New-York tribune., 1908-11-29
HOTELS AND INNS
Lounges for Drauang Rooms
Dragons and Lions.

heen registered In the metropolitan hotels and
Clubs Diarists and travellers OF the seven
teenth and eighteenth centuries invariably re-
ported that inns and chophouses improved and
became dearer IN charges London was ap-
proached AZ the turnpikes were graded and
as many as stxteen mail coaches left the post
orAce every morning except Sunday. each with
an armed guard and relays OF horses At posting
stations, there was marked Increase not only
OF traffic but also Of luxurious entertainment.
Old-fashioned taverns were replaced by elegant
wineroorns; coffee houses where ptcquet was
played day and night sprang up around the
palaces, theatres and exchanges; Toms and
Wills were crowded after the play as the
restaurants in the HayTnarket and the
Strand; and there was pleasurable excitement
for all pilgrims coming up 10 Vanity Fair from
the Provinces The substitution OF railways for
stage coaches involved the abandonment Of the
famous posting houses and inns, which were
dear TO the heart OF P1ckwtok The hotels OF
the Victorian period HvsIled one another in
elegance Of appointments and cost OF constrro-
changing every decade
The Transformation Of drawing rooms into
lounges II OF the new signs Of transition Of
tasta London hotels built twenty OF thirty
years ago had sumptuous drawing rooms with
ornate decorations and costly furniture, where
old ladies' could be protected against tobacco
and fascinating bales could rustic about n
stfkE and ssttns These splendid rooms now
empty and stufry, and patronage goes TO hotels
which provide comfortable lounges and music
rooms whsrs women can look on and eee nfe
while man are smoking These lounges srs an
attractive feature of the newest hotels and
some OF the older establishments nre undergoing
reconstruction N order TO meet the require
ments Of current taste The Metropole, when IL
was opened twenty-three years ago. WEB consid-
cred Of the most modern and luxurious OF
London hotels Under the excellent manage
rncnt OF the Gorton Hotels Limited It has re-
tained It's prestige and custom; but the
rangements on the ground floor were old-fash-
ioned and Il became necessary TO supply a com
modious lounge with music room. writing room
and library. The whole aspect Of the hotel has
been changed. There are spacious Corri-
dors and apartments where guests can be
comfortable as IN the newest hotels, and the
style OF Renaissance decoration is subdued in
tone and simple and rich as the Ornamental
ton introduced into England from France early
IN the seventeenth century.
It is little less than half century since Theo-
dore winthrop wrote an amusing description in
John Brent" Of Trafalgar Square as it looked
from his hotel window. The Nelson monument
had been completed and the fountains were
playing in front Of the National Gallery; but the
Landseer lions had barely been cast and the
statues were beginning 10 rise Across the
Strand from the window was Northumberland
House. with the lion Of the Percies, of the
finest OF the ancient residences. and there was
only a circuttous passage from Whitehall TO the
river II was not unta the sos that the Thames
En- bankuent was completed and Northumber-
land avenue opened, with the three imposing
hotels now controlled by the Gordon Company
and with the Constitutional Club 70 give dignity
to the approach to the river. II was at least q
decade after the purchase Of the Northumber-
land estate for something less than half million
sterling that the avenue Of hotels received its
finishing touches The three hotels whils not
connecting with one another, have maintained
their high reputation; but they have had 10 re-
sist conservative tendencies and 10 adapt them
selves 10 new ideas and changing fashions. Lifts
and other Innovations preceded the Renaissance
lounges and redecorations The time was when
a temperature OF 40 or so was considered a salu-
brious indoors climate for a London hotel AT
the MetropoIe new heating apparatus has been
installed and the lounge, the music room, the
vestibules and staircases are now. fitted with
radiators There is pleasant sense OF warmth
without the highly heated surfaces which tend
TO vitiate the atmosphere.
Processes Of Improvement are not confined TO
the METROPOLITAN hotels. When the railways put
an end 10 the old-fashioned coaching and mail
routes the inns and posting houses on the roads
leading out Of London lost their importance
MANY Of them were picturesque structures. with
traditions OF storied antiquity. The Dover
44aetfros Portsmouth Exeter Bath and North
.rp highways were dotted with famous inns
whore coaching travellers were accustomed TO
s,r. and sleep on their way TO or from London
uybs, the coaches were taken of, these houses
,.r tnto q decline and showed every evidence OF
.b.hbiness. stagnatfon and decay. Only few
=. .h.-, survived the vioissitudes OF half cen
- :. ,.runv and Industrial progress. which
,.++ -. rural Bonifaces without occupation II
g o,r,, within few years that their fortunes
49,, -r,arded The motor traffic on these high
ra,,s has steadily increased and Is restoring the
n-osnerttv OF wayside inns OF the pest ciass
so,,a Of the most enterPrising landlords nave
reconstructed their properties with special rer-
erence 10 the requirements OF motor parties.
Garages have been substituted for stables; re-
r,afr shops have. been added smoking lounges
and attractive tea and supper rooms nave peeS'
opened. and everything is done to attract custom
If the railways were destructive 10 the INNS the
motor cars have revived their fortunes
There is ths famous inn Of BurfoTd sndSA en-
the Br.Sntsa ResG, ozpsstss ssz 8sas :. ~