The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-10-05
Especial Correspondence

Extortion2te Hotel Keepers.
Especial Correspondence
NEW YORK, Sept. 29.-Broadway, as I
have said before, is the most interesting
thoroughfare in the world. And the
most interesting part of Broadway is
that which extends from Fourteenth to
Forty-second street, a distance of a mile
and a half. This is the Broadway of
pleasure, of show, Of fashion, of ex-
travagance. 1t is the gayest mile and a
half in the United States. There is
nothing like it in Chicago, Boston, Wash
ington or Philadelphia.
Let me endeavor TO give you picture
of what this part of Broadway is-fffty
hotels, two hundred restaurants, twenty
theaters, hundred cigar stores, and
don't know how many millinery shops,
lewelry stores, haberdasheries and
drinking saloons. They say there are
many gambling houses, too, but of this l
know nothing from personal observation.
Still it would not be surprising if in this
gay section of Broadway, or near by it,
there were tigers lairs and even worse
places by the score, for everything that
is sportive, reckless, demoralizing and
pleasure giving thrives here like a green
bay tree.
The people who infest this gay Broad
way appear to have nothing to do but to
spend money. Where all the money
comes from is mystery to me. To
watch the Broadway crowds spend
money one would never think there
were such things as poverty, want, de-
spair in the world.
Not more than one-half Of these pleas
ure seeking throngs are New Workers.
In walk along this thoroughfare you
meet men from all parts of the United
States, from all parts of the world.
Many are respectable and important
persons at their homes, guests of the
hotels, in New York on business. Many
are here merely for pleasure.
IF there is a spendthrift in this coun-
try, young idiot who has F'come into
money and who is troubled with an itch
for spending it, the chances are you
will find him along Broadway. If a
dissipated youth is missing from home,
here is where his anxious parents should
come in search of him. If there is a
wandering boy who has, through some
lucky stroke IN the poolrooins, become
imbued with the notion that he is a
'plunger' and destined to make his
fortune betting on horse races, hunt
on Broadway will surely disclose him.
If pretty, stylish and hayward girl
has run away from home and failed to
send her address to her sorrowing par
ents. seek her on the west side of Broad
way. between Fourteenth and Forty
second streets.
While all sorts and conditions of men
and women may be found on Broadway
there are certain places at which you
may be sure of finding certain kinds
of people, For instance, all the Demo
cratic politicians go to the Hoffman
House, kept by the famous Stokes. All
the Republican politicians go to the
Fifth Avenue hotel.
Sporting men, followers of the races,
may be found at the Coleman House.
Actors assemble at the Brewer House.
Washington and New York state people
60 to the Gilsey House. New England
ers are partial to the Sturtevant South
ern visitors, who formerly registered at
the old New York hotel, now go to the
Victoria.
With few exceptions the New York
hotels are conducted on the European
plan, and should judge all are man
aged with a view to making millionaires
Of their owners in the shortest possible
time. For two dollars day they will
give you small bedroom, high up and
perhaps ''inside" merely a place to sleep.
IF you want fairly decent room, such
as you have at home, you must pay three
or four dollars day. A room with bath
is from five to seven dollars. If you
want parlor Or reception room, you
may pay ten or as many more dollars
per day as you like.
These prices, mind you, are for the
rooms alone. Your meals you pay for
as you get them-as long as your money
holds out. The simplest sort of break
fast-fruit, eggs, bread and coffee, or
something like that-costs you very
nearly dollar. What the check doesn't
Take OuC OL your OOlldI UIl1 LILO W1lUOl
expects and generally manages to get.
Two Bartlett pears cost you forty cents;
coffee with Greenland what civilized
man ever heard of coffee without crean2
lis only thirty-fve cents in New York!
A fair dinner will spoil two dollar bill.
Your supper or luncheon is $1.50. Be-
sides you must tip the porter and the
hall boy and the chambermaid. And if
you have nice room and live well you
will be lucky if you get off with less
than eight or ten dollars day.
Nevertheless there are thousands of
people spending their money in these
hotels and cafes. Hundreds of fashion
able restaurants are crowded all the
time. Cabs and carriages are busy. The
theaters are full. Fine clothes are seen
everywhere. Expensive cigars-and in
this part of New York the man behind
the counter loses respect for you if you
ask for anything cheaper than three for
half dollar-are smoked by the mil
lion Wine flows and whisky too.
Broadway fnanciering is queer. Cham
pagne is sold at the regulation price of
$3.50, but beer is dime and whisky