New-York tribune., 1909-05-02


moths detest printers ink-are unfoided and aired
The dainty linen friled muslin covers for bu-
reaus, ChiffonieIs, pncushions and washstands are
ironed and delivered in neat piles the linen roo
where they doled out with the necessary towels
and bed linen. to the chambermaids.
Each maid has her room for the season. and she
must help put II in readiness even to sticking the
pins into pincushions. that the visitor need not
uupack her trunk on the night OF her arrival in
search for elusive fastener.
The housekeeper and the house have un-
packed all the small articles and ornaments. They
have unpinued the covers from sofas and chairs
they have hung curtains and laid and polished
floors. and arranged the furniture cOZily and in
vitingly, or stiflv and uninvitingly, the case
may be. They have brought out the red and green
piazza chairs and stood them expectantly on the
porch while the porters have been making trips 10
the woodpile and bringing in birch logs to lay in
the great open freplaCes ready for lighting. Even
the flags are laid out ready TO be run UP when the
morning OF the opening day dawns, and the great
doors of the main entrance are flung open for the
visitor. who walks in and grasps the waiting hand
of the genial clerk.
FILLING THE LARDER.
week before the opening the steward and his
corps OF helpers have arrived and the inventory Of
stock already on hand in the storeroom left from
the previous season is compared with the list Of the
amount OF stock required for the opening Cipher
telegrams are sent at the last moment for fish and
oysters, meats and game which put in the
cold storage plant and for the more perishable
fruits and vegetables which up by refrigera-
tor cars from the city every day The chef and his
assistants polish up the copper saucepans and
batterie de cuisine. and the pastry cook with her
helpers makes sundry loaves of fruit cake and
uacsroons and other dsinties which viii keep IN
definitely. leaving the pies and desserts until the
last moment. TIE supplies they come in are
checked Of and stored neatly in the proper shelves
in the basement storeroom. where several men are
usually employed to do the hard work
is scene. this last day before
tho opening Of a great summer resort. whether ny
mountains or by SEA. Every one is husy-there are
ne idle hands II is thought better to take one
week i'm the preparation and work hard than 10
drag the same work over longer period, that
in the housekcepcr's department the days work is
seldom finished before late evening The manager
is busy AT desk and telephone. and the stenOgra-
piers typewriter rattIes lnarry as she dashes off
letters 10 prospective visitors. telling them that
their rooms are in readiness for them.
The last persons I'm the army Of employees 10 ar
rive the telegraph and telephone operators. bell
boys and the boys Nho caddie and look after the
bowling alley, and sports: the assistants of
the CuTip sHop-tbe woman in charge having al
rived early TO Unpack and arrange her wares for
the season: the express messenger. the manager Of
the stock brokers' office. the bartenders and wine
boys the BARRIERS and ranicures and the other
miscellaneous army Of the great caravansary. The
head waiter. who has arrived with the steward,
marshals his company or mattresses In the dining
room. where they are busted. a hundred strong.
Unpacking silver and polishing II. washing the
glassware and polishing it chamois skins until
it shines; laying the tables filling salt and pepper
shakes sugar bowls end doing all the side work
Of the dining room. even to filing the vases with
flowers on the last day before the blowing OF the
bugle denotes that the big doors in front are
thrown open and that the season has formally
begun.
The first two weeks and the last two weeks Of
season in the average summer resort present many
financial problems 10 a manager, for here a large
number Of hotel employees 10 he lodged and fed and
kept busy, even though there may not be a dozen
patrons IN the house And usually first and last
weeks cf a season light in business that the
ratio Of 10 patrons IS about twenty % one
Wages have 10 be paid just the same and servants
have generally to he hired for the entire season.
otherwise the manager would find himself in
August With house overlooking with visitors and
no one 10 serve them. The loss Of the first few
weeks often dshesrtens manager so that no
matter how successful thu subsequent weeks he
carries in mis- mind the losses of the fist
There n the very large item OF stationery and
supplies for the writing to ne provided fully
- o-tlirds OF which. Il is estimated VIII he used
by 'trippers' and other people not staying n the
hotel one Of the bate nores OF the hotel manager
Is the family paying SO week at some obscure
boarding house who spend large portion Of their
vacation in carrying a volunirous correspond-
ence' usurpng places IN the writing room which he
lorE n patrons and using stationery at wholesale
spent dollar