The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-07-17
.CHARMERS OF THE
SUMNER HOTELS.
Young Women are Being Used Now
as Entertainers.
WHAT MALE "ENTERTAINERS" DO
Successes and Their Failures-One
Man Succeeds i'm Landing
S2,OOO,OOO Bride.

One Of the Western papers has discov-
cred a new field for woman in the en-
ployment of attractive young wo-
men as entertainers at fashionable
summer resorts. The innovation is
probably good one, and get
ting up whist parties for the old ladies
and fancy dress balls for the children,
introducing newcomers TO cliques into
| which they will 1T, and in general max
/ ing guests feel "at home" are all good
/ and profitable undertakings But women
! have limitations In entertaining as in
| all things. and the young men who or
ganized the industry are still indispensi-
! BILE
A girl, charm she never so wisely. can
| not cut such a swath at a summer resort
J as a man can. Her ministrations may
fall like the gentle rain from heaven
and make all women and children twice
blessed; but the old ladies and children
| always get along fairly well anyway.
| They are satisfied easily. The girls who
have no partners, the chaperones with
unattractive charges, the young married
/ couples who have passed the stage where
each found the others society sufficient
entertainment, and who have not yet
reached the stage where they viii be
| ItSlSltu " Observation-Disclosures dIt the tlt~
ments that ferment. and it is upon them
/ that the professional entertainer tests his
skill.
What can a girl do TO sweeten the tenn
| per of another girl who is too unattrac-
tive TO win any attention from the few
stray men at summer hotel? Nothing.
But man, who is well paid for IT. can
make that homely girl think that the
hotel is an anteroOm to elysium. Natur-
oil IL
the hotel provides only one self-sacriic-
ing man, that man has his hands full
and must develop a power of diplomacy
and knowledge Of tactics that would ft
him for Ambassador or General Even
under the most favorable circumstances
his position is no sinecure. and the man
who can career successfully through a
season Of such work is fitted for better
things.
THE INAUGURATION.
One of the most popular of the great
lake resorts asserts that It was the first
TO add an entertainment committee Of
one to its staff Of employees The man
ager knew a young fellow Of good social
standing who was handsome, jolly, lik-
able and eXcruciaungly hard up. For
his expenses and a tempting considera-
ton this luminary consented 10 shine
upon the hotel premises during a sum-
mer season. At first the manager had 10
wrestle with tendency on the part Of
ths new employee 10 combine duty ana
pleasure by devoting himself to the pref
~ girls In the house. but he was brought
TO a realization that he couldn't earn his
salary in that blissful way. and. after
that. he did his duty manfuly. His real
position was kept a secret. The guests
of the hotel looked upon him him as
fascinating fellow. who, from philan-
thrOpy or perverted taste, showed mark
ed preference for wallfiowers. The man.
ager chuckled and patted himself upon
the head but in the height OF the season
the philanthropist. in his round Of the
needy, ran up against a spinster with
81, 900. 900 in her own name. Three weeks
later the wallsfiowers were dropping
their heads dolefully and the philanthro-
pist was travelling IN Europe with his
bride.
1t sounds like a Sunday school story
but IL is a matter OF history and they
do say that the hotel manager now gets
his entertainment committee cheaper by
telling each aspirant the encouraging
story of a man who married the millions.
No one else has drawn a reward of merit
at that particular hotel, and the mystery
about the entertainers has faded away
Every one knows their real position
now, or at least, every one does after be-
ing I'm the hotel for a few days but
the manager still shows discretion
in his selection of men and a charming
man is a comfort at a summer resort.
even If he is paid for with the other
extras.
RIGHT MAN HARD TO FIND.
II isn't easy 10 find he right man for
such a hotel place. He should be good
looking. we'll bred, well dressed laxative,
gay. He must dance, bowl, drive, ride
swim, play golf billiards and tennis.
He must be equal to getting up some sort
of a lark at any hour of any day. He
must be able to deal out a convincing
devotion 20 any woman under three score
and ten, and three score and ten women
at one and the same time. He must sing
and play the banjo. He must have the
endurance of Hercules and the cheer
full self-sacrifcing fervor of an early
Christian martyr.
Such incarnations OF all social virtues
are not TO be had for the asking, or even
for $500 and expenses for the season;
but some hotel managers are able TO Sc
cure the services OF men who approNi-
mate TO that IDEAL Several summers
ago a delightful fellow was employed by
the owner OF a Wisconsin hotel TO ill
this role Of mnistering angel to the dun
and bored. He plunged into the work
with youthful enthusiasm. and made
things hum about the hotel. He was in
defatigable and irristible. Even the old
ladies adored him. and he convinced each
girl that he looked upon his moments
with her as GASES In the desert OF his
exacting works-rays OF sunshine that
frightened the dark hours which he was
obliged 10 spend with others not, like her
beautiful and charming. A serious bach
elor girl, who had gone to the resort in
search of cool air and health. and alb
horred the iaea OF meeting people and
being entertined watched with absorb
ing interest the career OF the irrepressible
young man. He tried to do his duty by