The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-08-17
TAMPA and
ITS HOTEL
A GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OF
THE FAMOUS HosTELRY.
No Trip Through the South Is Com
plete without a Visit to This I'm
rivalled House of Entertainment
in the Land of De Soto--A Dream
of Magnificence Unsurpassed in
the World-The Tropical Gardens.
Written for The Tribune.

THE wonderful development of the
American railroad has brought
Florida nearer to New York. II
has brdged the distance with bands
of glitterinC steel until now 1t may
be reached in day and a night from
the metropolis. Think cf It, only a
day and a night from the frosts of p
Northern winter to the halmy, sun
kissed fields of Southland. Beneath
the genial sky of Florida the large
number of people who feel the need
of a mid-winter. as well "a mid
summer holiday, find the rest and re-
creation which a working world makes
necessary.
First impressions. especially Of
place we have sought for rest, or for
change of scene, have much to do
with our subsequent enjoyment and
first impressions of Tampa city and
Tampa Bay Hotel can hardly be other
wise than favorable. No trip through
the South is complete without a stay
at this most famous, world renowned
resort 1t is creation unrivallod Of
it's kind in all our travels from Halifax
to Victoria, from Maine to California.
and thus far during our Southland
trip, and noted travellers say on either
side of the Atlantic and the world.
THE FIRST GLIMPSE.
Entering the city by rail and by
daylight. the grandly magnificent pic
ture comes sudden upon the view, as
the train makes a turn and stops be-
tween the town and the river. The
foreground is the river and in 1t are
all sorts of boats for rowing and sail
ing as we'll as steam and naphtha
launChes---through the swaying pines
Is seen a unique palace, magnificent
structure with golden Crescents of the
Orient, with sllvered domes and Moor
ish minarets. This is Tampa Bay Ho-
tel in the distance, with surround
ings that take one back through the
centuries in history, even before De
Soto came, and this may have been
the very spot whore he landed-whO
knows? The view from the cars COM
prise all this. as also from the bridge
that spans the river from the hotel
to the town. The intending guest
need not leave the train here. After
short stop it crosses the river and
comes right to the galleries Of the
west entrance and stops under the
shadow of the great hotel. All pas
senger trains enter and depart from
the enclosure of the hotel. thus OBJ
Waiting transfer of passengers and
baggage. 1t is only o'clock p. m,
and in the brightness Of a semi-tropic
sun the domes and cresCents and pin
nacles gliston intensely and the mas
| sive pile grows to immonSity. We
-aI
grove of giant livc-oaks, approached
| by avenues of orange, palm and pal
metto trees, near to the spreading
| branches of the wonderful live-oak
| tree which bears the name of De Soto
who, when he landed here two hum
! dred years ago. on the banks of what
| is now called Hillborough river, little
| dreamed of the thriving and populous
| commercial town which would succeed
| the military fortress, and from whence
! ships and commodities would &c
| speeding to all parts of the world.
| say, perhaps old De Soto dreamed al
this. If he did. behold it was proph-
cCy, for tho swayinC pines have top.
pied and in their places has arser
the Grandest structure on earth. The
tree, however, stands a monument t.
his gallant and adventurous spirit
| and reminder of thc Old World
i'm close proximity to one Of the mos
stately creations of the New World.
A VERITABLE PALACE.
The Tampa Bay Hotel contains ev
cry provision for health and comfort
No one who does not see it and dwell
in it for at least a day can form th'
| ainteSt idea Of "thc comprehensive
ness OF its purpose, the breadth of it!
plan, the ideal refinement of its com
forts, the noble scale of its luXuries.
ArchiteCturally it is unique. Within
il is a palace filled with costly an,
pleasing paintings, statuary and bric
a-brac from all lands. 1t is the larg
st hotel in the South, and a marVe
Of luxurious appointments and lavisl
outlay, Nothing Offends the eye -
the taste at any point, and while tn
first view externally is impressive tn
effect produced by a first glance Ol
entering its broad and inviting por
tails is one of astonishment and dc
light, The moment one enters tn
grounds and steps upon the porch h
has feeling that he will enjoy ii
comforts. As he enters the rotundG
registers his name and looks abou
him upon all this aWe-inspiring mag
nihccnce he still feels he will enjoy
here. When he is shown through tn
elegant parlors, dining and readinl
smoking, writing rooms and COnSCrVa
tories he feels he will like it, bu
when he enters it's spacious halls an
his beautifully and regally furnishe
sleeping room, overlooking the lOvel
grounds covered with tropical an
semi tropical shade trees of ever
known variety under the sun, he
certain sure he will enjoy IT, but afte
, passing down the grand hallway
200 feet, lined with ife-sized bronze
, and numberless tropical plants, an
enters the dining room, or banqut
hall, and has been a guest a day, /
; is ready to prove it is the ideal hoe
telry Of the country.
Any further description | may gi>
of the interior or exterior but faint
y tells Of the maGnificence of the a
fractions and surroundings of this +,
sort. 1t stands in a tropical park ;
+, attractive as a bountiful Nature al
= the skill of landscape gardeners ga
make il, among orange and palm tre'
a of thirty-five acres. The main stru
U ture IL 500 feet long, with wings ar
anneXes covering 450 feet addition
v length. Its walls are of brick al
y beams of steel arChed with concre
y and noored with tiles and absolute
fire. -proof-massive, yet light al
a graceful in its perfect Moorish arch
lecture. with colonades, porches al
balconies looking out through one hu
| m nj
e minarets, domes and pnnacles, risii
L "a fnnt q hnNn Tho laMne ihnt nam