The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-04-25
BOSTON.
yIcAl CORRESPONDENCE OF the HERALD.


BOSTON, April %, 1885,
The opening Of the ST. James Hotel last evening
was event that win not soon be forgotten In the
city OF Boston. The old town has previously enjoyed
sensations OF stirring nature, among which we can
mention the famous 'tea party" the harbor in the
last century and the not less important to the
local interests Of the citythe final departure OF the
Cunard steamers from the port. Both were looked
upon as historical events. They are to hereafter
divide the honors with the great event Of last night
the opening OF the st. James Hotel. What
ever tends to add to the comfort and
enjoyment Of the great public deserves hon.
orable mention. The new hotel which I am
about to describe is certainly entitled to notice,
because it meets the wants of great public, which
has long desired first class hotel in this city, where
all the elegance and comfort of the present day are
Afforded. Boston has long been behind the time Its
hotels have been old fashioned dark, gloomy and
decidedly peculiar One looks over cheerful burial
ground; another stares on horse car depot, and q
quite up to the demand Of the times. They might
have done for the past but for the present
it an acknowledged fact that they are far behind
The new hotel built by a journalist Mr. Maturin M.
Ballou, who grasped the scheme which hundreds
have dreamed over, is designed to NIL the most ad-
vanced wants Of the New England people, and, in
deed, the entire people OF the United States,
minutes; ride rom the business portion Of the city
and yet 1t Is clear out among the green fields,
wse su enough to s that is too Tar
the centre OF city trade ana trahc TO succeed but
they lose sight Of the general drlt and current OF
commerce. The Park Of New York Ia to be the broad
point around which the elegant residences OF the
wealthy New Workers are to centre and SO 1t Is In
Boston, The natural tendency of the BostOnians Is
to get out of the crooked and contracted streets OF
the old town and to seek broader fields, where there
ia rOO nj freedom.
England hotel goes out to the South End and es-
tablishes itself as beacon light to which all the
better people, who like 1lsan urbe life will soon
hasten and build around 1t new city.
The St. James Hotel is the largest building In New
hotel in the world. It is built OF brick, faced with
Quincy granite and with its six lofty stories lords
over FranAln Park and looks down upon the CITY OF
Boston and across to CharestOwn and Chelsea ike
gigantic French grenader assured and proud OF Its
position. Take the facade Of the Tuileries in Paris
and you have correct idea Of the front of the hotel
Those grand broad airy turres of the Mansard style
loom up above the French roof and add stately Ell
feet to the entire building Indeed they d0mineer
over the entire city and emphasize that portion IN
which they stand The outward effect IS colossal
and imposing Baron Haussman's dream of the
magnificent in architecture Is here developed, and
old travellers look around, when they glance at the
splendid domes to catch sight of the NOtre Dame
the Invades towering aloft as though they gazed
The interior quite in keeping with the exterior.
1t is model of convenience, elegance and comfort
The experience Of lifetime has its fruition in the
internal economy Of this grand hosiery. There Is
new invention which can ecOnomze labor or pro-
mote comfort that Is not embodied IN the Improve
ments' OF the hotel. Machinery Is brought In play
to perform the abOrs Of the house. Guests are car
red up to the highest floor In smoothly gliding cars,
gently that they do not realize the fact that they are
moving until they reach their dOmicile. Their clothes
are washed, dried, irOned and laid before them by
machinery without noise or confusion. All the
domestic labOrs save those at the table and in the
apartments, are performed by the agency OF steam
No more complete mechanical household exists than
| the st. James.
The furniture and all the accessories Of the hotel
| are magnificent The most exquisite taste pervades
the entire establishment. There are no gold and gilt
ter to captivate the for the moment but every
thing Ia solid comfortable and elegant. venture ia
assert that there is hotel in the world that equals
the st. james In all its appointments have not the
1 space to describe them In detail can only general
ize and convey the entire idea by saying that 1t Is
Of the term. Boston may well be proud Of 1t. II
makes the city grand watering place, because the
st. James, located In the city, yet in the coun
and close at hand to the charming
j suburbs of the town. affords to the public the most
attractive caravanserie In the entire country. The
pleasures OF the city are extended at one hand and
the charms of the country are TO be enjoyed at the
other. What can be more desirable, in the absence
of the Cunard steamers Saratoga, or Lake GeorgeY
Last night more than ten thousand people crowded
the brilliant halls OF the peoples palace and rgn'
j. M. p Stetson and Mr.. Charles Stetson, Jr, gave
happy evidence OF their talents as hosts In generously
and literally supplying the immense crowd OF visit
| met the highest expectations OF the guests. While
| the thousands moved In and about the hotel, Gil
| mOres Band discoursed captivating music In the
most brilliant style, filling the halls with melody.
/ splendid building, Is certainly entitled to briei
mention. lie has produced something that the c0un
try may be proud Of and the Stetsons will surely
to it that the reputation Of the house will never pale