The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1882-12-07
Hotels in Saxeny,

The gast-haus is hotel, but of a fourth
or fifth rate quality. 1t is patronized by
| Inc poorer class of travellers, usually by
those from country villages and small
towns, who come to the city to make
purchases. 1t is respectable, but not the
kindof place for an American. There
Is no dining-room save the beer-hall: no
office save the beerzhall. The beer-hall
IS the guests parlor,s q. writing-room,
dTlnklng-room, ~reception-room and sit
tlngg-room. You rent room up stairs at
SO much per day, and you buy >your
meals in the beer-hall at so much per
article. You get nothing unless you
order 1T. You must ask for bread If you
want it. If you order bread and neglect
TO order butter you don't get the latter.
IF you order simply cup of coffee vot,
will not get any bread or butter. 1t YOU
order simply beefsteak you will not get
any potatoes. You must know what Won
want aud order it. S.When You settle
your bill the waiter charges for every
thing separately, calling them oft you
anu adding them up aloud. a, This rule,
however, is observed in all the restal-
rants and in the hotels where meals are
served outside of regular dining.
room or table .Thote. 's's'
The stranger is conveyed quickly to
one OF the hotels. Ii the driver takes
him to a first-class house his experience
is about as follows: At the door he met
by the porter (the most important man
IN the house), a waiter and boot-black,
or hausman. The latter takes his gaIsa.
the waiter bows low, the PORTER bows
still lower, and the guest is ushered into
the main hall. This hall is paved with
marble blocks; the walls ARE frescoed;
few pictures hang on either side. but
everything has a4cheerless appearances.
There is no office, save a little dark room,
over Which is painted the sign PORTER;
there are no hotel clerks with boiled
shirts, curly hair and blazing diamonds;
there is no register in which thestraneer
must write his name while the clerk
looks down upon him with patronizing
sneer. The hall is narrow and there are
no chairs nor richly-upholstered sofas to,
eseen. They are not needed.
s Passing quickly through the hall, the
gu st is led up stairs, also of stone or.
marble, and into his room, There is no
elevator. Here the porter leaves him.
and the waItersbows. The bow is meant
to. express to the. stranger the fact that
the waiter'is entirely and uncondition1
ally his slave, and if the guest; wants.
anything he need only put himself to
the trouble of asking for it. &s Ssaaass
The American informs the waiter that
he would like something to eat The
waiter bows and retires Then the
stranger sheds his coat, and collar, and.
cuffs and things, and prepares to wash
the dust and SCOT out of his head. his
ears and his cheeks. He pours the
water into the bowl and reaches for the
soap: There is no soap.o He rushes to.
ward the electric bell and gives it !
spiteful push, He waits. After waiting
a sufficient time he pushes il twice. HeyI
waits again. q. Then no answer being re.
ceived, he pushes it three times. '
At last there is a footstep in the hall
and a knock at the door, Then the
chambermaid enters. She stares at the
stranger and waits for him to speak.
He tells her that he wants some soap.
She doesn't understand him. He shows
her the empty soap-dishs and hopes to-
shame her by the revelation. She simply
nlltters ..sor' and is gone. -s ava.s : x
Another footstep is heard in the. hall.
Another knock as heard at the door.
hen the 5bootblaek enters and stares.
1t is evident that. he too, has been sum
moned by the bell. The whole perform
anee is gone through again; the boot
black mutters "son' and is gone.
In a short time another, footstep isl
heard in the hall and another knock at
.he door. Then the waiter comes in.
Jnce more tits necessary that the
stranger shaH tellathe story about the
missing soap. Once more he hears the
nuttered '.son' and the waiter disap- |
1ears - go sss5ss ss@t zsssss4sss - /
After a time he returns with cake or /
he desired article, and is received with
Y liberal quantity of profanity, which he /
stems to calmly and patiently. He
toesn' understandone Mersl of it, Then
le7 bows and manages to make the
trange understand that, travellers,
lsually. bring their own soap; also, that I
me ring of the bell is for the waiter. two
Or the: :chambermaid, and three for the
,ootblack. 81 s.s8 ,sss { .fsesafsasg .Eas
{ when asked concerning the dinner he F
disappears, bnt returns shortly witla a bill
i fare. The traveller expected his dim
ger, and is again provoked into display
4 temper, which has no earthly effect
Ipon the. waiter. The latter explains by
igns and mods and bows that the strar-
.er must order the things which he wants. /
is useless to attempt to discuss the mat
er bylsimply saying. ssBring me a DIM
,er + Or bring me a good dinner
The bill of fare, or .speisen-karte'' is f
rinted and written in German, SO that
he stranger has no idea 81 its contents.
1t length he points outa number of items
nth his finger, electing them good
eai like man selecting tickets in a lot
cry. q; fsggsfgEg sss s-.esr,s.sss,ssr ses4 -;
When the dinner, finally comes, he.
nds that he has four kinds of meat, no E
egetables, some black bread, and no /
utter. Then the dinner is spoiled, for +
le traveller is'so much disguised, and Il
nnoyed, and wearied, that his appetite
gone. But he Succeeds nevertheless,
making the waiter understand what
e wants. After twoor three experiences
this kind he is able to order his meals