto. Table-cover stained old. Carpet ditto old, worthless. Walls injured by boxes old knocks. Candlestick broken servant. Postages, and servant for letters (paid). Blacking, salt, and pepper (omitted and always charged). Wash of coverings, toilets, and counterpanes. You glance at the foot, pay it. You think all is done. But "my lady" expects a "slight gratuity, Sir; not for myself, of course, but for Nancy!" I should add that this harpy is a devotee, and is as punctual at prayers as at prey! One, however, soon finds a change of place is no change of fate. The pickings and stealings may take a little different form, but the result is the same. The only thing is, to get for your money cleanliness and comfort; estimate the whole cost, and consider the plunder a part of it--for you will not escape. The _Lodging House_ is only typical. All are preyed upon and prey upon. It is the rule of barbaric life, and _Caste_ makes it inevitable. The low think it no robbery to get a share of the plunder enjoyed by the rich. There is, in the general state of things, a rough instinct of justice in it--only innocent people also suffer. If you live in one of the huge buildings called Hotels, you are no better off. Here, every mouthful is counted; you cannot breathe (so to say) without paying for it. If a waiter look at you, he will expect a _gratuity_ [_ti-tin_]. After you have paid everything which an experienced and greedy ingenuity can think of, as you are about to leave, the servants will obsequiously open and stand at doors, hold and brush your hat (already _brushed_ bare), catch up some trifle, and generally get in your way, to force gratuities out of your good-nature. If you, at length, reach the vehicle called for you, before you can open the door of it, up will start, as from the ground, a miserable creature, who intercepts your motion, adroitly opening the door for you, and then, when you are seated, stands staring directly into your face, with his hand still on the door-handle, awaiting a gratuity. You have buttoned up your coat, your gloves are on, it is cold; but you cannot refuse the demand.