The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1882-12-09
Hotels in Saxony.

the 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
kind of place for an American. There
Is no diningroom save the beer-hall: no
Office save the beer-hall. The beer-hall
Is the guests parlor, writing-room,
drinKing-room, reception-room and sit
ung-room. You rent room ND 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 it. You must ask for bread If YOU
want it. If you order bread and neglect
10 order butter you don't get the latter.
III you order simply cup of coffee you
VIII not get any bread or batter. Ii you
order sisnply beefsteak you will not get
any poeatoes. You must know what you
want and order it. When you settle
year bill the waiter charges for every
ching separately, calling them off to you
and adding them up aloud. This rule,
however. is observed in all the restau-
rants and in the hotels where meals are
served outside of the regular dining
room or table dhote.
The stranger is conveyed quickly to
one of the hotels. Ii the driver takes
him to first-class house his experience
is about rs follows: AT the door ne is met
by the PORTER (the most important man
IN the houseJ, waiter and boot-black,
or hausman. The latter takes his valise,
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
eyything has a cherries appearance.
IFere 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 the stranger
must write his name while the clerk
looks down upon him with patronizing
sheer. The hall is narrow and there are
no chairs nor richiy-upholstered sofas to
be seen. They are not needed.
Passing quickly through the hall. the
g'.est is led up stairs, also of stone or
marble, and into his room. There is no
elevator. Here the PORTER leaves him.
and the waiter bows. The bow is meant
TO express to the stranger the fact that
the waiter is entirely and uncondition-
ally his slave, and if the guest wants
anything he need only put himself to
the trouble of asking for it.
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
nd fIo n fbo
water into the bowl and reaches for the
soap. There is no soap. He rushes to-
ward the electric bell and gives it a
spiteful push. He waits After waiting
sufficient time he pushes it twice. He
waits again. Then no answer being re-
ceived, he pushes it three times.
At last there is footstep in the hall
and a knock at the door. Then the
chambermaid enters. She starcs at the
stranger and waits for him to speak.
He tells her that he wants some s. ap.
She doesn't understand him. He shows
her the empty soap-dish and hopes to
shame her by the revelation. She simply
mutters ''sor' and is gone.
Another footstep is heard in the hall
Another knock is heard at the door.
Then the bootblack enters and stares.
1t is evident that he too, has been sum-
moned by the bell. The whole perform
ance is gone through again; the boot
black mutters ''sor' and is gone.
In short time another footstep is
heard in the hall and another knock at
the door. Then the waiter comes in.
Once more it is necessary that the
stranger shall tell the story about the
missing soap. Once more he hears the
muttered ''sor' and the waiter disap-
pears.
After time he-returns with cake of
the desired article, and is received with
liberal quantity OF profanity, which he
listens to calmly and patiently. He
doesn't understand one word oft. Then
he bows, and manages to make the
stranger understand that travellers
usually bring their own soap; also. that
one ring of the bell is for the waiter. two
for the chambermaid, and three for the
bootblack.
When asked concerning the dinner he
disappears, but returns shortly with bill
of fare. The traveller expected his din
ner, and is again provoked into display
of temper, which has no earthly effect
upon the waiter. The latter explains by
signs and mods and bows that the stran-
ger must order the things which he wants
II is useless to attempt to discuss the mat
ter by simply saying; ''Bring me din
ner," or, '.Bring me a good dinner"
The bill of fare, or ''speisen-karte" is
printed and written in German, SO that
the stranger has no idea of its contents.
At length he points out number of items
with his finger, selecting them good
deal like a man selecting tickets in a lot
terry.
When the dinner finally comes, he
finds that he has four kinds of meat, no
vegetables, some black bread, and no
butter. Then the dinner is spoiled, for
the traveller is SO much disguised, and
annoyed. and wearied, that his appetite
is gone. But he succeeds. nevertheless.