Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-04


PHILADELPHIA, November 3.-Proprie-
tor Boldt, OF the ultra-fashionable Hotel
Stratfor1, the very expensive Hotel Belle
vue, and the popular Bullitt building res
taurant, is in hard luck. About week ago
the habitues of the Bellevue were stirred up
by the fact that "Lord Chamberlain" OF
England, and party were about to honor
that quiet hostelry by their distinguished
presence. 1t is also matter of history lin
deed, the employees of the house remember it
yet too well) that these distinguished for
eigners failed to materialize after extensive
preparations had been made for their ac-
commodation, and even now the officials of
the hotel are on the warpath for any member
of the English nobility who may enterthei
aristocratic portals.
To-day nearly the same act was repeated,
and although in this case the deed was done
in good faith. and by the most distinguished
persons in the United States, the result, as
the hotel was concerned, turned out to be
far as practically the same.
SURPRISED AT SUNRISE.
Early this morning Mr.. George G. Boldt,
the well known proprietor of the Bellevue
Hotel and the Stratford, across the wsv. was
awakened from his slumbers Che sleeps late
on Sunday by telegram which announced
that Mrs. Harrison, accompanied BY Post
master General Wanamaker, Mrs. Wana-
maker and party would arrive at the STRAIT
ford for luncheon at noon, before attending
the afternoon services of the Bethany Sun
day School"
Mr.. Boldt read the telegraph over twice,
rubbed his eyes, and like great field mar
shall began at once to give his directions. No
instructions as 70 the luncheon had been
mentioned. It was Sunday, and his subor-
dlnates were scattered here and there. The
task of getting up luncheon becoming the
guests was indeed difficult one, but the
great mind of Boldt rose superior to the oc-
casion. Messengers were Immediately dis
patched to every quarter Of the city. Chefs
were aroused from their slumbers and bade
come post haste to the council OF war. A
trusty messenger was commissioned to find
Graham, the florist, dead or alive, and
bring him at once to the Stratford.
The orders were obeyed to the letter. Car
loads of plants began to arrive, post haste,
ere the bells of the churches had ceased
ringing. The consultation Of the chefs was
a lengthy one, and
MORE GOOD FRENCH WAS WASTED
than had been heard in Philadelphia for
many day. By 1870 A. M. a great model
of the White House at Washington was
constructed, all of pure white sugar, for the
center OF the table. The bell boys were be-
ing constantly drilled, they all had their
faces washed anew, fresh gloves were pro-
vided, and things began to assume more
than regal aspect.
The porters backed their own shoes and
stood with open mouths in expectation OF
the loaves and fishes which were to shortly
fall into their nets. 11:45 saw the staff ar
ranged in line at the private entrance,
flowers everywhere haDked by walters,
while through the open door the luncheon
table, with the superb White House on top,
could be distinctly seen in the distance.
At precisely II o'clock diminutive mes
senger boy crawled in through the flowers
and assembled servitors, and when his ad-
miration of the preparations had sufficiently
subsided to enable him to speak. he pre-
sented crumpled little note, which read
thus: '"The party has decided not to lunch
to-day, on account of rain" There is an
air of gloom at the Stratford.