The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1900-05-26
THE OLD INN KEEPER GONE
The Genial ana Rotund Boniface OF
Former Times lever welcomes
the Guest Now,


Among the many classes of men who
have been factors in the building up of
Chicago and in making it the metropo.
lis of the western country, there is one
which has nearly, if not quite disap-
peared from public view and of which
the disappearance has been so gradual,
with the progress of more modern
usages, that its absence has hardly
been noticed-the bonifaces, or land
lords, of old-time inns, taverns and
public houses or hotels.
In former years the guest was greet.
ed by the landlord in person, who
made it a point to look after each in
dividual patron, to give him the best
the house afforded, to charge him well
for it, and to wish him a safe and pleas.
ant journey to his next stopping place.
The old-time hotel was run on the plan
of a home for transients, with the
landlord and landlady'a as the head Of
the house. In many instances the
walters were relatives of the pr6pri-
etor, and each one seemed to strive to
make a guest feel that the hostelry was
his home, with all the attendant com.
forts thereof.
Inthose days a guest generally would
drive up to a tavern" and seek, not
only shelter and food for himself, but
also p%rovender for his BEAST Usually
he would be met by a joyial, ruddy-
faced, rOtund parsonage, who would in
vite him to "Come in" and assure him
that the best in the house was his as
long as he might choose to stay and
pay the price.
Then, after giving the horse into the
charge of a hostler, the landlord would
lead the way to the bar, and set out the
best of liquid refreshments, hustle
around to put in order the best vacant
room, relate the latest news and Cos
sip-for news Travelled slowly in those
days-and generally convince the trav-
eler that he was the especially honored.
guest of the house. Thereafter that
person would always stop at that one
particular place, az long as that par
ticular landlord was in charge.
But now how many famous landlords
are there? A traveller seldom sees a
landlord nowadays. Most of the large
hotels are III by corporations or firms
with large finances and are conducted
by managers. The guests transact
their business through polite clerks
and assistants. They are escorted
to their places in the dining-room
by some lordIy colored or equally inn
pOrtant white waiter, instead of the So
IiCitous and accommodating oId-time
landlord. The guest of 40 years ago
would fall into a trance if he should ap-
pear now at one of the great hotels of
Chicago, and, after being asked if he
wished the European or American plan,
a $3.50 or a $25 a day service, should
hear the urbane clerk suddenly ex-
claim: "Front, show the gentleman
from Podunkville to 41144, and show
him how to turn out the electricity
He soon begins to feel the real insig-
niicance of one who is only a plebeian
guest with a modest room on the Jump.
teenth floor.
Chicago's OId-time hotels did much
to attract visitors and travellers, and
materially helped to establish the rep
utation of this city for being wide
awake and up to date in everything.
They were potent factors in securing
many early conventions and other
large gatherings.-Chicag Tribune.