The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-09-18
PRICES ARE HIGH AT HOTEL ST REGIS Perhaps Most Expensive Hotel
 in America SUBWAY NOT YET OPENED Will Probably Be Open to the Public october 1-New coney Island
 Has Become Popular
 With Masses.
SUBWAY NOT YET OPENED
BY JOHN MARTHoL.

New York, September 1.-The nnattar
 of where to live and how to live is always
 n live topic when two or three New Yo-k-
 CTS are gathered together. bt the re-
 cent operirg of the St. Regis and the
 hctel Astcr has awakened new interebt
 In the question and a range of prices
 for apartments alone varying from s2.5O
 per day to $125 has fixed a new scale and
 a new basis upon which estimates must
 be made. There are number of Amer jeans who can and will pay this latter ing princely apartments that cost foc- tune, but the majority of the occupants of that particular suite will come from a class that loves to make a show of it's money and the fact that they have oc- cupied that suite will be a matter of boasting rather than real pride. The tired man, be he rich or poor, sleeps Just as well on a bed that cost s1O as one that took years to manufacture and cost stO,- GOO when completed.
 The art treasures of the St. Regis wil. appeal to the lover of the beautiful and one visit to that hostelry will satisfy the majority of those who come to see New York. The seeker after comfort will find the apartment that costs him s2.50 at hotel Astor quite as comfortable and there is less danger of contracting a bill for broken art treasures. The contrast between the two hotels is the contrast between lavish display and and quiet un- obtrusive harmony. There is nothing garrish about the furnishings of the Hotel Astor but there is sense of fit- ness and an air of comfort that cannot exist in such a bewildering mass of lux ury as is to be found in the St. Regis This is the view that the vast majority of Americans of moderate means will take of the matter and 1t Is not improb- able that Colonel John Jacob Astor real ized this when he had the designs for the St. Regis prepared and to meet the demand for hotel that the ma nof mod crate means would not seek.
 The scale of prices in the restaurants of the two hotels also show a contrast that is worth attention. The prices at prices at the Hotel Astor are practically the same as at any of the better class of restaurants along Broadway and it does not require a small fortune to dine in the beautiful rooms of the Hotel Astor, but woe unto him who would seek for moderate pricer at Ine St. Regis. Del monico and merry have had a compara- tive monopoly In this respect for many years but now the foollsn men who wants to see just how mucn he can get rid of in the way of money will seek out the St. Regis and be satisfied. Of course, the majority of New Workers will never see moro of the St. Regis than it's exterior, but 1t has already become one of the points of interest In the city and many luckless bridegroom on his honey moon will carry back with him 10 his western or southern home an aching void in his pocketboolk as the result of a dinner at the St. Regis which his bride insisted was to be one of the treats of the trip. while the yonng birde will proudly exhib- 1t as souvenir of the occasion coffee spoon or some similar article removed from the table while the waiter was not supposed to be looking. Tho hotel at which the cheaper rates prevail repre- sents an investment of S7,500,00o, while the total cost of the St. Regis with it's art treasures included was only $6,000,00J, but the St. Regis has at present only 300 rooms while the hotel Astor has more than 500 The most expensive suite at the hotel Astor is $S5 a da.- and 1t con tains enough of luxury to satisfy the taste of the most fastidious