The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-11-17
From the. Nosember kHickerboeker.
SKETCHES IN PARIS In 1925.
l,r,,,,. ms TrurpIIinp MITE Book Of GeOHrel

SKETCHES IN PARKS IN lS23
iyon the Travelling Note Book Of Geotrey
Crdyon.
PARTISAN HOTEL,
+ 4 street set on end, the grand staircase
forming the highway, and every floor separate
habitation Let me describe the one III which
| ann lodged, which may serve as specimen OF
It's class. II is huge quadrangular pile OF stone,
built round spacious paved court The ground
floor is occupied by shops, magazines, and do
ruestlc offices. Then comes the entre-soL, with
low ceilings short windows and dwarf cham
bers then succeed succession OF floors, or
stories rising one above the other, TO the number
Of Mahomet's heavens. Each floor is like
distinct mansion complete within ITSELF with
ante chamber, saloons, dining and sleeping
rooms, kitchen and other convenlences Tor the
accommodation of family. Some floors are
divided into two or more suits OF apartments
Each apartment has its main door OF entrance
opening upon the staircase, or landing-place,
and locked like street door. Thus several
families and numerous single persons live under
the same roof, totally Independent OF each other,
and may live so for years, without holding more
intercourse than is kept up in other cities by re-
sdens in the same street.
Like the great world this little microcosm has
H. gradations Of rank and style and Importance.
The Premier, or first floor with its grand sa-
loons. lofty ceilings, and splendid furniture, is
decidedly the arlstocratical part OF the establish.
ment The second floor is scarcely less aristo-
cratcal and magnificent; the other floors go on
lessening in splendor as they gain in altitude,
and end with the attics, the region Of petty tai
lors. clerks, and sewing girls. To make the
filing up of the mansion complete, every nook
and corner is fitted up as joi petit apartment
4 gGrcon, Ga pretty little bachelors apaltment,)
that Il to saw some little dark inconvenent nest
Ing place for poor devil of bachelor.
The whole domain is shut up from the street
hy great porte-cochere, or portal, calculated for
the admission of carriages. This consists OF
two massy folding doors, that swing heavily
open upon a spacious entrance, passing under
thr front of the edifice into the courtyard. On
one side is a spacious staircase leading TO the
upper apartments = Immediately without the
portal is the porters lodge, a small room with
one or two bedrooms adjacent, for the accom-
mediation of the concierge, or porter, and his
family This is one Of the most important
funcionarcs of the hotel lie is in fact, the
Ccrbcrus Of the establishment, and no one can
pass in or out without his knowledge and con
sent The porte Cochere IN general is fastened
Nv a sliding bolt, from which cord or wire
passes into the porters lodge Whoever wishes
10 70 out, must speak to the porter who draws
the bolt A ylsiter from without gives single
rap with the massive knockcr the bolt is inn
modiately drawn, as if by an invisible hand the
enters A face presents itself at the glass door
OF the portcrs httle chamber; the stranger pro-
nounces the name of the person he comes to
seek. If, the person or family is of Importance
occupying the first or second floor the porter
sounds bell once or twice, to give notice that
ylster is al hand The stranger IN the mean
tlmcaSccnds the great Staircase the highway
common 10 all, and arrives al the outer door,
equivalent 10 a street door, of the suit of rooms
inhabited by his friends. Beside this hangs a
hcll-cord, which he rings for admitance.
When the family or person inquired for is Of
le>- Importance, or lives in some remote part of
", mansion less easy to be apprlzcd, no signal
4 gwen. The applicant pronounces the name
u thr porcr's door, and is told, Hontez an
trl,sicmc, an guotrieme source a la porte a
,tn,iic, ~ 4 gauche.n (Ascend to the third or
fourth story ring the bell on the right or left
hand door) "a the case may be.
The porter and his wife act as domestics TO
such 81 the inmates of the mansion as do not
h.ep SERVANTS making their beds, arranging the
rooms. lighting their fires, and doing other me-
mai Offices, for which thcy receive monthly SUI
pend. They are al 80 III confidential intercourse
with the servants Of the other inmates, and,
having an eye on all the in Corners and out-goers,
arc thus enabled, by hook and by crook, to learn
HE secrets and the domestic history Of evcrv
member of the little territory within the porte
tuthtrc.
The porter's lodge Is accordinglya great scene
u gossip where all The private affairs Of this