The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1896-11-21
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

Situated at tho 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 tho year, Around that point the
life Of tho metropolis is ccntorcd. 1t is
not only in tho heart of tho city-it is in
a sense the heart of tho city because of it's
close and intimate connection with every
phase of metropolitan lifo. No other spot
in New York is quite so famous, because
hero, from time to time during the past 3 I
years, have been gathered the most distin-
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 mado the Fifth Avenue no.
tel the most famous hotel on the continent
1t is a striking fact that during all these
years tho management of the hotel has
been tho same. The group Of men who are
responsible for the conduct Of an institu-
ton which can accommodate I 1000 guests
and occupies more space than any other
metropolitan hotel have been for almost
four decades engaged in the prontab bic ON
ployinent of entertaining all the celebrities
of the United States and q great many Of
the worlds notables. The names they
have seen inscribed on the register would
make n catalogue Of eminent men not to
be equaled by any other establishment in
the country.
1t was in 1850 that tho hotel began its
brilliant career as tho homo Of eminent
men and women. A year iateP the Prince
of Wales came to this country, making his
temporary home with his suit At the Fifth
avenue. Then General Scott, tho COM
mander in chief Of tho United States army,
took up his residence there. About tho
same time, in 1850, the brilliant wedding
reception of General and Mrs. Mcclellan
was held in tho hotcl
Since that timo tho corridors have echoed
with tho tread of tho most famous men in
the land. Under its roof all the president
of tho United States since Lincoln s time
have slept and lived. Tho grand reception
and dinner to General Grant at the close
of the war were given here. Here General
Grant lived for many years, and cor
slant visitor now IS tho generals widow
and also his daughter, Mrs. Sartoris and
his son, Colonel Fred d. Grant. Hero
Hayes and Garfield invariably staid when
tilty tttlllc W NbW 1Orh. 1reSlUenb Ar
thur was always welcome guest, and it
was here that he received tho Korean en-
bassy.
Within its walls President Cleveland
and tho members Of his cabinet have gath
cred, and within few weeks one of its
distinguished guests has been OK President
Harrison, who makes this place his New
York home. The figure of James G. Blaine
was one Of the most notable that over
strolod through It's corridors, and he loved
to stop ut the Fifth Avenue hotel to greet
his hosts of friends and to be greeted by
them. His rival, Roscoe Conkling, was
iur long time resident hero.
At one time, on the occasion of the cello
hration OF tho one hundTcdth anniversary
of the supreme court Of the United States
it might have been possible to hold sas-
sion Of thatauguat body, with al It's mcm-
bcrs present, and only within a few weeks
Chief Justice Fuller has paid another OF
his many visits 10 this resting place.
General sherman lived il tho hotel for
several years until lo hought his homo IN
town, and General Sheridan was q ire
Qucut guest.
Hero Dom Pedro, emperor or Brazil.
once hul1 court, and hero "piou plgn 8"
hcir apparent 70 the crown # France dis
cu@scd his chances and prospects. as later
did Prince Victor Napoleon. If England
heir appu.a... found the tifthayuuuo suit
al u lis '..H@,@s, $50, too, did tho pictur-
cSquc crown prince ui.st.m and that lit
tie group q r%'l g..fof siam 5 kim who
invaded Eaw iogl. in l~*,.
Eminent men and women Of tho STAGE
harasoN"htrest and Quiet iurho hotcl aft
or tho night work WAS done.
Hrr1 Joe Jefferson, hayu" thrown aside
the tatiurs ri I,iY Van WinkIo used 10
noot..NUI1, 7"J' : .iaI-, transformed into
tho ioyiul md genial Raymond. Booth
lived many months lore, and he and Bar
rct5Wcre accustomed 10 mcctwith some Of
their friends for Il quiet chat after the
thcater
BUT the Fifth Avenue is famous for
events az well as for persons. Hero was
given the famous breakfast t. Starr King.
Past its doors marched lie gallant Sc, uuth
regiment CT its way to the war, chcored by
thousands Ct loyal men and women who
were gathered before the hotel or collected
in its rooms, 1t was in a. Estate Of Siege
during tho riots of 1868. 1t was in one of
its rooms that tho Arcadian club gave its
brilliant reception to Charlotte Cushman
w IIitfh ISf FctlTCIlcIU from INC stage
During tho centennial Of 1876 tho hotel
was OVERLOOKING with important guests
from all parts of the world. Around its
hospitablo tables tho opening of tho Brook
Ign bridge was celebrated in bcitting man
ner. Hero the French ana German dele
cations to tho Yorktown celebration fra
ternized at the centennial banquet and
during the Washington centennial of 1889
the register of the hotel was practically Il
catalogue OF the prominent citizens who
had como from all the states of the Union
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 these
historic occasions the distinguished par
Elephants, from presidents and cabinet men,
bors down, naturally concentrated at tho
Fifth Avenue.
Perhaps the strongest claim which this
caravansary has to distinction and promi-
nence grows out of its intimate connection
with the leading politicians and statesmen