The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-13
A HOTEL MANAGERS DAY
HE Is MAN WITH MANY RESPONSE
BILITIES AND NO LEISURE.
Endless Details to Look After, from
Hearing Complaints to DispOs-
ing of Dead Men.
of the indianapolis Journal.

Correspondence OF the Indianapolis Journal
NEW YORK, April 10-Of all strenuous
tasks, the hotel manager has one of the
most arduous and the least appreciated.
He must be general financier and diplomat
rolled into one. He must toll early and
late for the comfort of his guests and
expect no recognition unless something
goes wrong.
His day begins at o'clock in the morn
ing, when the machinery of well-regu-
lated city hotel starts up. His first duty
is to see that the heads Of the various
departments are all on hand-clerks, cash
iers, head waiter and assistants porters,
engineer and hall boys. The most impor-
tsnt men have "understudies' Just as at a
theater, and in case Of absence from sick
ness or any other cause, the manager puts
in the understudy temporarily, and the
work goes on as well as usual. What an
army Of servants he has under his COM
mand may be imagined from the fact that
the $1,000 sent back by Prince Henry to
be divided equally among the Waldorf en-
ployes made only 81 or So for each one.
While the managers voice is giving d.
rections for the beginning of the days
routine. his eyes rove over the floors, fur
niture and windows within sight, to see
if they have been properly cleaned during
the night In one OF the New York hotels
which registers on an average 500 guests
a day a shift of fourteen scrub women.
coming on duty at o'clock in the morning
are busy until g. and woe to any of them
who leaves even streak on the mop board
for the managers sharp eye to detect. The
night porters work on steps and sidewalks
is also inspected.
Then the manager settles down TO read
the early mail in the absence of the pro-
prietor, who usually keeps later hours. Nor
will he find the patience of Job amiss be-
fore ne exhausts the complaints and inqui-
ries which the letters invariably bring.
please send my razor strop and tooth
brush to me by mall" asks one man, but
he neglects to inclose the stamps. please
forward my slippers, which you will find
under the bed" MY nightshirt" my
watch, left under my pillow" 'T found
when on the train coming from your city
that L had left my pocketbook. I am posi-
tive left it in the bureau drawer of my
room" I'm my haste TO come away 1 left
my kodak II left my diamond pin on
the bureau" This was found stuck head
down in the matchsafe. II left a pocket
knife on the table in my room 1t was an
old knife, but endeared to me by associa-
tons" The knife was found stuck in the
rope fire escape in the room, the usefulness
of which it probably had seriously injured
and the watch was found behind the bu-
reau.
PROPERTY LEFT BEHIND.
Illustrating one of the curious phases
of human nature a manager meets is
the story of a woman who telegraphed
TO recover a pocketbook containing $3.50.
which had been left under her pillow. The
pocketbook had already been found by a
chambermaid, and returned to the office.
but with only $24O in 1t. The woman de-
cIared the sum had been $3.50 and wrote
a violent letter after she had received her
property. "She knew she was lying" was
the managers brief comment but she
wanted to get out of giving the girl who
found her property tip.
After having disposed of any of the mail
which may need immediate attention. the
manager is interviewed by the head house
keeper, who by this time has made up her
list of vacant rooms and who has also
prepared a memorandum of the repairs and
cleaning required. and. If necessary, an es-
innate Of articles needed To replenish the
stockroom's shelves not a light task when
a hotel requires 1900 sheets, 5000 pillow
cases. 1900 spreads. 5000 towels. 1000 blan-
kets, beside a reserve for extra cold
weather; 5000 napkins and 1000 tablecloths.
This does not include the kitchen, bar and
washroom's linen.
In the New York hotel l am writing
about a system OF chronic housekeeping
makes daily demands on the managers
attention. Every room is torn up and
cleaned twice a year; the carpets are sent
away TO be renovated and disinfected. and
the bare floors and woodwork washed in
water containing a disinfectant