Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1840-11-26
From the November Kaickerbocker.
SKETCHES IN PARIS IN Is2s.
From The 7farsliimg Note Book Of Geofrey Crayo''
A PARTISAN HOTEL

Is street set on end, the grand staif-chse to1H-
ing the highway, and every floor separate haela-
ton. Let me describe the one in which am iodg-
ed, which may serve as specimen Of its class. IL
is huge qnadrangular pile OF stone, built round
spacious paved court. The ground floor Is occupi-
ed BY shops. magazines. and domestic othces.-Ihen
comes the cRtresol, with low ceilings, short win
dows and dwarf chambers; then succeed success
sion OF floors, stories, rising one above the other
TO the number Of Mahomet's heavens. Zach floor
ia like distinct mansion, complete within itseil,
with nte-ehamber, saloons, dining and sleeping
rooms, kitchen and other conyeniences for the &C
oommodation Of family. Some floors are divided
into two OF more suites of apartments. Each apart
ment ha. It's main door of entrance, opening uron
the staircase, OF landing places, and locked IKE
street DOOR Thus several families and numerous
single persons live under the same roof totally ia
dependent Of each other and may live so for years
| without holding more intercourse than Is kept Up
| in other cities by residents in the same street.
! Like the great world this little mcrocosm has
lis gradatons of rank and style aud importance, -
The Premier or first floor. with it's grand saloons,
lofty ceilings and splendid furniture is decidedly
the arisiocraical part of the establishment. The
second floor is scarcely less arstocratical add mag
nifcen,; the other floors go lesseniug IN spien-
dor as they gain in altitude; and end with the attcs
the region of petty tailors, clerks, and sewing girls
| To mske the filling up of the mansion complete
|
I til apartement gorcoa, "a pretty little bachelors
apnrtlnent) that is to say, some little dark neon
| venient nesting place for poor devil OF baehe'
! or.
| The whole domain is shut up from the street by
great porte cochere, or portal calculated for the
admission of carriages. This consists OF two mas
sy fodng-doors, that swing heavily open upon
spacious entrance, passing under the front oil the
edifce into the courtyard. Ga one side Is a spa
/ - Isa1i,g IN the
Immediately without the portal, is the porter's
lodge, small room with Or two bed rooms adj
iacent for the accommodation OF the concierge, or
porter and his family. This is one oithe most I'M
portant functionaries of the hotel. He is in fact
the Cerherus OF the establishment, and no one can
pass in or out without his knowledge and consent
The porte-cochere in general is fastened by sid
ing bolt from which cord OF wire passes into
the porter's lodge. Whoever wishes to go out,
must speak to the porter, who draws the bolt.
ysi,er from without gives single zap with the
massive knocker; the bolt is Immediately drawn
as if by invisible hand the door stands agar, the
ysiter pushes il open and enters. face presents
itself at the glass door of the porters little cham
ber the stranger pronounces the name OF the per-
son he eomss seek II the person or family IS OF
importance occupying the first or second iloof the
porter sounds bell once twice, TO give notice
that vsiter is al hand. The stranger in the mean
time ascends the great staircase, the highway COM
mon to ALL aud arrives at the outer door, equivalent
TO street door. of the suite OF rooms inhabited by
his friends. Beside this hangs a belcord, with
which he rings for Ambulance.
When the family or person inquired Tor IS OF less
importance, or lives in some remote part OF the
mansion less easy to be apprized, no signal Is CIV
en- The applicant pronounces the name at the
norter's door, snd is told, " M0ntes troisteme,
an quatrieme; source la porte dro'fe, OF a
caaache Ascend to the third or fourth stofyi ring
the bell ou the hight or loft hand door as the case
may be.
The porter and his wife act as domestcs to such
of the inmates OF the mansion as do not keep SER
wants; making their beds, arranging their rooms,
lighting their fires and doing other mental Offices,
for which they receive monthly stipend. They are
also in confidential intercourse with the servants oil
the other inmates, and having eye or all The IN
corners and out-goers, are thus enabled, ny hook
and by crook TO learn the secrets and domestic
history of every member of the little territory with
in the portec0che1e.
The porters lodge is accordingly great scene OF
gossip, where all the private affairs OF this interior
neighborhood discussed. The courtyard Also
is an assembling place in the evenings for The ser
wants of the different families, and sisterhood OF
sewing girls from the entre-sols and the attics to
play at various games and dance to the music oil
their own songs and the echoes OF their feet; nj
which assembagos the porters daughter takes the
lead; fresh pretty buxom girl, generally cailed
ala Petite" though almost as tall as gtenadier'
These little evening gatherings, so characteristic
of this gay country, ate countenarced by the 'afi-
Gus families Of the mansion, who often look down
from their windows and balconies, on moonlight
evenings, and enjoy the simple revels ct their DO,
mestics. | must observe, however, that the hotel
am describing is rather quiet, retired one where
most of the inmates are permanent residents from
year to year that there is more oil the sP,it OF
neghborhood. than in the busting, fashionable ho'
tel. in the gay parts of Paris, which are continually
changing their inhabitants.