TIPS
American travelers in Europe experience a great deal of trouble from the omnipresent need of tipping those from whom they expect any service, however slight. They are very apt to carry it much too far, or else attempt to resist it altogether. There is a story told of a wealthy and ostentatious American in a Parisian restaurant. As the waiter placed the order before him he said in a loud voice:
"Waiter, what is largest tip you ever received?"
"One thousand francs, monsieur."
"Eh bien!（法語）But I will give you two thousand," answered the upholder of American honor; and then in a moment he added: "May I ask who gave you the thousand francs?"
"It was yourself, monsieur," said the obsequious waiter.
Of quite an opposite mode of thought was another American visiting London for the first time. Goaded to desperation by the incessant necessity for tips, he finally entered the washroom of his hotel, only to be faced with a large sign which read: "Please tip the basin after using." "I'm hanged if I will!" said the Yankee, turning on his heel, "I'll go dirty first!"
在歐洲旅游的美國人總會在小費問題上遇到麻煩，無論需要的服務(wù)是大是小，小費總是無處不在。于是美國人要么是給的過了頭，要么就是想一毛不拔。有一個故事，說一個富有且好賣弄的美國人在巴黎一間餐館吃飯，堂倌給他端來了菜，他便用高聲問道：
“服務(wù)員，你收過的一筆小費是多少？”
“一千法郎，先生?！?BR> “那好！我給你兩千！”好像為美國爭得了榮譽。過了一會兒，他又問：“我能否知道是誰給了你一千法郎？”
“就是你自己，先生?！碧觅姆畛械馈?BR> 另一個美國人的想法則恰恰相反。那是他第一次去倫敦，在那里他得不停地給小費，幾乎都給逼上了絕境。最后在入住的旅館的洗手間里他看到一行大字：“用完后請清空水池?！保╰ip一是指“給小費”，還有一個意思多用于英國，指清空，倒干凈）那美國佬叫道：“我還不如吊死算了！”說完轉(zhuǎn)身就走?！拔蚁雀愕门K一點去！”