The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-04-03
A HOTEL IN THE DESERT.
Entertainment fer Man and Beast Neal
the Pyramids.

Entertainment fer Man and Beast Near
the Pyramids.
One Of the results Of civilization seems
TO be the building of hotels Saratoga has
millions invested in palatill hostelries.
There are scores Of other places Of which
the same thing may be said, and in cases
where the natural charms of the towns have
been overestimated by the real estate in
vestors there have been relapses Of course,
and as a humorist once expressed 1t, I'VE
have lots Of small plea cities with nonpa-
reil hotels"
Hotels are built nowadays in all sorts Of
places, and it is mystery how some OF
them pay expenses. Ii fortunate miner,
stumbling along over a mountain trail, ac-
cidentally discovers gold, stakes off his
claim, notifies his friends and establishes
a camp, the first structure TO appear IS
certain to be hotel. If oil is struck, when
the persons who fondly imagine that they
are the first to bear the news arrive upon
the scene, the chances are that they will
find the lucky "striker" hotel man, and
shanty bearing the legend metropolitan
House." or some equally seductive title.
If a few people gather on the border, await
ing the day when certain government land
is to be thrown open to settlers, there IS
bound TO be hotel tent, or hotel wagon,
or something Of the kind on hand to sup
DIV the cravings of the inner man. To
any one who has noticed carefully the
growth Of this tendency it seems remark
able that some enterprising fellow did not
buy the hotel privilege from Stanley, the
explorer, upon the occasion Of that adven-
turous spirits last expedition to Darkest
Africa"
The Ozark Continent" might ordinarily
be considered an unpromising field for the
exercise Of the abilities Of the individual
who provides Entertainment for man and
beast" 1t would perhaps be argued that
few persons would care TO visit Africa for
pleasure, while those who would be open
TO argument on the score Of health, would
be deferred by their physical condition
from undertaking the long voyage Still,
whether there be any force in this argu-
ment or not, il is fact that 5000 foreign
ers are spending the present winter near
Cairo, Egypt. 1t is true That most OF them
are invalids, but there is also said TO be a
very liberal scattering of persons on pleas
ure bent, who, having tired Of the more
elusive enjoyment Of society in the Euro
pean capitals, have decided to seek recrea-
ton in quieter fashion almost under the
shadow Of the pyramids where, not very
long AGO, a fine hotel was built in the des.
ert. The air there is particularly dry, and
is believed to be peculiarly beneficial to
persons suffering with affections Of the
lungs.
In 1884 wealthy Englishman, who was
a consumptive, bought a large tract Of
land near the pyramids. He built little
house and lived with his wife on the sand
waste he had purchased. His idea was
that the dry desert air would provo d
specific for his complaint and the result
seemed to bear him out in his judgment,
for his health improved perceptibly. But
his lungs were too far gone before be took
up his abode in Egypt and after two or
three years of the best health be had en-
joyed in a long time be died. However,
before his death he caused TO be erected on
his property n large sanitarium for the
benefit of victims Of tuberculosis. Some
time ago this building was purchased by
outsiders, who made it the nucleus Of
large hotel near the pyramids, which is
said TO be doing thriving business. IT'S
permanent boardcrs are of course health
seekers, but it also entertains many tran
sient guests who are merely sight seers.