New-York tribune., 1875-11-26
CANADIAN STEAMBOATS, And HOTELS

BAD FEATURES OF TIE "ALL AROUND ROUTK"-
DIRTY AND UNCOMFORTABLE INNS AND STEAM
ERs-THg NECESSITY OF REFORM.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: Next to strong praise, say the theatrical
MANAGERS sharp abuse brings most gst 10 their mills,
and gives the beet FLIP to their business When Pitt de-
cared that John wilkes did not deserve to be ranked
among the human species he gave that savage patriot
capital advertisement, but when Bishop WarburtOn f0
UP by asking pardon of Satan for comparing Wilkes
to him. the ed tor Of he North BrOn gained celebrity
quite undreamed OF before. These facts suggest useful
lesson the important precept of which doubtless
Is that criticism should be 20 shaped as to
beget improvement rather than notoriety. To
abuse either bad people bad things into fame
and fortune is certainly mot the Legitimate Office OF
public censor obvious that the clements Of malice
and exaggeration what, By unintended reaction,
bring about such unwhOlesome result. discreet
omission OF such elements best eomports with that I'M
proyenent which the honest critic sincerely desires. It
was Ia this spirit sure, that correspondent Of The
TRIBUNE wrote the other day OF the badness Of certain
Montreal hotel Although the best hotel in that beauti-
ful city it il undoubtedly bad one With some redeem
INK features neither what it should be,
what could easily be made and hope to serve both
s pIopetors and the public by pointing out defects OF
which it furnishes type, together with some collateral
evils the lines Of travel by which il is reached
Its no national partiaty say 1t, but only simple
fact that both the Canadian hotels and steamboats,
\
TO those this side OF the frontier Ncw-YOrk people
are at all events cosmopolitan enough by this time
prefer best things wherever they to be- found.
and ready boldly To declare that they the best
things. But regards these inns and packets the
advantage Is far and away the American side We're
the discrepancy unavoidable I should of course have
more decacy in speaking Of IT, But this ia not the case
I'm any respect whatever. II it be said that American
towns are Larger better NJ TO support expensive
hotels, | tha. there are scores Of towns
In tine United States with half or quarter
Of the population OF Montreal which boast
better inns than that city. Nay, there are
plenty hotels IN small villages OF the American terri
tory close to Canada which surpass any know of I'm the
whole Dominion If Is be said that provisions are cheaper
abundant here than there 1e reply IA that ut
present at least te reyerse the Tho
may DC said OF rents and servants wages Meanwhile
the prices the Canadian houses high at our
own Yet rs rule the former dirty, dark and un
comfortable and have general atmosphere OF sloth and
neglect quite painful to those accustomed to the neat
ness, allcrity and brightness OF good American
hostelry. The steamboats, present like and more
dlsagreeabe contrast Those that run from the Niagara
River to Toronto Inferior enough hut even they are
preferable to the wretched tubs that up Lake
Ontario and ihe 81. Lawrence 10 Montreal The
latter are poorer than tho poorest class OF
packets found on our Western rivers 30 years They
also dirty, dark, and uncomfortable There is as
steaDers that ply Lake Champain a. there between
the Montreal hotels and The fiaest In New-York city
which j. saying very great deal An odd feature about
the Canadian hotels-and here meet an argument that
some may plausbly hr!ng against me-is that the i'm
portation OF American clerks aud domesucs does
remedy characteristics Canadian defects Houses
provided still appear 10 remain uncean, and dank and
sloyenly. The prevalent atmosphere IL doubtless too
much for the newcomers who probably, after an honest
struggle to introduce ways give mp in despair and
become Romans among Romans. There are things that
seem absolutely Incompatible with the English genius,
and Of in the faculty Of creating and maintain
| ing large, tidy aud ohecrful-looking hotels.
| Do what they viii In London they cannot manage it.
iarf nd
reproductions Of tie stufiy little tayerns their pTodeees
Our Canadian friends have honestly by their
disability hut really think, with the inspirations OF
country, superb scenery aud the worldly gains
change for the better wOud Insure they might try to
turn over new leaf and achieve something more mod