The sun., 1896-10-15
ANOTHER BIG HOTEL OPENS
THE HOTEL MINHATTAN RE4DY
TO RECEIpE GUESTS TO-DAY.

II Renra Its Fourteen Impressive storIos
of Indiana Limestone ut Madison Ave-
nue and Fortv-second Strset-A Luncheon
Given by Its ProprIetofs Yesterday.
Tho new Hotel Manhattan, at Forty second
street and Madison avenue, was opened for the
inspection of a number OF invited guests ycster-
day afternoon. The hotel is now practically
completed, and will be formally opened for
business to-day. Hawks & Wctherbec, the pro-
prietors, set yesterday aside for the architects,
decorators, builders, and Others whose work has
made the hotel one of the handsomest in the
city, and together with n number OF other
guests they enjoyed an elaborate luncheon in
the big dining room at the east end of the build
ing.
This newest New York hotel bids fair to pro-
Vide lively competition in the local hotel world.
Its decorations are superb. the arrangement Of
the rooms admirable ana its location most
advantageous ono 1t Is fourteen stories high,
and from the foundation to tho highest point
the distance 10 $50 feet. II has q frontage of
120 feet on Madison avenue, the same on Forty
second street, and in its entirety covers an area
equal to almost five city blocks.
The propretors OF the hotel claim for u that
u Ia the talest in the city. In tie centre is n
spacious court opening to the west and admit
ting air and sunshine to almost every room in
the building. The fronts on both Madison ave.
stone.
Italian Renaissance Is the style OF decoration
in the grand hall. The walls are of light gray,
almost white, Italian marble. divided into
panels. with bands, friezes, and arabesques Of
glass mosaic, mother of pearl and gold. The wall
spaces are broken by heavy pilasters Of the same
marble. reaching from door Ito cornice, with
carved caps. Six large columns uphold the
ceiling. which is richly pancled and decorated
in soft colors and silver, with arabesques har-
tion. Under either end OF the arohed skylight
that occupies one third of tho ceiling space Is u
Music aud the Dance. On the west side of the
rotunda is a mural decoration in oil, forming !,
freze six feet high and running the entire length
Of the room, representing The Triumph of
Manhattan"
riched with mosaic. Directly opposite the III an
tel 10 the grand staircase. formed by two broad
height OF the room, from which another flight
leads to the Hight above. Under the grand stair
Office of the hotel Is at the side OF the rotunda
opposite the main entrance.
1he man dining room IL a grand apartment,
unbroken by columns and lighted by broad vim
dOws on two sides. The other sidcs are open at
height midway TO the ceiling into mezzanine
gallery that forms partial balcony to-the
Rpartment the style OF decoration is Louis
ANl. The room Is capable of seating between
three ana four hundred persons. .-....-.
The foyer is the richest of all the apartments
devoted to public use. 1t is q drawing room and
at the same time hall. Thestyle is Louis XVI.
The woodwork Is deep rich green From this
room opens the music room. A second dining
room opens from the foyer. ,,,,
The ten stories above tho parlor floor nre
given up to small chambers and parl1r suites.
The woodwork OF these rooms Is OF polished
birch, anu all the communicating rooms have
double doors. In the basement is u cafe and an
old Dutch room with high wainscot aud beamed
wanscot, showing an oil Dutch landscape, with
dykes, windmills, and fishing boats.