The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-04-09
" GOTHAM MEccAs.
A Sentimental View OF the Urivcrstty BuiId-
ing and New York r1oteI.

ing and New Yo~k. Hotei.
To THE EprroR OF THE SuN-Sir. There are
two buildings OF Gotham which do not promise
at this writing to live to zee another spring and
which seem to morit a more sentimental leave
taking than they have yet had. One OF them
is the University Building. known to fiction
as "Chryralis College" In Washington square.
aud the other. hard by on Broadway. is the
New York Hotel.
That sentimental considerations should at
tach to the former will surprise no one. Cecil
Dreemo' gave 1t q permanent place in romantic
literature. And no wonder. for II there was
an edince in New York In actual use in this
generation that naturally belonged in n novel
the University building was that structure.
For two score years ut least 1t was to New
York. more than any other building what tho
ward-tending youth ofiiterary aspirations and
bohemian instincts found his way ia. II nv tho
same sort o. natural selection that domiciled
pendennis in MarrinEton's chambers in Pump
court. The old building was in New York. and
yet not too much Of Il Through its low side
domain OF hustle and commerce into the realm
Of poetry and dreams. 1t was in the border
The slums were on one side and Fifth avenue
on the other. and Its tenants were ideally
out losing e touch wit" with ' tie world eGitie Of III sc wsro.
Eeneous humanity. There. naturally gathered
the visionary. and the imperunions. the UNI
OA' sN'b" eiu w . UoCNc .IT'-
lerred associations to conveniences a:d in
ssriration to plumbing. II there vas other
stones what tales OF toillnr aspiration, OF. love
o. high aims : won. and Of failure could be
o %ss soRd isGn sq ths grey Hs sd5ap shere elS Would dhs Ct ', sert
worked out to irresistible conclusions.
There was not the same glamour OF romance
about the New York Hotel. Nevertheless. that
well-sensoned place OF. entertainment had IN
atmosphere and individuality worth rcmcm-
boring, Its atmosphere. materially speaking.
snyoied sometimes OF rats behind the plaster:
In its better phases 1t was an atmosphere that
was DISTINGUISHED, from that of other metro
politan inns By dillerene es that we're accounted
was n house that. for one thing. enjoyed the
repute OF having been influenced in its deal.
prospered before the war by tho particular
iavor OF Southern patrons. and there. were
proprietor, with tho oII-timc guests. whose
tevenmes had been swept away in the disas;
tSrowWnh ' fhem mad up "5ot ,ns n tsod 5ssir m spmss 81 ana
Northern ctr. a dozen years ago The old
house. still in charge of tho family that had
and with travellers from the West Ind rs and
among It's fellows. and retained some customs
that were ! leasantly ld-fashioned and savored
Its dining room at the dinnor hour offered
very excellent fare. and. more than that. it
seemed TO offer hospitality which was moro
- S'"' .""i '"ht - wv hpustN' WI Sbltu
didly set out. end more in favor with wealth
and fashion. 1t was at that period that ~
youth who lodged in the granite ASYLUM near
BY. and whose spirit was G,icved by who
knows not what OF:
Perfect chance,
Or longing passion nntulhiled.
used to find Mt its board grateful refreshmcnt
OF his corDoreal needs. together with an on
vlro1,nent that was a solnce and n recreation
to his soul. To escape from the din and rattle
OF broadway into tho dining room OF the New
York Hotel was for u stnrm-toss-d carAvel to
make harbor. Tho lights. the handsome
women in evening dress conveyed by. sednte.
hlnck-conted men: the Cubnns with dark
haired. bedinmondel wivos and daughters. the
Southerners. the old ladies. the scions OF New
York families. degeneratei. some OF them,
and tipsv sometimes. but picturesque; tho
ceremonious social activity q! the pro-
prietor's table. reflected in some degree
by all the others: tho food. the drink
and all the apparatus OF n moderate luxury.
were curiously effective in IullinG the rur-
suer OF a hope somewhat forlorn into timely
forgetfulness Of the WEAKNESS Of tho world
outside, and the hazards that beset endeavor.
TIL. old house has finished its career OF hos
pitality. but as 1t glides into the limbo of de-
parted inns. let it take with 1t at least one sin
cere nttestation that in its day and generation
1t did a work that was good. and gave shelter
to some that were homeless. and, To some that
were heavy-laden. refreshment and timely rest.
i. 4. NJ.