The Sun.
London, England, 1866-01-27 00:00:00

The Charing-Cross Hotel.

" A Traveller," in a letter to The Times, gives the
following amusing account of the accommodation to
be found at this hotel :
Several nights ago I arrived at Ludgate-hill station
shortly before 12 p.m., after a long and tedious journey, in
which I had been detained an hour in consequence of an
accident with the steam engine. A cab soon conveyed me to
Charing-cross Hotel, at which I had determined to deposit
myself during my intended sojourn in the metropolis.
There I arrived, I believe, at 11.55, and was speedily in-
troduced to a woman, who I was afterwards informed was
acting for the manager of the establishment :
Traveller—lf you please I desire to have a bed to-night.
Manager (hesitating) —I don't know that you can have
ono ; have you any luggage ?
Traveller—Oh, yes ; it is in the hall.
Manager—Well, we are very full (still hesitating); you
can have a room on the first floor if you like.
Traveller—Thank you ; I am not particular in that ro-
spect.

Manager—You will have to pay 7s. 6d.
Traveller—Indeed ! Well, I did not inquire your
charge, but of course I will pay 7s. 6d. if you require it.
Manager (rings the bell) —There, N 0.12 (giving a ticket);
the porter will show you
And so he did; and I was installed in No. 12, and leav-
ing my accompaniments in that room, proceeded to the
coffee-room, and, after making a momentary survey,
solected a table at whichl intended a small repast.
As I was about to take my seat a waiter withdrew the
damask. Well, fancied I, this is to give me an unused
one ; but no. I adjourned to another table, still covered;
the waiter followed me, and to my astonishment there also
displayed the polished mahogany.
Traveller—l wish a sandwich, if you please.
Waiter—You can't have one to-night.
Traveller—Pray why not ?
Waiter—Past 12 o'clock (and so it was, the clock having
struck a minute).

Traveller-011, come, let me have a sandwich ; I've been
travelling—had an accident on the line—and am very
hungry.

Waiter—Can't help it ; never serve after 12.
Traveller—Have the goodness to show mo the manager.
After some little demur the waiter pioneered me to the
same woman whom I had first seen.
Traveller—ls this the manager ?
Waiter—Yes.
Traveller-1 think there is some little mistake ; I have
just asked for a sandwich, and am told I cannot have it.
Manager—No ; it's past.l2.
Traveller—Perhaps you will kindly remember I arrived
about 10 minutes ago, and took a bed, for which you say I
am to be your debtor 7s. Gd.
Manager—You need not have it unless you like.
Traveller—Really, you aro rather quick with me. I
have been nine hours without refreshment, having been
detained by an 'accident on the line. Surely you do not
desire me to retire in a famishing condition.
Manager—John (I hardly remember the name) you may
see if you can find something.
Traveller—Upon my word I hope your directors will
think it reasonable to relax their rules. I may write to
them or the Times.
Manager—Oh, write to the Times, will you ? (Rings the
bell.) John, don't get anything.
Traveller—Rather unfortunate that I stopped here.
Manager—Oh, you need not, if you don't like ! (Rings
the bell.) John, the luggage out of No. 12.
This concluding arrangement 1 did not counter order
and at half-past 12 left Charing-cross Hotel and found
accommodation at the Salisbury.
Now, sir, hitherto I had innocently been impressed with
the idea that the licences were granted to hotel-keepers for
the accommodation of travellers. Railway hotels can
hardly be exceptional, I am inclined to believe they ought
to provide especially for night journeys, and if they do not
the justices might well refuse the renewal of their licences;
or the hotel-keeper would be subject to an indictment for
a misdemeanour. Under any circumstance; I have be-
lieved it a duty to make this communication, and sin-
cerely hope the public may be the gainer. I vouch for the
verbal accuracy of the dialogue.
Margate, Jan. 25.

A TRAVELLER.

WHITE LABOUR IN THE SOUTHERN STATES.—
Now that slavery has been abolished its former
champions no longer find it politic or necessary to
contend that white labor cannot produce the
Southern staples. On the contrary, an earnest
effort is being made to attract white emigration,
and one of the arguments adduced is the healthful-
ness of the Southern climate. De Bow, in a
recent letter to Ex-Governor Perry, of South
Carolina, states the case thus :—Admitting
it to be true, as has always been maintained by
Southern writers, that climatic conditions, existing in
many sections, are unfavorable to European and Northern
American constitution; there can bo no doubt of the fact
that a large portion, and in most cases by far the larger
portion, of each of the Southern States is well adapted to
white labor, and that actual mortuary returns indicate a
much higher degreo of physical health in these localities
than in the New England and North-western States. Upon
this subject, Dr. J. C. Nott, of Mobile, Dr. Fenner and the
late Dr. Barton, of New Orleans, shed much valuable light,
in treatises prepared several years since, which may be
consulted with great advantage now, and the statistics of
the United States are believed to be equally in point. The
region referred to embraces nearly the whole of the great
States of Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas,
three-fourths of Georgia and Arkansas, and one-half of
South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and
Florida.