Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-17
GOOD SEASON FOR HOTELS.
Many Visitors to Washington in the
Past Summer.

The summer season Just past has been
The best with the hotels Of the capital
since the summer of the Spanish war"
said the chief clerk of one of Washing
tons big caravansarles recently.
The jamestown exposition is largely
responsible for the unusual influx of
strangers, and during the height of the
season they passed through the city In
thousands. We booked at this house
alone as many as seventy-tive from a sim
gle boat at night, to say nothing Of the
train arrivals. while all of the large and
small hotels and boarding houses have
had their share of this class of transient
trade.
"Of course. the capital always receives
"a large portion of the Stop-over travel GO
ing north in the spring and summer, and
south in the winter. but in recent years
there has been an unusually large mum
Der OF visitors from the west who have
made Washington a stop-over point on
their way to and from the New Jersey
and other eastern seaside resorts.
The coming year promises to be very
heavy one with us. The fall and spring
race meetings always fill the hotels to ca
paclty. and at the close of the fall meet
ing this year the long session of Con-
greSs opens-a session which this year
promises to be of considerable duration
campaign summer, season which al
ways brings many statesmen and others
to the capital. From our bookings of
northern visitors who spend the social
season at the capital this winter promises
to be an extremely gay one. The hotels
Of Washington have had prosperous years
recently, but this season, from present in
dicauOns, will be a head-liner in our bust
ness, and it has been my observation that
when the hotels thrive our merchants
have big year too.
We have many amusing experiences in
Motel life, and the joke is not always upon
the guest. The fail meeting at the race
track reminds me of an instance which
occurred at this desk a few meetings
back.
"A well-dressed stranger entered the
office one morning, and said to me that
ne would like comfortable front room
with bath at from Sc to IS a day. I in
formed him that we had pleasant room
al the latter figure. and he registered. AS
he did not appear to have any baggage,
and being a total stranger to the house
| asked him in the usual way if l couldn't
have his checks so as to send for his
baggage
On he answered, I'll attend to that
''Of course, all travellers are supposed to
know the rules Of hotel life-if one hasn't
any baggage, it's pay for your accommo
datioas II you are a stranger in advance.
The fact that he seemed shy about his
luggage anu uiun appear DTlSK with the
preliminary coin coupled with the advent
of the racing season. when one is more
cautious than usual regards the we'll
dressed stranger and his wants. caused
me 70 remind him Of the rule of the house
IN my pOlitcst tone.
Is that ALP" queried the man on the
other side of the counter. Just take the
change from this and he threw down ON
the book 81 900 bill.
Well, l fguratively kneeled, for
didn't have the change, and 1 said so. But
1 later had the change for the drinks, for
they were certainly on me. 1t is the we'll
dressed stranger have to look out for
and when We go against the rules of the
house it is the clerk who is held respon-
Sible."