The Republican journal., 1901-12-12
ENGLISH AND SCOTCH HOTELS.
IL,

LII NldSSOW. 1t 10 III ooOAV cAAO SeSAA-S
class as the Compton in Liverpool,
and here, as there, we found women in
charge. With many other hotels OF
greater OF less magnitude it is situated
on Princes street, and nothing finer
in the way of location could be de-
sired. This is the principal street OF
the city and overlooks the valley, or
ravine, which separates The new from
the old Edinburgh, while nearly oppo-
site is the Castle, so high in the air that
the first day we only had tantalizing
glimpses of it through the fog. Here,
as in Glasgow, we found the French
walters who are learning English while
thew watt but we were all interested
in the little fellow usually assigned to
our table. He was extremely polite and
deferertial, and the manner in which
he pronounced bis numerous "thank
you's" was decidedly amusing. When
he handed you anything he said "thank
you," and when he removed your plate
he said ''thank you" He was as quick
in his movements as squirrel, and untlr-
ing in his efforts to please. Once he
made a mistake in an order and was
profuse in his apologies. but embarrassed
by his limited English vocabulary. Fl
nally he said: q spik French, German,
Spanish. more well as | do English.
The menu here was in French, but the
cooks must have been French also, for
the fare was decided improvement on
that at the big hotel in Glasgow. The
hotel had lift or rather an apology
for an elevator Four people could
crowd into it, but you felt as if it was
likely to break down any minute and
we usually went up and down by the
stairways. But | do not wish to dis
parage the Windsor. We were very
comfortable there, and had nothing to
complain of il any way.
At Melrose we stopped at the Abbey
Hotel, and though George Hamilton
appears on the cards as proprietor we
saw nothing OF him. in business way,
at least, but we were received on ar
rival by. and paid our bills, to the land
lady. The hotel is situated just at the
entrance of MelTose Abbey, famous
and picturesque ruin which thousands
of people visit yearly. On the right
as YOU enter the hotel is the bar, with
two bar maids in attendance, and with
its beer pumps, bottles, and kegs OF
wines and spirits attractively arranged.
Opposite is public sitting room. As
cenling a flight of stairs you enter a
curious things; collections OF foreign
coins gold, silver: bank notes and birds
eggs. china. weapons, minerals, stuffed
birds and animals-the whole represent
ing a large outlay. Passing through
this museum you reach the dining room,
the drawing room, whose pictures and
books gave it the air of private apart
ment. and the smoke room, which con-
tanned quite an extensive library. The
table was fairly good, the attendance
ditto, but the feather beds on which we
SltDl-Ol ulSl uOU CICCp-OlioC h4SHu IOl u
bad impression of Melrose with some
of the party. My room had thick
wooden carpet on the floor, a four-post-
ed bedstead with heavy hangings, a
feather bed and coverings enough to
have smothered an elephant. 1t was
an easy matter to strip off the super
abundant bedclothes and to open the
one window, but the Objectionable
feather bed was there to stay, and it
was night of discomfort. Thereafter
we demanded mattresses; and some
times got them.
In York we stopped at the Black
Swan, one of the old-time English inns.
How old it is l did not think to enquire,
but framed poster in the office, of
which facsimile is given on the card
of the establishment, advertised the
York Four Days Stage Coach" to
London, beginning on Friday, the'12th
day of April, 17o6. The journey is now
made in less than four hours by rail.
Tie hotel is plain four-story building.
Over the main entrance is the represen-
tation of black swan, and in large
letters extending across the entire front
just over the second story we read:
Under the Patronage Of II. R. H. the
Prince of Wales" On the right as you
enter is public room, on the left a
private dining room. Directly i'll front
is the bar, which answers for the Office
as well; and in rear is the smoke room.
On the same floor are the commercial
room and general dining room. Here,
as in some of the other hotels, is what
might be called private bar; little
snuggery sacred to certain habitues,
who have their regular seats, and regu-
lar, or irregular, habits, and are waited
Upon with due Difference. On the sec
ond floor is the drawing room, and a
number of what We're apparently priv
ate sitting rooms, each with its name
upon the door. l do not recall the
names, but we thought at the time that
they were decidedly odd. On this floor
aIaa So @l,o 6ininr room