The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1903-05-13
THE GATEWAY OF THE SUN
And a Few Pointers Rega riding Ho-
tel Charges In Spain.

tel Charges In Spain.
This" said mine host of the HoteI
de Paris as he led us into suit OF
rooms on the noble fioor-"this,' said
he as he shot the heavy iron bolts and
bars which fastened the prisonlike
Spanish windows-tthis," said he as he
flung open the ponderous shutters with
rattle and clash and clang--"this Is the
Puerta del Sol.'
It was indeed the Gateway of the
Sun. AS gazed upon 1t gasped. An,
other illusion gone.
Our host looked scrutfnizingly into
our faces that he might note the effect
upon us Of this imposing sight. BY the
way, the relations between our host
We had insisted on leaving our lug
gage ON top of the coach until we had
found rooms to our liking. Leaving
ones luggage in that way usually has
an excellent moral effect on continental
hotel keepers. They always begin by
showing you their highest priced
rooms. including magnificent and
funereal salon." then, if your lug
gage has been brought up, they insist
there are no other rooms. Therefore it
is we'll to leave your luggage on the
coach and If the rooms are not to your
liking go to another hotel.
But we had struck naughty Castil-
ian host with the soul of hidalgo.
He did not like the caution shown by
our failure to bring In our luggage,
and he plainly showed 1t by his man.
ner. So he attempted to crush us by
the magnifcence of the Puerta del SOL
gazed out upon the Gateway Of the
Sun. I saw before me a shabby square
surrounded by dingy buildings. In
front Of these dingy buildings there
iolled, lounged, lay and sat dingy idlers
and shabby beggars. Upon the surface
of the square one saw no tree, nor
shrub, nor patch Of green, only large
expanse of dingy pavement. 1t was
strewn with old newspapers, cigarette
stumps and orange skins. Over the
shabby bosom Of the square giided
dingy, shabby tram cars. And this
was the Gateway OF the Sun.
How muchf'' said I to our host
How much a day, senior. for these
rooms--the whole business-everything
included - TODD compreso - tout COM
prisT' ~ 8-e.s.
Our host rubbed his hands together
and replied slowly, Thirty pesetas."
"For two personsf'
NO." replied the host In an explana-
tory tone, per person"
''Then that makes 60 pesetas." / re-
marked.
Yes, 60 pesetas-tout compris-ev-
erything included" ..
Does 1t include service %
'.N-o-o-o,' replied our host. Service
IS extra-it will be IL pesetas."
For both?''
'N-o-o-o- per person"
THAT makes 3 pesetas more. Does
4 include lightT'
"Yes," said the host briskly, eight
included,
Candies or electric light?'
Il meant candles Z admitted the host.
Then the electric light is extra7'
Yes, but 1t Is only half q peseta per
lay"
For two persons z.
"N-o-o-o," admitted the host, Il Pc
Ieta for two persons
That makes 85 pesetas instead of
TO- said /. rs there any thing else to |
,e added In this tout compris2 Do you
'harge anything for the view OF the |
ouerta del Sol?"
The hosts blue blood rose. "Evi-
lentiy, senor," he said stiffiy, you do |
lot desire these rooms. | will there
ore withdraw them from your consid- |
ration" And he stalked away in
ludgeon.
We subsequently inflicted on our
laughty host the pain Of seeing the
rass bound menials of his rival across
he square bear our belongings away
the Hotel de Ia Paz, where we soon
we're very comfortably housed. -Jer-
me Hart In Argonaut.