The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-10-16

day for every comfort a man can pos
sibly need, which averages about IS a
week You can pay for your meals
and lodging in advance IL you choose,
by the week or the month, but there is
no reduction in prices. After the hotel
gets fairly running some reduction
may be made for permanent boarders,
but all comers will be treated alike
at present
There are laundry privileges at the
Mills hotel as we'll as at the Astoria,
only at the former they will not do
up starched clothes. You can make an
arrangement, however, to have your
Sunday shirt and collar done up out
side of little more than cost price.
GOOD FOOD.
I did not find terrapin or brolled
breasts Of spring turkeys with trufiies
on the bill Of fare at the Mills hotel,
but you can get n mighty fine Irish
stew with onions in it for cents that
is just exactly as good and plats
of hash or corn beef and cabbage for
the same price. The Mills hotel is not
run for charity any more than the
Astoria, although it is the first at
tempt ever made in the United states
to provide comforts and cleanliness for
wOrkingmen at low prices. Both ho-
tells are commercial enterprises, al
though the men responsible for them
did not expect to derive any profit
from the investments. 1t is not rea-
sOnable for the Astors to expect divi-
dends from a S1jO0O,000 hotel, even
at the prices that will be charged
there, and Mr.. ID. o. Mills did not erect
his model hotel for workingmen with
any idea of adding to his already great
wealth. Both he and the Astors are
actuated by the same mOtives-by
pride and public spirit and desire
to erect monuments by which their
fellow-creatures may remember them.
They are mixing benevolence with
business. At the same time there is
no more intention of giving people free
lodging for free food at the Mills than
at the Astoria. The patrons of both
places are offered accommodations at
certain prices, but they are expected
to pay fer what they take Mr.. Mills
has furnished a beautiful, wholesome
and comfortable home for men of small
means at rates within the reach of
every wage-earner, but he believes
tndI II would De an INJURY instead Oh
a blessing to make it free. 1t would
destroy the object of the undertaking.
1t would encourage dcadbeatism and
pauperism and deprive the patron Of
his independence. his individuality and
his self-respect. a workingman in New
York or from Chicago or any traveller
can ride uD to the door of the Mills
hotel in the street cars or on the ele-
waited railroad, write his name in the
register and call for a room on the
fifth floor or the seventh floor, as hap
pens to suit his fancy, and pay for it,
just as the rich man can ride up to the
Astoria in q carriage and ask for a
room that meets his taste. If they
cannot get what they want they can
both go elsewhere, but the one is under
no more obligation to Mr.. Mills than
the other to Mr.. Astor, and that is the
spirit Mr.. Mills desires to simulate in
the Worlingmen of this country, for
he was once a workingman and knows
how it is himself. Everybody who ad-
mires progress and fine architecture
and likes to boast about the United
States being at the top side of nations
ought to be grateful to both Mr. Astor
and to Mr.. Mills, and for similar rea-
sons, and will be if they inspect these
two hotels.