Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-30
EXPENSIVE HOSPITALITY.
Host Who Put Up a Sign for the
Benefit of ViattOra.

a HOST VINO Fut Up n Sign for the
Benefit of Visitors.
Down in nearly any of the southern
states remarked the New York drummer
Sundaying in Washington, .'tfe oppression
of hospitality, If 1 may SO express it, is
something the northerner has no idea of.
I have travelled in New England, as well
as all over the south, and 1 have actual
knowledge of what 1 am talking about
1 never heard of a Yankee being eaten out
of house and home by his friends, but L
know of a dozen families in different parts
of the south who have continual strug-
gle for existence simply because they
haven't the courage to put mp the bars and
shut out their thoughtless visitors, who
drop in at any and all times for a meal or
nights lodging. or both, or half-a-doZen
of them, for that matter. OF course they
are just as ready to extend Il similar cour-
tesy, but it isn't every family who can
make itself even by boar ling it out. and the
result is that burdens are thoughtlessly
thrust upon many who are Kept with their
noses to the grindstone us long as they
live.
Il never knew of but one who had the
nerve to inaugurate a new order of things,
and he, or she rather, has been at il so
shortly that I cannot say how it will turn
out, though SO far it Is glitt aring success
This man had a good farm and a raft Of
friends who seemed 10 think that his house
was theirs free of cost, and used it ac-
cordingly. His first wife was a native Of
the same county, and she couldn't turn
people away. though she and her husband
both felt that they were gradually being
devoured and worked to death for their
friends. Four years ago she lied. and
year ago he married Pennsylvania wo-
man of sense and courage. and with no
traditions and customs to observe. She said
nothing for the first six months. bat went
ahead keeping free hotel and listening
to compliments on the superior kind of
woman she was, and then she called for
change.
'She had a comfortable competence of her
own, and out of that she took enough to
paint and enlarge the house and improve
the grounds, and in the meantime she an
nounced that she was going to keep ho-
tel. OF course, while the workmen were
tearing things up, the visitors had to stay
away, and in this way they quit for a
time.
''On the 1st of September last she opened
up the place. which she had made very
handsome. and began waiting for guests.
The only indication of a hotel there is is
an archway over the big gate on the pike,
about a quarter of a mile from the house,
and On this is a four-foot square sign read
ing:
Hotel Bountiful.
Best Meals and Beds in the County.
Everybody Welcome.
Entertainment fer Man and Beast.
Prices S. per Day Up.
Single Meals, $50.
Lodging 81.
NO Reduction by the Week or Month
Dogs and Children Not Admitted.
Come One Come All.
MIR. AND MRS. BLANK. Proprietors
AS l said.' concluded the drummer Il
dent know how the scheme will result, but
when was in that neighborhood ten days
ago they hadn't done enough business to
pay for the sign. In fact, they hadn't had
a single guest, and I never saw two hotel
prcprfetors as thoroughly contented and
happy over the exceedingly bad business
they were doing"