The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1905-03-17

mere lS an air OF ParlSlan galeLy
shout the Imperial, while if You want
to See and be seen you 60 to the Wal
dorf. Then, for a recherche dinner
with Aladdin's Lamp accessories, the
Manhattan is a favorite among the
gilded youth.
One mustn't think for a moment
there is any competition among these
hotels; they are always glad, in fact,
to speed the parting guest, for half 3
dozen stand ready to take his place.
At special social seasons, such as
Horse Show Week, the rush for &C.
commodations becomes almost a riot,
and prices rise as high as the spirits
of those who are eager to pay them.
But the various advantages of these
hotels have been exploited so often
and 80 we'll that it is dificnlt to say
anything new about Them. The lat
est ideas in hotels are, of course,
those that people are most anxious to
hear about. Luckily, of these there
are now two conspicuous examples.
Early last fall two luxurious hotels
were opened in New York, both built
with a f:w Of the many Astor millions.
There are two Astors, it should be
noted-one William Waldorf Astor, a
citizen of tie world; the other his
cousin, J.hn Jacob Astor, cit I'm of
New York Each built hotel, and
in so doing expended all the money
that could be used, not TO say wasted.
The hotel bull, by The trrm"r is the
Hot Astor; thai bu,lt by the latter
is the ST Regis.
The Ho.el Astor is a massive struc-
ture, having none Of the Qualities OF
the modern sky scraper. 1t is only
nine stories high, aud is very broad,
but rrnportionately occupies much
larger ground space than most of the
newer hotels. Its indefnable air is
father that of a European capital
than of the city of New York. Its
manager was for many years proprie-
tor of q restaurant famous for fine
cooking and good cheer, and this idea
of living to eat seems to permeate the
atmosphere of the now hotel.
There are dining rooms galore, pub
lie and private, representing different
nationalities and different pursuits:
On the main floor is the Italian gar
den, a cafe for men and women, where
the soft light gives moonli ght effect.
The room is filled with small tables
of a delicate green color. In the way
of decoration there are flowing plants
and twining vines which conceal elec.
tr,c-light bulbs. In the rear one can
catch the irridescent hues ofa fountain,
with the splashing of which the music
of a Hungarian orchestra mingles.
On the same floor is the German
hunters room; set with trophies of the
chase, its chandeliers being made of
antlers. Up on their eighth floor there
is series of private dining-rooms,
which may be used separately or
thrown into one. In room specially
designed for the college boy the walls
are divided into panels by Ionic COL
umns surmounsed by college crests in
the distinctive college colors. Then
there is the Yacht dining-room, a
most unique nautical design. 1t rep
resents in its setting the saloon of a
yacht. Portho.es are initiated, show
ing glimpses of the sea; then there
are companionways with rope ratings
winding up on either side. Swinging
ship lanterns are used as chandeliers
for electric lights. There is also an
interesting Indian grill-room, where
every decoration is suggestive of the
wild life of the red-skin.
Far down under Broadway is the
Rathskeller, where all the specialties
of the gri!!-room are served ia the wee
small hosrs: and beyond this is the
machine that keeps all these rooms in
running order, the kitchen.
This kitchen is a marvel in its way.
1t is two hundred and thirty-one feet
long and one hundred and fifty feet
wide. Rudolf, the French chief, has
a small army under his control-cooks
for broiling, cooks for entee-making,
soup-cooks, fsh-cooks and even buck
wheat-cake cook-full two hundred
strong with their assistants, and not a
woman among them.
Rudolf is an admirer of the fair sex
anywhere and everywhere excepting
in the kitchen. He says that there
must lie the strictest discipline there
and of course a woman cannot be ex-
pected not to have her own way.