The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1893-03-16
LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA.
A Henderson Man Writes Of the
Famous Hotel Del Monte and
the Western Wonderland.
NoSTEpEy CaI March @ 1S0,

after write to you will be SO treated.
Well. | offer no objections; but really
thank you for comforting SO much honor
| upon so poor penman, as well as, Tor
Offering such an excellent medium through
| which my friends can hear from me and
learn what improvement | am making
| through this grand climate.
| Rest assured of one thing, however, |
| shall not confess any more OF my love
| affairs to you, for the effect of that last
| give away might cause the loss of a bet
| ter-half; but don't lose any sleep over it.
| Guess can stand bachelorhood for quite
| a while yet.
| To interest the readers Of the GOLD
| LEAF shall be my greatest aim and de
sire, yet from the fact Of my not travel
ing any at present forces me to speak of
my surroundings at this writing, of Del
| Monte, the prettiest spot in America.
| Ny previous letter contained some little
of different places already visited by me
while en- route, also few remarks of Del
| Monte. In this letter, however, | shall
| dwell more explicitly about this famous
resort giving to my friends and thereaders
of the GOLD LEAF, q little insight into
this noted hosiery, that is, a word about
the buildings, their, appointments in
their several necessary departments and
| other things connected with the Hotel,
noted and desirable of all summer and
winter resorts, especially the latter
| To begin then The building is shaped
very much like the letter I, the main en-
| trance forming the bottom of the L with
| dimensions 34Ox11O feet.
The sides of the [ represent the right
and left annexes with dimensions 2SOx4S
feet each, with five sleeping floors and
connected with the main building by
| semi-circle shaped arcades with dimen-
sions of 125x2O feet
The sleeping capacity of main building
and annexes is 800 people comfortably,
| though to crowd the house, | believe the
efficient manager in charge, Mr.. J. \.
| ClOugh, could easily send to the land OF
| Morpheus thousand or more. Nearly
| every room has bathroom and toilet at
| tached and great number in addition
| to the above necessary comforts, have
private parlors, which certainly is all
| that one could ask for and being away
| from ones own home.
| Back of the office which is in the centre
of the main building and on the first
| floor, is the dining room which is 162x66
| feet, with a seating capacity of 600 peO-
pie, and necessitating the employment of
| 80 walters. In the rear OF this is the
kitchen 5Ox7O feet, and in reality one of
| the most interesting and inviting spots
| connected with the Hotel. In the person
| of Mr.. J. A. Harder, the competent chef
| whose reputation is second to none is
accounted for the most excellent cuisine
| which at all times adorns the tables at
| the Del Monte Mr.. Harder is an authority
| in his line, having already written and
completed two books on "Cooking'
which were accepted by criteriOns and
| is now at work on the third.
Referring again to the kitchen, | must
state the truth for tbs place worthy of
/ a visit, in perfect keeping with other
apartments of the Hotel and equal to
| the finest in appointments, not only this
| but kept scrupulously clean and to such
an extent that unlike the kitchen OF most
hostelries it makes an appetite for the
visitor instead of destroying it. Very in
| teresting indeed it is to see the dishes OF
| all kinds, washed, cleansed and dried by
| machinery, a style preferable to any other
lint on any of the china or glass ware
when on the table. During the season
Mr.. Harder has nineteen men under him
as we'll as his own cold storage for the
preservation of fancy dishes made by
himself. Machinery is used wherever it
it possible to gain time and the interest
of a visitor ceases only when visit has
been completed through the cold storages
for cream, milk, butter, fruits, vegetables
and meats of all kinds which includes
fish.
The Club House is indeed q very at
tractive place and the rendezvous of both
ladies and gentlemen whenever that eX-
hilarating exercise of bowling at ten pins
is desired or the pastime of game at
pool or billiards. The quality and
qauntity of the viands kept at the Club
House would make a cOnnOisseur feel at
home, and the thirst of all quenched by
the finest and fanciest of drinks. A most
commendable item Of this place is the
prices which are such as to keep away an
element that generally hang around such
places and who are at all times objection
able to any respectable person. The
ladies therefore with their escorts do not
hesitate to refresh themselves and do
SO with impunity, knowing the character
| of the place and it's surroundings.
The stables connected with the Hotel
| are under the management of Mr.. Chas
White, the right man in the right place.
who with his $50 head of horses and
every conceivable style of vehicle is able
to please the most fastidious, who seek
a ride or drive. It is only necessary to
express your wish and Charley will see
that it is gratified. With the stables
are also at hand 20 Of the most compe-
tent drivers among whom is Alex. Early,
| a forty miner" and who claims to have
driven the first stage through the Yo-
semitic Valley.
wherever situated, the greatest pleasure
to the guests is first to satisfy the inner
man which If successful makes one feel
| the best and having pleasure and good
will to all and mankind generally. Not
alone is the inner man appeased and
more than satisfied at the table of Del
Monte, but on leaving the dining room
! and stepping outside he is thrown upon
the famous work of Mr. S. c. Clock, the
gardener and florist OF the magnificent
| walks and flower beds which surround
the Hotel. They cannot be described
by pen or picture for nature has beauty
OF her own human hands can not trans
fer from it's home Mother Earth. cOnse-
quently must be seen to be appreciated.
| therefore can but do my best which is.
advise those who can travel, to visit this
Western country of sunshine and flowers.
and reap through this method a trip of
pleasure and sight seeing never to befor-
gotten in life time Every imaginable
flower which thrives in this climate can
be found in the Del Monte grounds Or
green houses, some Of the plants being
rare and very costly, names of which are
too numerous to mention yet can impart
| some idea to the reader of the vastness
of the flower beds by simply stating there
| are nearly four hundred different varie-
| ties of roses. During the season Mr..
Clock has about fifty men who do nothing
but attend to the flowers, gardens,
plants and bouquet making, an exceed
| ingly profitable business during the
| summer months.
\ very important necessity connected
| with this Hotel and one of the essentials
few of the travelling public ever visit or
take any interest in, is the laundry de-
partment. This factor like every other
requisite of the Hotel is first class in
| every respect, and all washing and cleans