Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-11-18
THE RAYMOND.
Formal Opening of the
Grand Hotel.
THE BALL AND BANQUET.
Music, Dancing and FlOwers-List
of the Guests-The Decor
atiOns.
THE RAYMOND.
THE BALL AND BANQUET.

Last night the magnificent Raymond Ho
til was formally opened by grand compli-
mentary ball and banquet tend cred by the
Messrs. Raymond, the proprietors. and Q.
II. Merrill, the lessee of the house.
THE RAYMOND.
! A loyelier location than the Raymond
cannot well be imagined. As to descrip-
ton of the hotel and Its superb situation the
| HERALD feels that 1t cannot improve on the
| following graphic and truthful word paint
| ing by a gifted writer who has seen the
Raymond:
| "Iu approaching Pasadena by the well
equipped aud ad mirably managed Los An
geles & San Gabriel Valley Railroad. the
seven miles from Los Angeles, the outer
| confines of this charming city, and midway
| between this village and the main section
Of Pasadena is the signify elevation on
station is at the base of the hill, and both
| drive-ways and walks ascend to the top by
| easy grades. A plateau was created by cut.
| ting the top OF the hill down to the required
level for the hotel, and this extends consid-
erably beyond the limits OF the house, af-
| fording ample space for the avenues OF ap-
proach. The Raymond hill is one OF the
highest elevations in this art OF the valley,
and It's peculiar situation gives it an unob-
structed view in nearly every direction.
| Los Angeles itself is shut out by its own sur.
rounding hills, SO that the visitor has not
| even the distraction OF the busy town TO at
| tract HIM from the more rural aspect OF the
| general picture. One requires t. be lifted
| above the general level of the valley to ap-
preciate its SURPRISING loveliness, and here
| is the spot of all others for u comprehensive
| view. Looking southwark, one sees in the
| near prospect broad expanse of rich vine
Yards in tine famous Alhambra tract, sew
eral thousand acres in extent, belonging to
the San Gabriel Winery Company 70 the
| left lies Aan Gabriei itself, CHIEFLY great
| stretch of orange orchards and vineyards.
| prominent among which are the famous
''Sunny Slope" and princely estates be-
longing to Governor Stoneman and other.
| 1he ancient and priinative settlement OF
| San Gabriel, which still retains its ole time
Spanish characteristics, is a mere dot on
| the fair expanse. Turning to the right. the
eye wanders over the teem!ng hill-sides and
| fruitful wales of Pasadena, dotted every
where amid the rich, green foliage OF the
| orange lemon, and other rare trees, or the
long regular line OF vines, with pretty villas
| and neat cottage homes. Clustering houses
| with spires and rsdiating avenues, marx the
| chief part of this thriving young city. The
| foot. hills beyond south Pasadena hide Los
Angeles from view, but the eS Q takes IN the
moic distant heights of the Sierra santa
Monica. Directly southward the prospect
| widens in the valley of the Los Angeles, ex
| tending out over the Pacirc Ocean at MI
mington aud Long Beach, and terminating
| in the blue mountain heights ON the far
away islands Of Santa Catalina and San
| Clemente.
Let us turn now to the north and view the
| dominant feature eff this varied and charm
| ing landscape. Strett hing along from west
to east, mingled with the lesser heig hts OF
the Sierra San Fernando in the former di-
reetIon and extending into the distant,
etherially blue forms of the lofty San Ber-
nardino ana San Jacinto ranges. In the lat
ter, is the giant wal OF the sierra ezra Maure, s,
at hand that the details may be studied with
a glass. 1t must be remembered that the
dry, brilliant atmosphere is so trans.
parent that distan. objects appear very
that frequently leads visitors from the East
into wide errors OF judgment as to dis
tances. Between US and the mountains lies
a large portion of Pasadena, with broad
band of vineyards and orange groves which
extends far eastward, wiuenlng in places
up the benches aud slopes of the great hills
themselves. The grounds of the Sierra
Madre villa, S inta Anita Rancho, and other
large tracts of richly cultivated land are
seen before the eye is lifted to the superior
mountain summits The near mountains
have an elevation of from six to eight thou
sand feet, rising with great abruptness from
The giant warder of this fair domain IS
.Old Baldy," whose white hea, is lifted
over nine thousand feet high. Although
over twenty miles distant, its snowy heights
| are so Dldluly utuueu buhl tuc utHly al
rived visitor is quite likely to deem them
accessible after a morning wax. Farther
eastward the range lifts itself to still greater
heights, San Bernardino Peak. or old
Gray back" having an eleyation OF nearly
Joys the proud distinction of being the
highest in the United States above the gen
eral level of the country at its base. In the
far east the soft blue forms OF the San
Jacinto Mountains, some of which are ten
thousand feet high and snow-tipped. hang
above the horizon like fieeey clouds
The behOlder surely commands wide
and diversified scene, for the contrast
could not be greater than is afforded by
the luxuriant tropical groves at his feet,
and the bleak snowclad submits which
tower above him.
1t needed only a first-class hotel to render
this charming spot attractive in the highest
degree, and the building of the Raymond
has fully supplied this want. No grander
situation for hotel ever existed, and in
planning the establishment all due regard
was had to this fact. VIII lie the building
is noble in outline, spacious, and provided
with every modern comfort and luxury,
every window commands something OF the
ricn and varied view that has been so fully
described. The wide front, with its ample
yeraIids, commands the southern valley ex-
pause and the distant ocean; the wings,
with their equally broad verandas, and the
rear lock out across other scenes OF beauty
toward the high mountains. Light, sun
shine and air have been considered as prime
necessities, and the rooms for guests have
been SO constructed that these important
aids to health and comfort are secured to a
far greater extent than is common IN large
/ hotels. The sleeping rooms are all of liberal
size. high and readily accessible; while the
public apartments. including not only re-
ception-i ms, parl0rs. read 'ng and writing
| rooms, ladies' billiard-room, gentleman's
billiard-room, etc., but also an admirable
ballroom, are also very spacious. The office
rotunda is large and pleasant apartment,
and the other public rooms are on the same
floor. The dining room is in the rear OF the
| rotunda, and at its entrance are two wide
stairways and passenger elevator which
| communicates with all the four stories and
also with the central tower. The baggage
elevator is wholly disconnected from the
other, and the trunks and other heavy lug
gage, instead of being taken through the Of
fice rotunda, will be conveyed to the bag
gage room. in the rear. There are also spa
cious stairways in other parts OF the house,
and the most elaborate precautions have
been taken throughout the building to pre-
vent danger from fire. The kitchen and
laundry are at aconsiderable DISTANCE from
the guests quarters, the laundry being upon
the side of the hill, below the plateau upon
which the hill is situated. The are numer-
Gus public and private bathrooms, and
many of the rooms are in suites.
Attention is called to the excellent ar
rangement Of every part of the establish
ment, and to the.iiberal provision made for
the comfort, well-being and entertainment
OF guests. Every Improvement that modern
hotel science could suggest, or money sup
ply, has been introduced, and the result
| has been such as to meet every possible re
Quirement The spacious hotel Grounds
| fifty five acres-will exhibit the handsomest
and most elaborate results possible In the
way of landscape gardening: There will be
| ornamental and drinking fountains, rose,
palm and cactus gardens, tennis scourts,
children's Fairgrounds, croquet grounds.
swings, rustic houses, bowling alleys be-
meath an arbor of trailing vines, an ariif-
maze, and other features. There will also
be large orange grove and generous
sized lawn. Among the trees which adorn
the long slopes are the pepper, eucalyptus,
giant redwood, olive, date, palm, banana,
pomegranate. guava, Japanese persimmon,
umbrella, maple. elm, locust, English wal
nut, birch, ailantus, poplar, willow, and
great variety of ornamental shrubs nur-