The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1896-11-21
WHERE FAMOUS
MEN CONGREGATE.
Historic Associations of
the Fifth Avenue Hotel,
New York City.
SOME NOTABLE GUESTS.
Probably No Other Building
In the Country Has Enter
tanned So Many Dis
tinguished Per-
sonages.
Especial Correspondence

NEW YORK, NOV. u.
Situated at the junction of three of New
York's most important thoroughfares-
Fifth avenue, Broadway and Twenty
third street.-the Fifth Avenue hotel meets
the tides that ebb and flow day by day
through the year. Around that point the
life Of the metropolis is centered. 1t is
not only in tho heart of the city--it is in
sense the heart Of the city because Of its
close and intimate connection with every
phase Of metropolitan life. No other spot
in New York is quite so famous, because
here, from time to time during the past 81
years, have been gathered the most distn-
guished men and women not only of this
country, but of the world. Where the great
men gather, the humber and lowlier each
of some Importance in his own sphere, is
likely to meet, too and 1t is this attrac-
ton which has made the Fifth Avenue no.
tel the most famous hotel ON the continent
? 1t is striking fact that during all these
years the management Of the hotel has
been tho same. The group of men who are
responsible for tho conduct of an institu-
ton which can accommodate 1000 guests
and occupies more space than any other
metropolitan hotel have been for almost
four decades engaged in tho profitable en-
ploymentof entertaining all the celebrities
of the United States and a great many of
the worlds notables. The names they
have seen inscribed on the register would
make catalogue Of eminent men not to
7'be equaled by any other establishment in
the country.
- 1t was IN 1859 that the hotel began its
brilliant career Us the home Of eminent
men and women. A year later the Prince
of Wales came to this country, making his
temporary home with his suit at the Fifth
avenue. Then General Scott, the COM
,nander in chief of the United States army,
took up his residence there About tho
same time, in 1860, the brilliant wedding
reception of General and Mrs. Mcclellan
was held in the hotel.
Since that time the corridors have echoed
with the tread of the most famous men in
the land. Under its roof all the presidents
of the United States since Lincoln's time
have slept and lived. The grand reception
and dinner to General Grant at the close
of the war were given here. Here General
Grant lived for many years, and con-
slant visitor now Is the generals widow,
and also his daughter, Mrs. Sartoris, and
his son, Colonel Fred ID. Grant Here
Hayes and Garfield invariably staid when
they came to New York. President Ar
thur was always welcome guest, and it
was here that he received the Korean en-
bassy.
Within it's walls President Cleveland
and the members of his cabinet have gath
Bred, and within few weeks one of its
distinguished guests has been ex- President
Harrison, who makes this place his New
York home. The figure of James G. Blaine
was one of the most notable that ever
strolled through its corridors, and he loved
to stop at the Fifth Avenue hotel to greet
his hosts of friends and to be greeted by
them. His rival, Roscoe Conkling, was
for long time resident here.
AT one time, on the occasion of the cele-
bration of the one hundredth anniversary
of the supreme court of the United States,
1t might have been possible to hold SEES
sion of that august body, with all its mem
bers present, and only within few weeks
Chief Justice Fuller has paid another OF
his many visits to this resting place.
General Sherman lived in the hotel for
several years until he bought his home up
town, and General Sheridan was fire.
Quent guest
Here Dom Pedro, emperor of Brazil,
once held court, and here "Plon Plon,
heir apparent to the crown of France, dis.
cussed his chances and prospects, as later
did Prince Victor Napoleon. If England
heir apparent found tho Fifth avenue suit.
ed to his demands, so, too, did the pictur.
1f h,t -
tie group Of royal sons of Slams king who
invaded New York in 1887.
Eminent men and women of the stage
have sought rest and quiet in the hotel aft
err the nights work was done.
Hero Joe Jefferson, having thrown aside
the tatters of Rip Van Wrinkle, used tc
meet Mulberry Sellers, transformed into
the jovial and genial Raymond. Booth
lived many months here, and he and Bar.
rett were accustomed to meet with some Of
their friends for quiet chat after the
theater
But the Fifth Avenue is famous fol
evelCs as well as for persons. Here was
given tho famous breakfast to Starr King
Past its doors marched the gallant Seventh
regiment on its way to the war, cheered by
thousands of loyal men and women who
were gathered before the hotel or collected
in its rooms. 1t was in state of siege
during the riots of 1868. 1t was in one o.
it's rooms that the Arcadian club gave its
brilliant reception to Charlotte Cushmar
to mark her retirement from the stage
During the centennial of 1876 the hote
was OVERLOOKING with important guest.
from all parts Of the world. Around its
hospitable tables the opening of the Brook
lyn bridge was celebrated in bofltting man
ner Here the French and German dele
cations to the Yorktown celebration fra
ternized at the centennial banquet, ant
during the Washington centennial of 1885,
the register of the hotel was practically ;
catalogue of the prominent citizens wht
had come from all the states of the Unior
to celebrate that glorious anniversary. So
too, with the funerals of Grant, Arthur
and Sherman and the laying of the corner
stone of the Grant monument-on all thes
historic occasions the distinguished par
Elephants, from presidents and cabinet mem
bers down, naturally concentrated at tn
Fifth Avenue.
Perhaps the strongest claim which thi
csravansary has to distinction and promi
nence grows out of its intimate connection
with the leading politicians and statesmen