The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-08-20
ENTERTAINED roo WELL
The Solitary Guest Couldn't Stand the
Attentions of the Whole stan.

4
| The Solitary Guest Couldn't Stand the
| Attentions of the Whole star.
Seated amidst the palms and shrub
berries of the ST. Charles hotel roof gar
den, with the soft vapor of after-dinuer
cigars forming luminous haze about
| them, they were discussing the iberali-
| ty and charm of American hospitality.
''Some years ago." said Mr.. W. 7. Jones,
when it came his turn, "many of you
will remember that an Enslishman with
more money than sagacity built a mag
nifcent hotel at Cumberland Gap. There
was nothing in particular to recon-
mend the place; it was out of the line Of
travelling men, and possessed 10 at
fractions for tourists, but nothing
daunted by these Deficiencies, the Eng
lishman made of it a veritable palace.
The appointments were magnificent in
every particular. and though I've put
up at every hotel of any consequence in
the country, do not remember ever to
have slept in more luxurious bedroom.
But guests persistenely refused to ar
rive, and one morning when registered
found only five names ON the book.
Nor was this the worst for turning
back 1 found even fewer names, until
I came to space where for five days
there had been only one man in the
house. There was man named LOOMS,
now clerk at the Cordova, behind the
desk, and I asked him how things were
going. 'Going!' be exclaimed; then
with very long face: when you enter
tain a man so well that you drive him
out of the house, and he the only guest,
you're in a bad way Thereupon he
told me about the solitary guest. tap
pears that he had called the leader OF
the orchestra up and said to him: DO
sou see that man? Keep your eye On
him. He's our only guest. We can't
lose him or the house must close. Give
him . Of time. When he goes
into dinner take your orchestra outside
the door and play music for him. When
he goes into the billiard-room follow
him and play music while he shoots the
balls around. When he goes to the bar
follow him and play while he drinks.
Keep your eye on him, bandmaster;
give him music wherever he goes
Then he called the steward up and said:
Keep your eye on that man. He's our
only salvation. Give him high old
time. None of his money goes at the bar.
Throw open the wineroom to him; keep
him supplied with the best cigars; serve
him the whole bill of fare, and have
extra meals sent to his ROOM
Then they started in ON the guest.
When be went into the blliard-room
the band would play marches while lie
and dirges when he massed.
VIXEN he came out they would follow
him to tho bar playing march, and
while the bartender poured out bumpers
Of wine for him they would discourse
the drinking song from Tannhauser.'
Circus music would be played while he
walked around the corridors, md !
when he dined. After din |
aer relays Of negro boys would bring
him in cigars and the band would play |
I Smoked My Last Cigar When no
went to bed the band played lullabies
IN the hall, and in the morning he was
awakened with reveille and Mendcls.
sohn's Spring Song For fivo days the
yuest wos drunk with the combined eff
fects of food, music, ciSurs aud cham
payne, and then all Of sudden while
The band was following him TO the bath,
room playing Allie on the Ocean Wavc,'
10 suddenly grew very white and fell
Ill in q heap. He was carried out On
shutter and taken to tho hospital at
where he soon recovered.
Within 20 minutes after he left three
yuests arrived and the hotel was saved.s
N. o. Timcs-Democrat,