New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-06-04
TIE ASTOR HOUSE.
ITS OLD AND NEW FoRM-TnE IMPROVEMENTS
MADE IN 1T.

ITS OLD AND NEW FORM-TIE InlHo'E
MADE IN 1T.
OF no public house in the Uhl'eu r'''So 'v'
90 many and pleasant "reminiscences -, ~ ,on
he told as Of the AstOr House, New-hofA Ol'S' 80
,,o ,,d No moro time and space than VIC can 10"
sgora The pioneer Of all the great hotes OF the cou
try il has preserved the same mSh iepu'a"o" ~ w.
,l,,tv wears ago. opened when New-iork was O"'
-, village compared with what II is now' JUS prop'f
, charles A. stctsOn has kept pace with tue grown
- me city and the wants Of its people and thcr VstorS
!, C,op,d he supcrnuous here 10 give history OF
40 success 10 is the best known hote III America
and II not NewYorkers alone who are proud OF tat
fact In years gone by when 1t was patronzed more Ny
te private than the business folks It was the eehcr VI
social and fashionable life in New York There Is no OH
citizen but who is in some manner however slight con
uectel with its history More than this it was the place.
as 1t is now, where politicians most did cOngIeSuo us
Political history alone II written by some Oh thoSe most
intimately connected with IT, would furnish Voiune hoU
only interesting but instructive. There was scarcely
great public character within 80 years past VINO mas nov
slept under its roof enjoyed social intercourse Wh
s parlos. But this sketch is intended TO DC Oh TIC "e~
The change the Aston House has undergone during the
past two months is wonderful Externally the ola graIe
walls look they have looked Tor may years htSIhD
the building would not be recognizable by is ola Visitors
outside Of the business man VINO dd not WHY 10 SoO o
Of sight Of the wholesale Stores OF te poc aus viz
ALWAYS that IN the Aston parors he would hnd more
cOngcuia company than anywhere else In the country
there we're parties who always stoleu ~ oi ,. hunJ
cause of its old hOmehke look and ITS SIMPLE nut aDu
With the exception OF the good nature and obgng ds
position Of its propuetOr-thc cider Mr. stetsonnOtmng
took so well with this class the increasing bOuntful-
ness Of It's table. While innovations IN TINS line We're
always as we'll received as they we're intended 10 De
nadc-for tho bettcr-innOvatiOns in the old furniture
did not meet with as much favor OidlaShoned as II
mostly II was yet so rch ana cOnorao 'it ~ hu
attractions 10 the class are speaking OF, which no
more mOderny furnished hotel could boast Inc success
~ Wv ncr clnse owes IFS success Every one who
stopped there seemed nearer home than thcy ana IN any
other place Of a like character Many made Their per
manent abode and have lived in 1t for ten, twenty ana
upward of thirty years. one old lady has called home
for thirty-0ne years, while PROMINENT JouInans'
has occupied two Of Us quarter of century.
by alterations many OF the old landmarks as II were
ICh IN "reminiscences nave away WIllC -
have been so much improved tht they are 5erSeR TO-
waite apartment, which, II s walls c0hu Spcih, Moiu
tell more stories Of nen-ther joys hopes dlsapponC
tban probably any other room in the country has been
turned into handsome ershop and washiOOm, win
Before social clubs became so numerous, the
heading lawyers, merchants journalists and business men
eODgrcgcd here, audtalkcd their business tOld
stories, played their rubber OF Whist from early morn
1sbionS5 than s ncghboTing rooms Vet it possessed
attractions which were seldom resisted by InOse VINO
could use the magic word sesame The large dining nan
ON the north has improved like all the other rooms
IN house. by being newly painted ana iFescoeu anu
refurnished Throughout II now as handsome as any
room kind In the country To the north OF H. ana
fronting the park Is the gentemens draWnSrOOn prop
ably the handSOmest used for that purpose IN any
hotel The ceiling masnltCenty lrescoed ana around
the lower end Of the walls, about three feet In hight
runs handsomely grained black walnut above II anu eA
tending the ceiling the walls covered WIN MOou
are made Of maple and give rich coloring the
which nothing else could do To the south Of this is
aprvate prepared exactly like the draWing-room
One piece OF furniture more Is added, handsome SIDE
board whereat an those favored ones can get quiet
"nlp without standing rs an example IN the pubic par
furnished and arranged in sumptuOus manner Opposite
the patent elevator running from tins moor TO
81 never denounced. Turning the corner 10 the right we
get within the precnts of the politicians The ngeSt
rooms Nos II and r. On the left are those OF Thnrow
Weed. The latter number was at one time the sleeping
apartment of Daniel Webster who also had the adjoining
the other parlOr In these three latter rooms more
Law lvers and statesmen have assembled than IN any
three hotel rooms IN the country Ihcy were al lhe
guests Of Mr. Webster aud there not a Senator IN
IN those rooms When Mr. webster iied Nos 10 and
were turned into the Ladies Breakfast ROOM and they
have used such since. This like the ladies'
dining room IN close proximity, are models OF elegance
cid entirely torn ont ana freprOOf one built
in It's stead 1t contains the largest cOOkngTange IN the
world and was built by French firm II has seven ovens
and three aud easily cook for $500 persona
Adjoining is new OakeOyen Of large capacity On the
west end Of the floor the gentemcns private
modelled and more convenient before We had
almost forgotten the "oce" which has been moved to
opposite the main stairway where more room and better
facilities FOX the transaction OF business are obtained In
the the private rooms Of the prOprietors.
The second story mas undergone IKE chaDEes' WIN
tho exception of the ladies' drawiugrOOm all the rooms
IL beautifully furnished, and the intention Of Mr..
BtcsOn furnish the long front ha on this floor that
the third and fourth floors similar changes nave been
5Psse Sf and 5o rerned and every Stitch
OF linen, bed-clOthes, sc, rs equally new In addition
the windows fronting the Park the top floor have
been enlarged. All the old furniture with the eXcep-
lion OF few old walnut tables which have been
FURNISHED FOR hirytwO years, and look like as II they
would stand To Dc five times as old has been sold and
that substituted Is OF the most chase and substantial
kind made TO order expressly for Mr. StesOn. On each
aOOr watcTclOsets and bathrooms and IN addition
there portable bathtubs, which can be used IN the
private rooms when desired The celliIgs OF edch nan
beautifully frcscOcd. In fact there is nothing want
ing in the Aston House make It's guests comfortable
and happy and If there be any who cling with fond
recOeCOn 10 the old order 81 things they have but 10
lac fzieU ne will mt bp IN
complete order for week ia the time its busi
has been resumed. The management OF the AstOr
House b. the hands OF Alexander Nee and f. X.
BctsOn Their father Charles A. gives his valuable aid
aud knowledge 10 assist his sons One other 500 owns
The SteSCn House az Long Branch, while another has
lately opened the ST. James in Boston.