The Washington critic., 1888-08-30
SOMETHING OF CITY LIFE.
What the Head Clerk of metropolitan
Hotel Sees and Hears.

behind the register as the hands of the
big clock move slowly around their
course.
All in the big hotel are mapping, and
the rattling OF the milk wagons over the
concrete and the occasional tinldc of
car bell but family penetratcs the slum-
borous atmosphere.
This cannot last long, however, and
the big clock rings the hour of g. The
clerk mechanically rubs his eyes, dips
q pen into the ink we'll and hands IL TO
the imaginary guest he has been think
ing of in his dreams, the bell boys
straighten up with Jerk, the street
noises become louder and n step on the
marble pavement walcns the echoes
into life.
This is the relief clerk or more prop
crly, the chief clerk. Then the bust
ness of the day begins. The night
clerk relates anything unusual that has
happened throughout the night gives
over some necessary memoranda and re-
tires.
Tho day force Of bell-boys, porters and
watchmcn file into the house and the cor
ridor and lobby assumes an air of activ-
ity. The guests booked for early trains
are coming down for breakfast and the
portors arc busily loading their baggage
hands full of business and the bcll-boys
are kept on the jump This rush of b1si-
ness Is kept up until about 10 o'clock,
when it subsidies little.
A reporter sauntcrs in to look over the
arrivals, and his friend behind the coun-
ter mods pleasantly and says: One min
ute, old boy, and l will give. you a few
personals; Some distinguished people
booked last night
After glancing over the register
moment. Well, there is Granville
Smith, he is"
Drinks for II, please" "What
did they order ?" asks the clerk of the
the bell-boy Two eye-openers, sar,"
says the grinning darliey.
:" That means two whislSey sstraights,"
says the clerk, handing him slip.
Smith, | was going to say" resumes
the clerk, isa-"
Is Senator Blank in ?o "Hc has
Just gone into the dining-room." And
the latest constituent of the Senator
rushes to the door and grasps the States
man by the hand.
is candidate for u seat in the Senate,
and is the leading politician in the town
of x"
Here is my friend Edward Hope, he
is one Of
If my friend calls again, tell him 1
Will be here promptly at l o'clock. You
know who | mean. That short man
WlUD unc rcu ncuu. 1D0nKS.'
Give me some paper and envelopes,
please"
When does the next train leave for
the West?"
These, and dozen other queries are
put as the reporter waits patiently for
Hopes pedigree.
The clerk glances out into the corri-
dor, seizes pen, dips it into the ink,
slings the book around and as the re-
I..., /.
pairing to register their names. After
they have been roomed," and their
baggage taken care of, he resumes the
pedigree of Hope.
As was saying, Hope is million-
aire manufacturer, and the mayor of
Crossville."
A tall soldierly looking man ap-
proaches with Enthusiastically military
bearing and signs j. A. Schofcld, u. S.
General of tho army and the successor
to the late lamented Gen. Sheridan.
Have you seen Mr.. Smith to-day in
quires the cashierP"
"No.n
His bill is overdue"
Then into Mr. Smiths box plain
white envelope is put with the bill en-
closed.
Let me- see now, there is Percy Dc
loEOWnt, VI
/ see there is something in my box"
1t is Mr.. Smith for whom the cashier
inquired short time ago.
The clerk hands him the envelope,
which he hastily tears open, notes the
contents bushes little, and pays the
cashier a visit at once.
De Browne, as / was about to re-
mark. is one of the swell society leaders
of the Hub"
A lady in the parlor would l'''o 70
see the head clerk" says the bcll-boy.
And in response the clerk follows nm 20
the ladies' waiting-room.
The lady in waiting is young, hand
somely dressed and pretty. She rises,
and with bright smile and stately lit
tie bow says You are the clerk, l
presumed Well, I should like to en-
gage two nice large rooms. may have
some friends call on me-"
Are you travelling alone"
Yes, | travel alone quite frequently.
l have left party of friends in New
York, and / want to spend few days
here"
Here the clerks knowledge of the
world and his warincss stands him. in
good stead. In fact he bristles all over
with waiiness He knows at once that
handsome young women do not usually
travel alone. and that such guests, how
! ever, desirable they may be in board
| ing houses, are not the most desirable
| n large hotel can have. He is too dis
erect to disclose his thoughts, though,
and jotS down her name and address.
am very sorry Miss Jones, we have
no such rooms vacant now, as you would
require"
!" ] ear Pay well for them. / will
| pay you in advance she hastcns To
| say.
The clerk makes one OF his prize
| bows
"Of course, Miss Jones, we would not
require that of you, but really l am
afraid we cannot give you just the style
or possibly the day after, we may suit
you, and in the meantime YOU can ar
| range to stay with your friends perhaps" ="
In this way the unwelcome guest is
disposed of.
" think YOU have all of the promi-
| nent arrivals; but let us look again.
Oh, yes, here is Col Dash"
Here's your writing paper; Mr..
Brown. Two stamps, did you saw Get
them at the news stand, please"
want your bill, General All right ,
cashier just to the right"
Front, take this gentlemans card
to 65."
+" You will find pen and ink in the
reading room. Letter paper? here il is,
sir"
Here is washing list. Your
clothes will be ready tomorrow even
! ing,'
What about Dash? Oh, he is Il
retired army officer and has fallen heir
to an immense fortune"
All these questions were asked and
answered in the short time that the re-
porter made up his personals. And as
he left the counter he heard waited out