The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-08-17


covers the entire floor of this splendid
salon, on which are chairs of gold
and silk and plush of the same era,
as there are also tapestries of in
calcuable values and richness that
have hung in palaces before they came
to this one. The writing and reading |
rooms. just off from the rotunda, are
furnished in the same unique manner.
one, called the Louis XIV room" |
has all it's decorations and appoint |
ments of the era of that monarch. In |
the grand chambers, the style is not |
less regal in magnticence. These sur
pass anything we have ever seen, no |
two of them alike. They range in !
size from the grand suite of complete !
living apartments, with parlOr and |
libraries, TO the chamber for two. with |
silken hanginEs, ctc. Other guest |
rooms on the floors above have every
convenience known to modern inven-
tive genius, including telephone to the
| Office and every other room in the
| house.
THE GRAND STAIRWAY.
The grand stairway is a marvel Of
richness, whose carpets were really
cushions whose balustradcs were mar
wells of carving, and whose newell posts
were Moorish women in bronze bear
ing electric torches in hands extended
over their heads.
! Another striking feature is the grand
| hallway. extending from north to
south 700 feet, passing through the
rotunda. Here are sized bronzes,
holding groups of electric lights, and
near by are elevators to the upper
floors. The north hall passes by the
grand parOrs To the gracefully round
ing curve of the solarium, where it
ends.
Where shall | say it ends? In mod
ern parlance, at the dining hall. but
| what might be the banquet room OF
a Moorish king, with its lofty dome
| and almost CirCled arches that rest
on f1uted pillars, and when lighted by
electricity is without doubt the hand
soonest and most brilliant banquet hall
in the states, and the world even.
Just at the end of the hall, near the
entrance TO the dining hall, is a grand
OrchestrOn, which, with it's inter-
changeable rolls, plays the latest
music, from the popular airs of the
day to the classic productions of the
great composers. There is music
room just off the rotunda, with wax
ed floors, perfect stage, footlights, cir
cular in form, broad galleries, suitable
for concert, lecture and tableau, and
overhead the electric fire CLEANS in
star and crescent group. The prom
enade 10 the banquet hall is lined on
either side with exquisite palms and
ferns and works of art. the object of
admiration at least three times daily.
Outside its walls, its beautiful porches
and verandas, the hotel offers ample
resources for recreation to it's guests
The waters abound in fish, the naph-
tina and steam launches convey par
ties of pleasure; good saddle horses
and elegant turnOuts can be obtain
; ed The exposition building contains
many curios and interesting things
freely open to inspection. Golf holds a
prominent place in the list of recrea-
; tions. A new 1S-hole course near the
, hotel offers worthy COntesting
. ground for some of the best players in
the country. The true American of
either sex is fond of horses and that
r cumulative strife that sends the noble
4 animal coursing around the track for
I honors and purses. At Tampa Bay is
? one Of the finest tracks in the world.
! with ample accommodations equal 10
2 the Charter oak, Shecpshoad Bay,
: Saratoga, etc. ETC.
TROPICAL GARDENS.
The spacious grounds around the
1 Tampa Bay Hotel are under the super
4 vision of Anton Fiehe, an expert gar
Q dener and from him | gathered much
{ | information. one can hardly realize
+ the imensity and beauty of this trop-
G ical garden and grounds. Here is COM
A prsed no less that PA different spe-
= cies of tropical fruit and flower plants
9 viz: "a tropical fruit plants: 20 kinds
Y of semi-tropical fruit trees, all in good
a blooming and bearing condition; also
4 100 kinds Of plants and trees of the
h ornamental department, The numer.
Gus avenues paved with asphalt. walks
@ of hundreds Of feet in length ar-
= arched with these tropical plants in
q bloom, While others lined on each scc
p with palmetto trees, standing from
, six to ten feet apart and twelve tc
, twenty feet high, and little parks
a and also playing fountains. surrounds
3 ed by all this foliage, with 1870 cen
q. tury plants distributed here and there
+, Is of which have been in bloom sine,
j. last June; the mountain fort, overrur
8, with cactus and foliage plants mount
= ed with two cannon, over all proud
&c ly waves Old Glory, The ferns wha
e shall | say of them? Some come from
n Jamaica, where the island boasts o
At 500 species, Especially noticeab BILE wa
le the date palms in bloom, ready Il
a fruit; the cactus, also in bloom; tn
If nine varieties of the orange tree; tn
IA lemon, banana, CoCoanut figs, man
ie goes, etc, all bearing, the cocoanu
at palm, with leaves from l5 to 20 fee
at in length the date palm of whic
I'd there are several species, some al
rs now fruiting. The trees grow from G
Q, to SO feet high and annually bea
I'd crops, and live to good old age, hun