Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-05-18
housekeeping in America.

New York, in which he mado fortune, has
written q letter on American bookkeeping,
published in the New York papers, in which
he expresses the opinion that the American
plan, with its common table, will be general
ly superseded by the European system. The
letter will be found interesting. MANY Of our
readers are doubtless aware that Mr. Howard
has recently purchased the residence of Dan
Lyon, on College Street, on which improve
ments are in progress which will make it one
of the most elegant places in Burlington or
in the State, and proposes to spend his sum
mers in Burlington hereafter. Mr.. Howard |
contradicts the general rumor that he was
about to open a great hotel in Paris on the
" American plan" On this point he says
1t is true that have been importuncd, |
both in London and Paris, with nattering in
ducements, to engage IN large hotel projects
but have invariably declined. Were dis
posed to re-enter the service of the public in
the same capacity again have no hesitation
in declaring that | should feel no disposition
to quit my own country for its gratiication.
The rewards which have attended my cxer
tions in this field of enterprise at home, have
certainly surpassed any merits to which |
can lay claim, and have been enough to gra-
tify the scope Of any reasonable ambition.
To 60 abroad, therefore, with the views at
trbuted to me, would be, | think, both un-
wise and ungrateiul.
lie proceeds as follows
The American system of bookkeeping, as
illustrated in the magnificent establishments
of this metropolis and other large cities of the
Union, at the prices heretofore and now es-
tablished, is practical as n safe business
merely, only upon conditions which, it seems,
are rapidly passing away, Mt least in one es-
sential regard. There must he always full
house, and provisions comparatively cheap.
| The first condition may continue to be full
filled owing to the excellence of the hotel for
family homes, and the universally migratory
habits of our countrymen. The latter, and
equally essential condition, however. is raF i'd
| ly passing away, if not already gone. The
daily experience of hotel and house-keepers
in this city will sufficiently prove, without
any appeal to facts and figures which might
be given, that all articles Of table consuInp-
ton, neccssaries as we'll as delicacics and
luxuries have advanced to almost or quite
London and Paris prices. Still the American
public, SO long habituated to the y9ts5 at or first
sion, sion and Elc Isr&stSSl be satisfied with no abate
ment and proprietors must exhaust the
market, regardless of expense, or find their
establishments losing both caste and patron
age. The difficulty lies in the system itself,
and correction can only be looked for in its
radical change and in the adoption of the
leading features of the European plan, viz
that each guest pay for what he has, no
more, no less. In Paris, and throughout
Continental Europe, indeed, at all the lead
ing hotels there is II table d d'hoto for dinners
only. All other meals are served la carte,
and charged for accordingly; and the table
d'hote dinner itself is served in courses, there
by infinitely simplifying and economizing its
preparation, whilst the variety and excel
lence of I" cuisine are sufficient to satisfy
any reasonably fastidious taste. If this sys-
tenn was introduced in our first class hotels,
the imagined Inconvenience would soon dis
appear and such serving become popular
The cogent reasons are to he sought for in the
general high price of all articles Of provisions
and table consumption. and in the accepted
notion OF justice. which so strong y indicates
the propricty of taxing the consumer only for
the indulgence of his own taste. The neccs-
sary waste growing out Of our table d'hote
, system benefits no one. and yet must be paid
by somebody. Proprietors of these estab-
lishments can only expect indemnity to them
, selves for the prodigal extravaganza Of some,
by the simpler tastes and habits of others of
t their guests-a principle of compensation
, pecuniary result, is indeiensible on any other
s ground. 1t is unreasonable and unjust that
c the guest of public hotel, whose preference
t from any motive may coniine him to Il simple
/ breakfast of roll and coffee, should be classcd
= in precisely the same category as to charge
: with the guest from mere whim or caprice
= may exhaust every expensive delicacy uror
t the cdrtes, And yet, as our system operates
' practically, it is only from the simple tastes
49,. II Il. Il Al. l.,
IS can look for indemnity for the profuson o
o the other This observation has full applica
It cation and force throughout this entire de
It partment of our hotels, and is a most positive
: injustice, which the European system correct
l. or regulates, and which we, too, in tim
v must correct.
;; Nor is this the only source Of the practca
e inequalities Of our system. For all purpose
of life, room accommodations are valuable
l. and command prices in the ratio of their con
e venience and general desirablity In Euro
D. pean hotels the tariff is graduated Blu
ic in our hotels, all rooms of given capacity, n
lie matter where situated, are charged for tn
,e samc. The fortunate occupant of an elcgan
Ii room upon the first floor, having command
Is ing view of the street, is taxed no more fo
le his pleasant and acceptable quarters, tina
D. the less fortunate who mounts to rear rool
it in the sixth story. Another feature of ou
al hotel system, which is the dedication of s
O. much desirable and available room To con
Sc mon and public uses, must, in due time III
ry dergo change. No one, perhaps, excel
t. hotel proprietors themselves, are fully sci
e- sible of the extent and pecuniary value of Il
d. many apartments converted into DRAWN;
he sitting, reading, reception and other room
is in our large hotels, which are TINS given u
an for public use merely for the increase Of Il
bv comforts of their guests besides these apar
ds ments are usually furnished with greater g
Ily pense than any others about the establis
Is ment. To keep the furniture constant
lis fresh in appearance, by the substitution
all new the moment there appears the least we
IL or dilapidation, together with the heatir
and lighting, form an expense little unde
stood or properly appreciated by the inmate
nG The public rooms so appropriated in my la
as establishment, whilst the Irving House W
en- under my control, were readily worth son
ng twelve thousand dollars year, without al
he furniture, light or heat. Those now devot
m to similar uses in the Astor, the ST. Nichola
ch the Metropolitan, New York, and othe
ou hotels that might be named in this city.
doubt, in some cases, amount to even high
'le' value, Tho compensation for this hea
ee' sacrifice TO proprictors, under the horizont
tariff of charges, must arise from II capitatl
non tax upon all the guests of the house, thou
ny, many of them, having private parlors
drawing rooms of their own, and others WI
: Is no disposition to frequent the public roou
~o are IN no manner benefited by the expensi
So arrangements.
he For these reasons, which might all
OF much more forcibly stated and elaborate
Die, argued, and for others which might
got assigned not only deem the ESTABLISHING
I'VE of hotel on the American plan in Paris,
the elsewhere in Europe, as impracticable, b
| must be permitted to repeat my convict
vas that our system entire or unaltered has "
his nigh fulfilled it's mission and run its coul
of successful experiment In advocating