The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-05-03
Family hotels INCREASING.
More OF Them Than Ever In This CITY for
People Who Don't Want Trouble.

FAMILY HOTELS MGR ISJNG
More or Them Than Ever In This CIty for
Peoptc Who Don't Want Trouble.
Tho development OF family hotels in New
York in the last five years or so has been quite
as remarkable III It's way as the sudden expan-
sion and increase In magniflcence which have
marked the growth OF tho ordinary hotels Of
this city in the same period. The result is that
lots of people have now n chance of experiment.
ing with a solution Of the great problem of how
to live which was formerly within the reach of
only n few. There are probably moro than
twenty large hotels of the first class in this city
which are the permanent homes Of the major
proportion of their guests, ard in addition there
are any number OF smaller and less pretcntious
houses whose patronage has the same fixed
character.
All the newer hotels of this type ere of the
most improved construction, and the division of
the floor space and arrangement of the suites Of
roons so that each shall have the greatest posi-
BILE amount OF light and fresh air are carried
out according to the latest notions of architects
and builders of fiat houses. A few Of the most
expensive and exclusive o: these hotels are ntted
up, decorated, and furnished with luxurious
ness surpassed only in the most costly apart
ments of such places as the Waldorf and Savoy.
They have all the newest conveniences and are
under regular hotel management. So it is not
surprising that people enter them with
hopeful sentiments after long unsuccessful
struggling with the problem of living.
In these hotels n good many derelicts
find shelter. They are persons who have tried
housekeeping and been routed by its difficulties;
tried boarding and rebelled against constant,
forced intimacy with unconcenial people; tried
ordinary hotels and fed from the public char
acter of the life there; tried flats and become
acquainted with despair. The family hotel does
afford freedom from a good many of the objec-
tions to their former modes of life. Being ar
ranged in suites. it gives as much privacy and
Independence rs a fiat house; it's character is
less public than that OF an ordinary hotel: the
chief annoyances OF boarding house life are
eliminated. and there are none of the troubles of
housekeeping.
The family hotel and the ordinary hotel are
two distinct varieties, although some of the lat
ter type have guests who live in them the whole
year round, and most Of the former are glad to
entertain any casual transients who happen to
find their way to them. Some Of the family
hotels, however, are so strict in constituting the
regulations which are intended to guard the
comfort and susceptibilitIes of their guests that
they Will visitors to the city only
as a favor. not granted to every one, just as on
the other hand there arc hotels that prefer to
depend altogether on their transient trade, and
do not care to encourage permanent residence
by n reduction in rates. The family hotel. in
decd, is an evolution OF the boarding house and
the fat house rather than the ordinary hotel.
of this is found in the fact that enter
prises OF this kind are apt to be started by
boarding house Keepers, owners of fiat house
and other outsiders rather than by
hotel keepers.
1t is the great progress which has been made
in methods of construction in recent years that
ma lnade poss;ble the present Development Of
offered n fayulltp solution nf tho nrph- /
of living. but the older ones did not afford
any great degree Of luxury, and besides ranged
from rather expensive TO extremely expensive.
were found mostly on or near Fifth avenue.
and to live in some Of them is a proofin itself OF,
descent Some OF these places are sources OF
been gold mines to Their landlords for
years aud still. are, though they may have been
Of the city, aud may be old. badly constructed
without the convcniences which are
guests have become attached to them after hav-
crown OLD - them. and know no other home.
40 nhey 60 on Living in them year after year.
such as solitary millionaircs who keep
.h"ir relations al a distance, live with extreme
ana leave estates that delight the
ny proving larger than anybody ever sus-
lame and established custom. the new ones
rave to offer all possible attractions to secure
Upward in height. They are az nearly fireproof
the newest methods of construction can
type, like the big office buildings down
anu all the metal work Is enclosed in lire
,roof material. The floors are OF terra Gotta
utner hre-Teslsting material, and so are tho
PARTITION walls. This affords a double advan-
age, it gives protection from fire and it pre-
ipyeu by sounds In the suites on either side or
hove or below. Floors and walls are sound
'rpoi: Inc rooms are sometimes fitted with
connecting with the office as the
~ s'ation, but more commonly with mere
pGaki,s tubes, They are lighted with e~lectri-
'athrooms tiled. The larger suites have private
ais ahn are In all respects like flats OF the
ltchens or rooms for servants. Generally there I
re hard wood floors for those who prefer them, &
y these hotels some people hire their rooms by d
yehr, or Tor longer periods. and use their 7
wh furniture. Less furniture being needed c
Wouia be required for IA house or an ordi- q
rrehce IN cost Tor things of a better quality, 70 I
one nhds u surprisingly large number OF G
,lth handsome furniture and expensive bric-A-
ana decorations. The hotel servants do /
nousowork. so that the mistress has abso- i
- npniSgt hhnIning 10 DO save see that tho servants c
. NOT nreak her china when they are busting. :
40 III rvsntt Is about as easy a mode of existence Il
! could pc desired by a lazy person. The man /
Ser . y the hotel practically relieves his guests a
le an b ne cares of living save that of paying n
some OF the managers think 1t necessary to +
thelr guests, while others do not. u
Oh THESE hotels have no parlors or other a
90 tnhen.S where the guests can meet one n
lnther, and have at the most a small reception :"
,or me use OF visitors, Others go To tho
summer hotels for the pains thew
20 a. 70 furnish gayety for their guests. In I
rec times a week. In another dances and
her entertainments ARE encouraged and
o1' ~ provide music nightly. several have W
ven in summer. u
Fishing attLes Casneux. Il