The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1905-02-04

OF old knlck erbOcker arlstocracy. mere
is an air of Partisan gayety about the I'm
perial, while if you want to see and be
seen you go to the Waldorf Then, for
recherche dinner with Aladdin stamp
accessories, the Manhattan is favOrite
among the gilded youth.
One mustn' think for moment there
is any competition among these hotels; they
are always glad, in fact, to speed the part
ing guest, for half dozen stand ready to
take his place AT special social seasons,
such as Horse Show Week, the rush tor
accommodations becomes almost riot, and
prices rise as high as the spirits of those
who are eager to pay them.
But the various advantages of these no.
tells have been exploited so often and so
well that it is difficult to say anything new
about them. The latest 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 few
of the many Astor millions
There are two Astors, it should be noted
one William Waldorf Astor, a citizen of
the world; the other his cousin, John Jacob
Astor, a citizen of New York. Each built
hotel. and in so doing expended all the
money that could be used, not to say vast
ed. The hotel built by the former is the
Hotel Astor; tina. built by the latter is the
St. Regis.
The Hotel Astor is a massive structure,
having none of the qualities of the modern
sky scraper. 1t is ONLY nine stories high,
aud is very broad, but proportionately oe-
cupies a much larger ground space than
most of the newer hotels is iDdehnable
air is rather that of European capital
than of the city of New York. Its mana
ger was for many years proprietor of res
taurant famous for fine cooking and good
cheer. and this idea of living to eat seems
to permeate the atmosphere of the now ho-
tel
There are dining rooms galore, public
and private representing different nation
alities and different pursuits. Un the main
floor is the Italian garden. cafe for men
and women, where the soft light gives
moonlight effect The nom Is filed with
small tables of a delicate green color. In
the way Of decoration there are flowing
plants and twiuing vines which conceal
electric light bulbs In the rear one can
catch the iridescent hues Of a fountain,
with the splashing Of which the music Of
Hungarian orchestra mingles.
On the same floor Is the German hunt
ers room, set with trophies Of the chase,
It's chandeliers being made Of antlers. Up
on the eight floor there Is a series Of pm
waite dining rooms, which may be used sep
arately or thrown into one. 10 a room
specially designed for the college boy the
walls are divided into panels by Ionic col
umns surmountad by college crests in the
distinctive college colors. Then there i
the Yacht dining room, most unique nau-
teal design 1t represents in its setting
the saloon of a yacht Portfolios are imi-
ta,ed, showing glimpses Of the sea; then
there arc 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
grillroom. where every decoration Is sug
gestive Of the wild life Of the redskin.
Far down under Broadway Is the Raths-
keller. where all the speeialties Of the grill
room are served in the wee small hours,
and beyond this Is the machine that keeps
all these rooms in running order, the
kitchen.
This kitchen Is a marvel in its way. IL
is two hundred aud thirty one feet long
and one hundred and Fifty feet wide.
Rudolf. the French chef, has a small
army under his eontrol-cooks for hroiling,
cooks for entree- making, soup cooks, hsh
cooks and even bnckwheat cake cook--
full two hundred strong with their assist
ants. and not woman among them.
Rudolf i an adGirer Of the fair sex
anywhere aud every where excepting IN the
kitchen. lie says that there must he the
strieiest discipline there and Of course
woman cannot be expected not 10 have her
own way
This hotel in a way reflects the esmo-
polilau spin, 10 New lork--it gathers
within itself every nation aud every cline.
The St Regis l. the most luxurious
hotel in tbis country, vet this Is not the
tin! ion that one has on first entering t.
! The SuiIding. which Is Of the sky scraper
o7,ie, IS eighteen stories high, and i stu
ated Mt the southeast cnrner of Fifth
aveiue and 55th street This Is in the
a,ans 81 the millionaire district Of New
; ork There Is no room on the trSG floor
| Tor a wide parade corridor like The enc
which has made the Waldorf famous 10 its
QUITO town guests On this floor, how
ever, there are three diningroom>, open
I Ing Que into the other, which even 10 the
art eonnoisseur are study and delight.
The main diningroom has its entire cell
ing Of a shimmering gold bronze work
Of art in itself; the color tone Of the room
is deep red; the chairs are richly upholst
cred in silken brocade to match, while in
| the center of each round table Is a cut
glass bowl filed with American Beauties,
the sort that sell at one dollar and fifty
cents apiece. The china is Ropal, Wor-
cester. Minton, Sevres and Dresden. and
there are ten different services used in the
three diningrooms, SO it is not hard to
imagine the amount of money it costs just
for the china at the st, Regis.
The tea room, as it is called, connects
the state diningroom with another dining
| room known rs the oak room, where the
wood work, the fireplace, tables and chairs
are all magnifcently carved Flemish oak.
But the tea room, that surely is the
most delightful spot imaginable in which to
eat a simple little ten dollar luncheon.
The ceiling is stained glass divided into
three sections, while the upper part of the
walls are freScoed and framed in white
mahogany. From he arches of the cell
ing hang huge baskets filed with Boston
fern and trailing ivies. At the sides of
the walls, here and there, are bronze Gu
pids holding Towering branches having as
the center of each flower an electric light
| bulb.
\ suit of FIVE rooms is the feature of the
second floor at the St Regis. The ball
room is in white aud gold, and contains
one of the sixty-seven pianos which are
| used in the hotel. this particular piano be-