Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-16

ment the house-cleaning force. as the serv-
| ice of the hotel must not be permitted to
| show any sign of the annual cleaning.
In the meantime the maj Ayers of the ho-
tel have gone on their annual jaunts to
Europe or to some mountain resort the
famous chef is off on his yacht for a brief
respite from the onerous duties of catering
to millionaire appetites. and midsummer
finds the heads Of the various departments
such as the housekeeper the head of the
linen room and the steward left to carry
the housekeeping to a successful and sat
iSfactory issue. BY September IL every
room must be finished and the hotel must
be in readiness for the Hood OF incoming
tourists from Europe who stop in New
York their way west. 1t Is the great
western population which supports the
eastern palaces commonly called hotels
The floating population of such IA Motel
is equal to that OF small city. Even in
midsummer. with house-cleaning at its
height. pilgrims for pleasure who stop
ping en- route IN New Yrok bring this pop
ulation up to thousand souls In mid
| winter it is increased to fifteen hundred
and some idea of the services demanded by
rich travellers can be imagined when Ii is
learned that fourteen hundred servants are
required to cater to the needs of the fif-
teen hundred guests.
The Old Clothes Man.
Half-worn carpets, hangings. etc are
not the only things offered for sale during
the annual housekeeping At this time
the accumulation of baggage left at the
hotel either through carelessness or ne
cessity. Small pieces of hand baggage. ex-
press parcels of all sorts that ca never be
traced to their owners. and trunks left as
securities Cor unpaid board bills are also
sold at this time If a sufficient period has
elapsed for the owners to claim them
Ihese sales are conducted in a quiet way
but often much amaZement results when
trunks are opened and the dsauDoiutin1
contents are displayed.
In winter, 1t Is said, the trade of a luxu-
rious hotel is largely held by the cuisine
and the steward and his stan make or mar
the business. In summer with the tide OF
tourist trade flowing fast and hard through
the hotei the real man IN power is tho
head porter.
Only experienced travellers appreciate the
weighty responsibilities which rest on the
shoulders of the head porter. who must he
a man of more than ord nary intelligence
Not only must he keep incoming and out
going baggage straight. but he must know
how to purchase tickets over every imag-
Unable route. and how to reserve sleepers
and steamship accommoda tons. He must
DE thoroughly posted on time tables and
routes of travel. Thousands of dollars are
entrusted to him In carrying out the wishes
of travellers. and he must have Trustworthy
assistants
Mountains of Trunks.
An average of 1000 trunks are handled
daily, while on the days when ocean steam-
ers sail 300 pieces are shipped to the various
docks; in addition to this there are small
pieces of baggage, such rugs grips and
umbrellas, handled by the baggage DEPART
ment.
Another department which is particularly
hard to handle. and which must not suffer
because of the annual house cleaning. Is the
post Office and mail depa rtment
The mall handled for this immense sum-
mer population equals in bulk that which
passes through the lost offices of cities with
5000 inhabitants. Not only that, but the
man or woman In town for few days frets
and fumes about delayed letters. and leaves
complicated directions for the forwarding
of all mail. Owing to the vast business in
terests and social connections of these sum-
mer tourists, the number of kilograms re-
ceived is larger In proportion than tho
business kilograms of a city of 5000 inhab-
itants and those kilograms must also be
forwarded to guests who have taken their
departure.
Let the woman who has Mysteries because
her husband brings home a guest during
the house-cieaning days ponder on the
duties of the hotel housekeeper, and dee
eide that she has no corner on trouble.