The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-05-04
AMERICAS BIGGEST HOTEL.
They All Liked 1t Well, Which Fact
Made Him Glad.
Here's steamship tale says the Bos-

Here's steamship tale says the Bos-
ton Globe.
Coming across last time there was
on board middle-aged Scotchman,
for many years resident in the States,
relatives in Scotland. He was exas-
peratingly well informed, too, regard
ing everything American, as l had
ample evidence, but the year he had
been away was call my own" So aft
er a couple of mild yarns l started in
one night after dinner, not addressing
him, of course, but a friend, with
whom l exchanged ponderous wink.
"Smithers," quoth 1, shave you heard
of the San Jacinto?"
"No," said he. "What's it like?"
"Why, it's that new big hotel out in
California" said l. "Dining-room 400
feet long-kitchen ditto-immense dis
tances- walters all on noiseless roller
skates-palatial affair."" l ratified on.
l threw glance at the Scotchman.
He fairly bristled with an odd look of
disbelief. He hadn't heard of it of
course, but didn't have nerve enough
to break in, being uncertain where
the fact stopped and fancy began.
"Most unique thing in whole estab-
lishment, though is the truly epicurean
service. Climate is wonderful there,
you know, and right outside the din
ing-hall in a courtyard are two beauti-
full pools, one salt water and one fresh,
stocked with about all the fish you can
find in either. When you walk in in
the morning head waiter meets you
with silver salver and a silken scoop
net.
"'What will you have this morning,
says he, "a little trout, sea bass, mack
erelp' tossing in few bits of biscuit.
"'Just give me that pickerel over
there, you say. A deft swish of the net,
little foundering, and the salver dis
appears kitchenward.
"You walk in, sit down, nibble a hot
roll, and sip your coffee slowly, mean
while glancing over the papers.
"Ten minutes elapse and waiter
comes swiftly skimming up the long
vista. He stops at your table. You
lift the cover. There lies your pick
erel, done to a turn"
By this time a man on my right
had caught on. He heaved sigh anC
said:
Eyes, that's so. Dreadful expensive
though. But wasn't the revolving
veranda beauty?"
Thus encouraged | sailed in again.
"But the most wonder thing of al
are the musical soup-plates. Fact
Made in Europe sOmewhere-perfectly
unique and original = nothing like
them anywhere"
The Scotchman couldn't suppress
the snort of incredulity he now gave
"Great chance for nice discrimina
ton" went on. "You see, they pla,
different tunes, and one day they mad,
a blunder and the Chicago mans plat,
played Wagner and a Boston man 90
annie Rooney and there was an aw
full row."
But now had an experienced ally il
the usually veracious captain, VIII,
came into the conversation with: eyes
that's a fact about these Antwerp
plates. They were brought over il
this very vessel, and remember then
well because of the terrible time the,
had getting through the custom
house."
"Yes," I said, "that's wonderful
place, the San Jacinto = somethin!
that every one ought to see-nothin!
ever like it before"
"Well," said the .Scotchman solemn
ly, "I'm glad you liked the place S
well. | built it."
The crowd collapsed.