Milford chronicle., 1903-10-30
THE GATEWAY OF THE SUN
And Few Pointers Regarding Ho-
tel Charges In spain.

And Few Pointers Regarding Ho-
tel Charges In spain.
"Tbis." said mine host of the Hotel
de Paris as he led us into suit of
4 rooms On the noble floor-'this" said
he as he shot tile heavy iron bolts and
bars which fastened the prisoniiSe
Spanish windows this" said he as he
tiung open the ponderous shutters with
rattle and clash and clang-"this is the
Pucrta del Sol"
1t was indeed the Gateway Of the
I Sun. As l sazed upon it l gasped. An
/ other illusion gone.
Our host looked scrutiniZingly into
I our faces that lac might note the effect
/ upon Us Of this imposing sight. By the
way. the relations between our host
and ourselves were slightly strained.
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 q continental
hotel keepers. They always begin by
showing you their highest priced
rooms, including a 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 70 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 it by his man
ner. So he attempted 10 crush us by
the magnificence of the Puerta del Sol.
l gazed out upon the Gateway of the
Sun. | saw before me shabby square
surrounded by diugy buildings. In
front of these dingy buildings there
lOlled, lounged, lay and sat dingy idlers
and shabby bcggars, Upon the surface
of the square one saw no tree, nor
shrub, nor patch of green. only a large
eNpanse of dingy pavement. 1t was
strewn with old newspapers, cigarette
stumps and orange skins. Over the /
shabby bosom of the square glided I.
dingy. shabby tram cars. And this .
was the Gateway of the Sun.
How much?" said | to our host. /
How much Il day, senor for these (
rOoms-the whole business-everything
inclEded 80 todo compresO - tout COM
pris:"
Our host rubbed his hands together
and replied slowly. Thirty pesetas."
For two persOnsY
"No." replied the host in an explana-
tory tone, per person"
"Then that makes 60 pesetas," l re-
marked.
Yes, 60 pesetas-tout compris-ev-
erything included"
"Does it include service?"
"N-o-o-o." replied our host. Service
Is extra-ft VIII be IL pesetas."
For both?"
''N-o-o-o-per person"
"That makes 3 pesetas more. Does
It include light?"
Yes" said the host briskly, Eight
included"
Candles or electric light?'
Il meant Candles" admitted the host
''Then the electric light is extra?" (
"Yes, but it is only half a peseta per
lay" I
''FOr two personsT" '
"N-o-o-o," admitted the host, 81 pc 1
eta for two persons"
'That makes 60 pesetas instead Of
TO-" said 1. "Is there anything else to
,e added in this tout compris? DO you /
.harge anything for the view of the {
7ucrta del SOl?" {
The hosts blue blood rose. "Evi- t
lently. senor." he said sCGy. you do '
lot desire these rooms. | will there !
ore withdraw them from your consid- I
ration" And he stalked away in Z
.udgeon. '
We subsequently inflicted on our |
iaughty host the pain of seeing the i
rass bound menials of his rival across
he square bear our belongings away i
0 the Hotel de Ia Paz. where we soon 1
we're very comfortably housed.-Jer-
me Hart in ArgOnaut. S