davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1911-04-02
Closing the
Hoffman and
Gilsey Houses
FAMOUSHOTELS GOING
Many Tales of Celebrated Per
sons Cling About Their
Familiar Corridors.

DHE broad corridor OF the Eiisey
House. with It's many memories
was almost deserted yesterday
Behind the desk upon which so many
famous elbows have rested STOOD MT
Murray the clerk for twenty-five years.
looking many years younger than one
would expect man Of that length OF
service to look On the wall behind huns
the familiar picture of the still more
familiar German statue OF Arthur No
one occupied the leather oak cha1rs
forming the social square in the centre
OF the hall. A lonesome looking H'dh
one Of the last OF the "old guard Wouio
walk w to the desk and ostentatiousi!
iangle the KEY of his room on the desk
"Going?" Mr. Murray would remark
Yes" the man would reply as he SLOW
" handed the key over. ANY mail?
No" the clerk would respond as ne
turned in a perfunctory fashion to look
into the mail boxes
New-York tribune., 1911-04-02
a FINE APARTMENT HOUSE.

one OF the most attractive Nes; side
apartment houses is the twelve story
STAFFORD Avon. at tie north corner Of
Riverside Drive and sd street. sold last
week by +. w. Wood & Co. To j. j.
Steindler
The apartments consist of eight, nine ana
ten rooms with foyer, pantry and three
baths The structure Is beautifully dec
Grated and commands an excellent view
Of the Hudson River and Palisades. The
building is equipped with modern improve
noents and is convenient to subway. sur
face and elevated transit +. K. Wood &
Co have charge of the property.
New-York tribune., 1911-04-02
THE kAISER'S PALACES.

The number Of the kaiser's palaces Is
largely duc TO the fact that the Prussian
1s3nfTchy has absorbed many minor Ger
man states. including the Kingdom Of
Hanover. the Duchy e Nassau. and the
Electorate OF. ..Hesse-Cassel. All the palaces
and castles OF the rulers Of these states
thus passed into the possession of the
r.igninG house OF Prussia as II was con-
sidered njudicious either to destroy or to
sell them for fear Cf imparing the pcpp-
larity of IohenZolorn rule. Thus IL Is tnat
the Emperor is burdened with the posses
sion Of more than threcscore residences.
soma of which he was never even seen. and
many of which are totally unsuited for
royal habitation. Although their mainte-
rance entails a heavy drain upon his ex-
chequer. they cannot. for political reasons.
hc either sold or leased-Munsey' Maya
zine
New-York tribune., 1911-04-02
THE GILsEY's "oLD GUARD.

When one speaks of the "old guard
of the Gilsey House the name OF Al
Smith. the sporting man, is one that
comes TO mind instantly. For thirty-hve
wears he occupied one room, No. l54. and
a little more than year ago he died IN
that room. Under his pillow was found
one of the hotels pay envelopes. In II
was a $500 bill. intended. il was sup
posed. for the payment of funeral eX-
penses. Crickmore. at one time secretary
of the Jockey Club. was another OF the
"old guard" He claimed the hotel as his
home for more than thirty years. dying
about eighteen months ago, shortly after
his relatively took him away. II. E. Van
sickle ranch owner of Colorado. made
The hotel his New York headquarters for
thirty four years. William II. Crane, the
actor. might almost be called one of the
"old guard" for he called the Gilsey his
home for more than fifteen years.
Indeed. the hotel was noted for the
number of different singers and actors
of note who looked upon ii as their New
York headquarters. Its proximity to the
theatre district led 10 its attractiveness
10 them. There were the de Reszkes,
Edouard and Jean, who always lived be-
meath its roof when in New York; Burg
staller. Nine Patti. and among the actors.
Agnes Booth. who took her professional
..v.x.> from her second husband, Junius
Brutus Rooth. jr.. the brother OF Edwin
Booii ariG SOM Wilkes Boeth. who as
sassinated President Lincoln; Lotta
Crabtree. John Mccullough. Kate For
syth. Edna May. Mrs Foster. Aubrey
Boucicoult and Henry Z. Dixey
Men in the political world and in the
military service. also, used to find the
Gilsey an attractive place at which to
stop. Opened on May l, 1871, forty years
ago lacking one month the pages Of its
old registers bear the signatures Of such
men as General John A. Logan. General
Winfield Scott Hancock. Presidents
Grover Cleveland. Benjamin Harrison
and Chester A. Arthur, Speaker John G..
Carlisle. many Senators and many more
or less prominent army officers.
New-York tribune., 1911-04-02
HARD TO BREAK AWAY.

Then the guest would not go. There
were no tears. but somehow he found IL
difficult to pull himself away from the
desk. He hung around trying 10 ACT DIS
If il were a most natural thing 10 De
going. hut finding himself unable 70 tear
himself away he would talk for few
n,inutes in a reminiscent fashion TO Mr.
ryfe who has conducted the hotel for
three wears. since the temporary inter-
regnum of managers. Then he wouid Try
again. Somehow he felt uneasy. Par'ihs
from, an old friend or an old home As not
an easy thing to do gracefully.
Tho Gilsev House was closed yester-
dav. never 20 be reopened as ho'ei
When the word came that the register
would not be opened for the inscription
of names and addresses after March 81
there were more than two hundred per-
sons rooming in the caravansary who
were not quite certain where they would
60 So they began TO look about. Many
of them decided 10 go to the famous
Hoffman House. four blocks down Broad-
way. and made arrangements according
w. on Friday night they learned that
the Hoffman House also was TO close its
doors and they began TO feel almost IKE
homeless nomads. Some found their de-
parture difficult for this reason.
This hotel was the permanent home OF
many persons in its day. When 1t was
closed in 1904. through failure of its pro-
prietors. it discovered who its friends
we're. Never did adversely demonstrate
friendship more thoroughly. Its old pat
rons. sometimes denominated the "old
guard" simply refused 10 leave. The ele-
vators were still. There was no cleo
tricity. Candles were the source of illu-
mination Better a crust of bread.
candle and the Gilsey, than the richest
hotel in Manhattan" said the members
of the "old guard" and their persistent
friendship was rewarded. for ultimately
= renamed
New-York tribune., 1911-04-02

anvwhere around New York Is located at
Hartsdale. known as the Sca1soaie ron
and Country club" The New YORK Cen
ira! is planning to eliminate the grade
crossing at this point. The old station WIN
be torn down and new and more attfac'
fivn one hnllt
New-York tribune., 1911-04-02
scAasDALe's BUILDING ACTIVITY.

There are many building operations Under
way through the central section of West
chester County south Of White Plains. In
the last twelve months fourteen houses
costing from 5000 to $1,000 have been built
IN Greenacres This tract lies immediately
at the Hartsdale station.
One of the most attractive golf courses
New-York tribune., 1911-04-02

IN a reminiscent mood. said: Up to the
opening of the Waldorf and for a time
afterwar6 the Hoffman House was the
sole headquarters and gathering place
for the Democratic leaders Of the nation
state and city. After the building OF the
Waldorf they began to scatter. 1t was 10
the Democrats of the country what the
Fifth Avenue Hotel. its neighbor across
the street. was to the Republican party.
Chairman Barnum. Of the Cleveland
always stopped here and
made IL a real headquarters. When Bryan
was nominated in 1896 Chairman Jones.
of Arkansas. always stopped there. 1t
was the centre for conferences in the
Democratic national and state campaigns
in 1900. when Bryan ran the second time.
Senator Hill always made it his head
quarters. When ED" Murphy was state
chairman he also made use Of the hos
tlery for his headquarters. Even as Tar
back as Tilden's time it was a Demo-
cratic headquarters. for Tilden and Ho-
ratio Seymour used to make the Hoff-
man House their stopping place. Cleve-
land never stopped here, perhaps be-
cause 1t was recognized as the Hill head
quarters In every municipal campaign
II has been used as a headquarters.
sometimes three or four candidates hir-
ing rooms at one time.
New-York tribune., 1911-04-02
ELECTION NIGHT BETTING.

"On election nights for more than
thirty years the Hoffman House was the
really big betting ring of the nation for
all kinds of layers Of odds on elections
Even the betting Republicans would go
over there from the Fifth Avenue Hotel
across the street in order to put their
bets down. Billy Edwards. for a long
time the champion lightweight pugilist
was the bartender in the famous clip
tical bar He had been put in by Ned
Stokes the proprietor. Edwards was
famous as the stake holder for ten or
twelve years. utnil Stokes died. in 1900,
when he was succeeded by Charley Ma
hony. Stokes lived at the hotel. except
during the period when he was in Sing
Sing for killing Jim Fisk.
The elliptical bar on the oath street
side, where the restaurant is now, was
probably more famous than any other
bar in the United States. This was
partly due 10 the betting and partly 10
Stokes's paintings Stokes spent fort
une collecting famous paintings. At the
present time there is a famous one by
Bouguereau called 'Satyr and the
Nymphs.' in the restaurant. which occu-
pies the part Of the house once occupied
by the bar. Many persons visit the res
taurant to look at that painting. They
sit and look at 1t by the half hour There
were many other famous paintings and
pieces of sculpture in the hotel
Co tho old GiNnS NAY 10 the now
New-York tribune., 1911-04-02
Other Midtown Sales.

Many other transactions in central dis
tric,s were also reported last week
j. Romaine Browne X 60. and Thomas ~
Eckerson sold for Flora NJ. Graves to Mary
a. Early the southwest corner OF 39th
street and Seventh avenue. Mrs. Early
owns the ADJOINING property Ncs. 59S ard
so Seventh avenue. and her larger site has
"A frontage OF lO7 feet on the avenue. She
purchased The property for speculation. and
will lease or sell the entire plot. The cor
ucr which she has just purchased was held
AT $1,000
u q l.. Hess sold for ire A. a :.
Construction Company. N coniynction with
Wcbstcr t. Mable * 20. the new twelve
story ana basement building recently com
pleted at Nos IS and 81 West 18th street.
or a plot 5ox9'9 feet This land. together
with the adjoining 20 feet at Nos. "a and
2G, was purchased about year ago by the
Realty Holding Company. which resoid 10
the a. e. 5. Construction Company. with q
building loan the westerly half. the caster
ly half being sold 10 the Twenty-nfth
Street Construction Company for the pur-
pose Of similar improvement. Both build
ings have been recently completed. and are
almost entirely ,cnanted
This property wa he'd al N?5.o and
was sold subject 10 q mortgage Of SgjoUu
held los tho Erooklyn savings Bank and
also one of 5000 bod by the Realty Hold
ing Company. II viii 5c held for invest.
ment b. The purchaser.
This makes the fourth sale within In.
last four weeks In which the Realty Hold
Ing Company has been interested and AK
New-York tribune., 1911-04-02

George r. Read & Co. provided Tor the
tenantry of the whole OF the new eighteen
story building. now nearing completion. at
the northeast corner Of Church and Nesey
streets.
The thirteen lower floors will be occupied
by the Underwood Typewriter Company
and the five upper floors by the Nationai
Railway Publishing Company. Both leases
are for ten year terms at an aggregate
rental Of about Sl.0000oo.
TIE sale Of the West Presbyterian Church
property for about 81, ,OC0. 900, through Pease
& Gilman TO the Aeolian Company, at
tracted wide attention. The church prop
erty faces on Bryant Park and is at NO. q
West I'D street. and Nos. 81 and 80 West
43d street II has frontages of IS feet In
each street. with a depth Of 200 feet
A tall structure. probably sixteen stories
high. and estimated 10 cost $l5OO.OO0. VIII
be- erected OF the site and turned over 10
the Aeollan COMPANY which will occupy
the major part Of IT, Part OF the new
building will be rented for studios and
Offices The building WI contain many
novel features, and there will he a large
concert hail.
IL" west 1ieSbyte idn iN'Sh'''
became affiliated vita the Park Presby-
terrain Church at Amsterdam avenue and
seth street. and will worship at the latter
edihce The 42d street property was Sc
cured by the church in 1863 from the city
under the common land law, and with the
buildings on It represented an outlay Of
S2s0,o0o
Another big transaction last week In the
Fifth avenue district was the leasing by
McGibbon & Co. the well known linen
houe., through Lewis II. Preston Of the
property Nos. and West 37th street. two
four story houses partly remodelled for
business, on PLOT 50Al00 feet
The owners will erect a twelve story
building for the exclusive occupancy OF
McGibbon & &C.
Work on the new building will he begun
al once. and il Is expected that the new
store viii open on January /. 1912. This
property Immediately adioins the Brick
Presbyterian Church. at the northwest cor
ner OF Fifth avenue ard 3ith street, and
should enjoy unusual light for many yea
to come. The lease is for twenty-one
years. with two renewals. the aggregate
rental for the first term approXmating
10000
The Washington herald., 1911-01-30

branch will pay 5 per cent per annum
as at the main hank. which is at 11C
Fourteenth street and in addition, the
central branch will invite commercial
accounts and transact a general banking
business for the handling of which il is
stated they will have every modern bank
ing facility. The establishment of this
branch will make Washington's Oldest
savings bank a very close neighbor Of the
oldest national bank in Washington. The
management asserts that by serving pa
irons faithfully and well II hopes to merit
a lease of life commensurate with that Of
its venerable neighbor in the marble
building across the street. Those in
charge of the central branch are J. n.
Thompson, cashier; Harry p. White, pay
ing teller; G. S. Beardsley. receiving tel
Ter. and William c. Moore. head book
keeper
Mr.. Thompson has been for some time
past assistant cashier of the National
City Bank.
The officers Of the Union Savings Bank
are: +. Quincy Smith. president: S. w.
Woodward, vice president; William H.
Lynn, second vice president: E. Floy
Caverly. treasurer: W. Reginald Lewis.
assistant treasurer. Directors. George p.
Foster. Henry J. Goodman, George H.
Harries. Samuel NJ. Jarvis, Wilton J.
Lambert. Lee d. Latmer, A. r.. L.
Leckie. w. II. Lynn. n. A. Merritt, Frank
P. Milburn. Joseph E. Ralph, A. T.. RAN
die. F. l.. Siddons, John B. Sleman. jr.,
E. Quincy Smith, NJ. A. Winter, and S.
w. Woodward.
The Washington herald., 1911-01-30
HORSEMAN RESCUED
BY NOVEL METHOD
Enraged Stallion Subdued
by Sneezing Powder.

Fort Plain. n. Y. Jan. g.-Barney
Kent. a local horseman, is in d dangerous
condition as the result of battle with
a vicious stallion. He is much bruised
and battered from being dashed to ce-
ment floor and trampled upon. His left
hand was frightfully mutilated by the
animals teeth. Only by resorting to a
novel method was his life saved
He was alone in the box stall with the
enraged stallion. and nobody dared go to
his rescue. although the tumult attracted
many awed spectators. Directly across
the street Ford Wood has a novelty store
and was selling a customer powder such
as mischievous boys are fond of circulat-
ing in public places to. cause SneeZing
With others, Wood rushed to the scene
of the battle and scattered sneezing pow
der in the stall The stallion inhaled it
literally, and was attacked by a fit OF
sneezing, and enabled the on
lockers to drag Kent from his perilous
DOSitiOn.
The Washington herald., 1911-01-30
ADVOCATE ADVANCE
In FREIGHT RATES
Mandel Sener Sees Only Way
to Help Railroads.
Ssclsl 10 The Washington Herald


Baltimore, Jan. 9.-'To enable the
railroads to get funds necessary for i'm
provements and extensions and buy new
equipment needed to most efficiently and
promptly handle the eVer-increaSing traf-
fic of the country, there should be a
reasonable advance in freight rates and
4 full restoration of confidence and fair
ness on the part of the public
That is the way the present situation
is summed by by ManGel Sener, who
is largely interested in mining and ship
ping bitumnouS coal and had super
vision of the Federal census of manu-
factures of Baltimore and surrounding
territory.
Nothing builds up a city or town
quicker or better than manufacturing en-
terDrises. and nothing attracts the manu-
facturer to location stronger than
transportation facilities continued Mr..
Sener. Baltimore, Cleveland, Memphis.
Boston, Philadelphia. Pittsburg, st. Louis,
Cincinnati, Columbus. Wheeling Roam
oke. and many other places have ad-
vertising booms in action to let the world
know of their advantages.
THE greatest impetus is given to a
city's growth by it's railroad terminals
and lines reaching out to the markets
of the world"
The Washington herald., 1911-01-30
Errors Made I'm Ba n ks.

From the London Chronicle.
When the books in a bank refuse to
balance there is little rest or peace OF
mind in the place. Sometimes the errors
have a queer origin. An expert book
keeper had sweated blood trying to find
an error, when, brushing page with
his pocket handkerchief, the mystery was
solved On the debit side of the ledger
a fallen eyelash had turned naught
into a nine All day Saturday and Sum-
day in the great Bank of England once
there was much anxiety. Just G1OO
were missing 1t seemed impossible to
locate the mistake. But a clerk sug-
gested that possibly in packing specie
for a West Indies shipment the mistake
might have occurred. A messenge by
wire stopped the ship Mercator as she
was leaving the harbor of Southampton.
Following instructions from the bank,
the ships officers brought on deck the
boxes in which the specie had been
packed and reported by wire the weight
of EACH One box weighed just one pound
and ten ounces more than its mates.
This was exactly the weight Of the miss
ing sovereigns. Consequently the ship
was released to go on her way. the
West India house was debited to the ex-
tent of E1OO, and peace reigned once
more in the great Bank of England.
The Washington herald., 1911-01-30
CENTRAL BRANCH OF
UNION SAVINGSBANK
Extension Justified by Grow
ing Business in City.

The central branch OF the Union Saw
inSs Bank. at the corner Of Seventh
street and Pennsylvania avenue northwest.
will he opened for business on Wednes-
day. February I. The establishment OF
this branch. the management asserts. is
in line with modern and progressive bank
ing. and to meet the demands of their
growing business and the great future
which a savings bank in that locality
promises. 1t is pointed out that the pos
sibi!ities for acquiring new business in
that locality are supplemented by the
great activity in Pennsylvania avenue
near Center Market. Saturday evening.
The Washington herald., 1911-01-30
4 Barrel Of Balzac Letters.

Frm the independent.
The French Academy has received from
the Comte de Lovenjoul priceless col
lection Of letters written by Balzac. The
story of his acquisition of these letters
is as follows: One day he saw a cobbler
light his pipe with a twisted letter. The
ink on the paper thereof was faded, but
the handwriting interested the collector.
He had recognized the great novelist s
script. and straightway bought the let
ter for a Napoleon. The cobbler then
informed the count that he had bought
a barrel of these letters as waste paper,
which he used for wrapping shoes when
he was not lighting his pipe. And that
is the history of the academy's Balzac
letters.
The Washington herald., 1911-01-30

Alexandria. Va. Jan. 29.-Thc work of
remodelinG the interior of the city jai
is rapidly nearing completion, and the
contractor expects to turn the Jail over
20 the city authorities by February L.
Tho Jail will be modern in all its ap-
p"nunents. Practically nothing has been
left intact except the four walls. 1t is
virtually modern steel cage within
four strong brick walls. In addition
there are other modern Jail equipments
and appliances.
The full choral service was used this
evening at ST. IaGrs Episcopal Church.
In place of Il sermon. number of seler-
tons were given by the choir, assisted
by Miss Lucy Graves and quartet from
the Episcopal Theological Seminary. con-
siStinE of MeSsrs. Penick, Strider. Phil
lips. and Thompson.
Services at Second Presbyterian Church
were conducted by Rev. ". n. Frazier.
"f Anderson, S. c. Tho morning services
at Christ Episcopal Church were con-
Quoted by Rev. =. \. Wallis. of the
Episcopal Theological Seminary. Rev.
". J. Morton, rector of Christ Church.
occupied the pulpit of the former at the
seminary.
At First Baptist Church this morning
Rev. w. +. Watson. pastor. took for his
subject, The owner and the crib His
them" at the evening services waS
Smooth things
large number OF relatives and friends
together witt the members of Osceola
Trib" of Red Men. this afternoon at
tended the funeral of Andrew ]. Pitts
who died Friday last as j result of in
jurieS sustained by being struck by a
train. The services were held at First
BAPTIST Church. ana were conducted by
Rev. ". +. Watson. pastor. The floral
off rings wCr" numerous. The pallbear-
"rs Were NJ +. kerrick r. Mmmford,
Fred Klaus. 5. Devcrs, James G. Graham,
and John {. COckCv
\ black and white, cat known to every
policeman on the force. and a pet at
police headquarters. which had been
missing for the past week. walked safely
into her Old home tonight
G. }. Rixcy, president of the Virginia
Safe Deposit and Trust Corporation. of
this city. whose home is in Washington.
it is understood. has gone South for his
health. Mr RiXey mas been ill for some
time.
Rev. Father r. l.. Carne. for many
yeas teacher of old st. Johns Academy
this city, IS reported seriously i'll at the
homo of Col. Theodore II. Ficklin. in
Duke street. R-V. Father Carne is one
of the best known educators in this sec
tion of the country.
At St Mary'S Catholic Church this
morning at the second mass Rev Father
H. J. Cutler, pastor. read the annual re-
port of the church, which showed the
finances to be in excellent shape. The
report was most gratifying
y euchre and dance will he given to-
morrow evening at the Young Mems
Sodality Lyceum Hail. under the aus
piCcs of kenofick Council, No. 100. Cath
oic WomenS Benevolent Legion.
Announcement is made that on Feb
ruary I a recital and tableauX of old
songs will be given under the auspices
or the Alexandria Free kindergarten at
the Young Peoples Building of the Meth
Cdist Episcopal Church South
The Washington herald., 1911-01-30
Different Now, Of Course.

From the New York Tribune.
Civil service reform has given us a
splendid army of civil servants. 1t wasn't
always so.'
The speaker, Mayor Whitlock, Of To-
ledo, smiled.
when I was writing my first short
stories," he resumed, I'VE had civil SER
wants Of different stamp. An elderly
resident of my native Urbana sought out,
back in those days, his Congressman.
Congressman he said, I supported
you at the polls and now I expect you to
get my boy q good civil service job
"'All right, friend the Congressman
answered. what can your boy do?
do? snorted the other. What can he
do? BY crinus. man, if he could do any
thing. do you think I'd be bothering
you?"