Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-03-02
The Effect of fine Hotel Accommo.


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The Effect of fine Hotel AccOmmO.
datfOus.
The Rev. Henry M. Field has lately beer
down to Florida and he writes back tc
his paper his impressions of that State
His last trip in search of health and rec
reation was to the Mediterranean Coast
of Africa, Gibralter and the Riviera. He
wrote for the magizines delightful notes
of his travels. His last experience seems
to have pleased him nightly, and the
principal factor in his pleasant impress
sions appears to be the perfection of the
Hotel Ponce de Leon, at st. Augustine,
which was built by Henry M. Flagler. of
New Yerk, at enormous outlay. Writing
to the New York Evangelist, Mr.. Field
says of this splendid hotel:
| Connoiseurs of fine architecture are
not apt to look for models in hotels, but
in churches and cathedrals; in palaces
and stately mansions. The city of New
York abounds in hotels, but it has not
one that is worth looking at for its archi-
lecture. The Windsor, if it stood out in
the country, beside stream of water,
would be taken for paper mill or cot
ton factory. Or it might be some public
institution, whose needs required that
which was useful rather than orna-
mental, as its stories are all just alike,
with just 30 many windows, of just the
same size, as if they opened into the
small rooms intended for the wards
of an asylum. There is some ex-
cuse for this in a crowded city,
where the largest buildings must be
put on a line with the street, to utilize
every foot of space, for there is not room
to have great central court. This must
be reserved for situation less crowded,
where there is more elbow-room. 1t is
also more suited to a climate warmer
than that Of the North-conditions which
seem to meet in this old Spanish town
of st. Augustine. And so it came to pass,
quite naturally, that gentleman of New
York, who had been here often enough
TO appreciate the place, and see it's posi-
bilities, should have a mind to build
hotel after his own fancy, that should
meet all requirements, and be a welcome
retreat for those who, fleeing from the
severe winters OF the North, should
seek place of health and of rest
He saw that the Spanish style
OF architecture was best adapted
to a warm climate; and having the good
fortune to engage an architect who en-
tered with spirit into the design, dis
patched him to Spain, to study the best
specimens of Spanish architecture in
Toledo, Cordova, Seville and Granada.
The result has been a structure quite
unique in this country, and the like of
which | have not seen any where.
Having ample space, there was no
need to crowd anything, 80 that the
building, instead of being one huge
mass, could be thrown into pavilions,
grouped round a great court, with its
fountains and flowers; with projecting
balconies (Which, if not crowded with
| Spanish senoritas, are none the less
charming with American LADIES'; and
belfry-like towers, rising at the angles,
with open arches, from which one can
overlook the town and look far out to
sea, and which, hung at night with
many colored lights, create a fairy-like
scene.
Such is the general plan. But, of
course, in a building of such extent,
there is no end of details, which have to
| be worked out with the utmost care.
These [ could not help observing as |
walked about the several parts of the
great whole. l do not profess to know
much about architecture, but, like
good many others. know just enough to
| find fault. Without technical knowledge,
| | have sort of instinct of proportion
and of harmony, which detects what is
not in accord with them, even when it
may be difficult to point out just where
the fault lies. Ii go into a new church,
and it be TOO long for its width, or the
ceiling be too high or too low, "feel it
in nv bones" So, in the decoration of
room, or the furnishing of
| it, if there be want of har-
mony of color, my flesh begins to creep
matter. In this way [ have gone about
line in my hand, but trusting solely to
my eye, and ! have not been able to
detect single fault. 1.-The height and
the length and the breadth" OF it are not
''equal," but they are in perfect proper
ton. AS an editor, true to his calling, |
have been little disappointed that l
could not find something to criticise; but
| give it up. Nor have found any glar-
| ing color which offends my taste. On
the walls and ceilings, and even in the
furnishing, in carpets and curtains and
upholstery, everything is subdued TO
that soft and quiet tone which is most
pleasing and grateful to the eye.
This hotel, and very naturally, cspti'
waited Mr.. Field. The property valua-
tions of the county of Los Angeles exceed
those of the whole State OF Florida. Our
climate is incomparably better than the
climate of that State. But we have no
such a hotel as the Ponce de Leon. Why
not? We had better pull ourselves to-
gether and ge: one if we desire to get our
share of tourist and invalid travel.
| Undeiivered kilograms.