Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-06-21
Ear N. Stnte SentinsL.
Pale ALTO HOTEL, !
unn Indinnn Innn ,A1


Tines and its editor, and also TO the
" Rockhill House, and it, proprietor, Philo
Rulnsey" To neither of these comphm ems
do object. nor in this connection haveI any
remarks to make, as to whether they are de-
served or not and had the extract con-
tanned nothing more, or had it not contained
false and invidious charge, including myself,
as proprietor of one of the Hotels in this city,
| should not have troubled you with this
note.
The "extract" to which refer, after stat
ing that the impression has gone abroad that
the bills of the "Rockhill" are enormously
high" says Reports to this effect have
been circulated by a selfish opposition, inter
ested in keeping cuatom from the house" =
Now, this language can admit of but one con-
struction and one application. Itapplies in its
ordinary and commonsense reading, to the
keepers and proprietOrs of other hotels in the
city (of whom l am one), who are competitors
for public patronage with Mr.. Rumsey and the
Rockhill House. To the publication of such
statement object. pronounce it utterly false
and without theshadow of foundation, so far
as | am concerned; and of which have Alright
to ask an explanation.
The extract bears throughout, the UNI
mistakable features of a current and Oficious
puff" and doubt not was as unacceptable
and unpalatabe to Mr. RUMsEY as to others
concerned; and, hoSever, well and kindly
intended the part of the editor, l cannot
but think be would rather it had been with
held from further publicity. A critical
examination of the whole extract would
clearly prove, that the letter t0as written by
an interested" party, but the sentiment
have heretofore entertained towards Mr. RUM
sEY, as an upright business man and gen
| tleman, would prevent me from entertaining
for moment the suspicion that any such
mean an desperate expedient was adopted,
with his knowledge and consent, to secure
custom to a house which so well deserves the
patronage Of the public.
For myself, will not condescend to make
a defence against the charge contained in
the "extract," either to shield my character
from the imputaton Of a meanness of which
/ am incapable, or to excite the public sym
pathy, for the purpose of increasing my bu-
slness and the patronage of my house. |
have no need to DO so, for either the one rea-
son or the other. | have been keeper and
the owner of the house, | now occupy, for
nine years am quite extensively known,
Doth at home and to the travelling public in
this region of the country. | have always
endeavored to please and satisfy my custo-
mers and friends, and have never resorteI to
any other than honorable means for conduct
ing and increasing my business. As proof
that my efforts have not been unsuccessful,
my means of accommodation have been in
creased r-fold, and yet with these enlarg-
ed facilities, my house is almost daily filed
to its utmost capacity, and yery.Often | am
pressed with applications beyond my power
to accommodate. make this statement in
no spirit of self laudation, but because think
the occasion demands it, and also as an ex-
preston of my sense of obligation to my
friends and patrons.
| make no false pretences, and hold out
none of the clap-traps" of first class" or
"second class - shall do this when | 90 to
country where classes are known by their
livery, and recognized by other patents than
those which make an American gentleman a
peer of this realm, independent of the color
of his coat or the softness Of his hands. |
am not in New York, and expect no patron
age from fashionable loungers, loafers, or
spendthrifts. have no ambition to rival the
hotel palaces of Eastern cities, where large
minors reflect the want of real comfort to the
guests and quarter-day as often brings ruin
and bankruptcy to the proprietor. have no
"bill of fare" in language which would puz-
zle the cook ami stultify the head matter, gar
nshed and bordered with "lists of wines f"
of the vintage of past century. Ny fare is
on the table, and not on the bill; and if in
the future l shonld realize the experiences of
the past, there will be no lack of customers
who will test its quality. need no puts to
save me from rivals or "a selfish opposition,
Interested in keeping custom from the house."
Those who patronize my house and honor
me with a call, may feel no anxiety that
either their persons or their treasures will be in
danger. No money has ever been stolen or lost
IN my house; nor has any guest been compelled
to jump, at midninght, from second story
window, in order to avoid the sharp edge of
Bowie knife or other deadly weapon. | do
not know that such things have ever hap
pened in Fort Wayne but | have heard of
their happening elsewhere. have no pets or
hotel censors enlisted in my service, who inn
itate those who gas - about " first class"
and say, go to "the ROckhill, of course -
whose lean purses" a few years ago could
not pay five cents on the dollar, Oh an in
debtedness Of sixty thousand dollars whose
creditors have grown lean, while his stomach
now sticks cut with fairness, from a want of
CouSClence uhuer tne ilDS-l nave no " dOu-
ble-head," whose nose scents loell-dressed
stranger before the whistle sounds, and who,
with officious and most obsequious grimace,
dogs him along the sidewalk with the flatter-
ing attentions perseveringly repeated, to the
! Rockhill, sir, of course" | have no one in
my employ who will do the dirty work of
getting a scurrilous hand-bill printed at dis
lance, in cowardly fear of detection, contain
/ lug statements and in iargon calculated to
bring into contempt and injure rival estab-
1 lishment have no boys to circulate such
hand bills among railroad passengers, on their
landing from the cars This last act, | am
informed, was done by one of the employees
of the Rockhill House, and call Mr. Rum