National Republican., 1881-09-02
THE METROPOLITAN HOTEL.
A Noted Old Cnravansnry-Hmport
Changes Made.


The Metropolitan Hotel is about the
only Landmark Of the days OF stage coaches re-
naming in the District The Indian Queen Ho-
TEL" as IL was called in "ye olden time" is in
cluded in the present marble structure. This por-
tlon ofthe building Ia Of brick, and fronts on and
Sixth streets. Here Dickens stopped during his
first tour 10 this country, ormany years previous
TO the war Il was known as Browns" and was
the favorite stopping place Of statesmen OF all sec
ions OF the country, the big hotel is at present
Many interesting ante bellum scenes and incl
dents have been told Of this noted caravansary.
Until recently the hotel appears to have been kept
by proprletors whose
MANAGEMENT OF THE CONCERN
did not allow the hotel to keep them. So often
has the house changed hands in later years that
the landlord was generally stranger to the tran
sient traveller who made the Metropolitan his
home while in the city. The present proprietors
Messrs. w. H. Selden, Of Lynchburg, and $. b. Rob-
bins, ofMemphs, have made so many important
changes In the internal arrangements OF the hotel
that they deserve more than passing notice.
since they have been the means Of placing the
hotel on the first class list of commercial board
ing houses OF the country. Under ancient re-
gmes the cook room and laundry were on the
first floor, directly under the large dining-hall,
and as consequence sent up unpleasant eftuvia
all over the house. All this has been changed. The
old billiard room has been converted into model
kitchen II is on the same floor and in rear Of the
dining hall, over or near which there are no
sleeping apartments.
FOR CLEANLINESS AND PURITY
there Is no such cook room in tho country. The
floors, tables, and cooking utensils are as clean
and bright as elbow service can make them. The
room is large and airy first class range docs the
cooking, and the kitchen and laundry force are
neat and sleek and well-f looking people. They
do tho work assigned them noiselessly and In or
der, passing from dining room to kitchen and back
again with military precision The kitchen looks
as neat and bright as the quarter. deck Of a man
of-war, and beyond this there is no comparison.
1t is pleasure to eat meal when one knows that
III prepared by persons who are not smearcd with
grease and dirt Tire table fare OF the hotel is
what one would expect to find at frst-class house.
There are one hundred and six sleeping rooms In
the Metropolitan Hotel, together with splendid
parlors and reception rooms, In which are two fine
pianos. In several Of the rooms en- suite, notably
that OF the bridal.chamber may be found solid
rosewood and Eastlakc furniture, which
EQUALS IN ELEoANcE
of construction anything of the kind ever seen In
| this country. The bedding throughout the house
is entirely new; the mattresses are of the best
linen ticking material and the springs Of the latest
| pattern-giying comfort and case TO the sleeper
watercosets Of the most approved pattern are on
| every floor. There is an air OF neatness cleanli-
ness, and quietness throughout the whole OF the
house, making 1t highly desirable place for Con-
gressmen and their families or for commercial
men. The change made in the hotel from the old
slip-shod method OF running it has already borne
| fruit In the increased business that has come tc
the house under the new management and It Il
certain that the Metropolitan, with selden & Rob.
bins as proprietors will gain reputation second
| TO no other hotel Of the National Capital.