Throughline The Land of the Fee (Throwback)
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Apr 4, 2024 Journalist Nina Martyris discusses the controversial history of tipping in the United States, from its roots in post-Civil War labor exploitation to its enduring presence in American culture. The podcast explores the societal impacts of tipping, opposition from figures like President Taft, and the complex evolution of tipping norms despite attempts to abolish the practice.
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Early Tipping Evidence
- Samuel Pepys, a London diarist, documented his dining expenses in the 17th century.
- These records included tips paid to servants, offering early written evidence of the practice.
Tipping and Class
- Early tipping reinforced existing class structures.
- Those with wealth tipped those without, without questioning the disparity.
Tipping as Un-American
- Tipping, initially absent in the US, was imported from Europe.
- It was widely opposed, seen as conflicting with American ideals of equality.