The Washington herald., 1912-05-19
HISTORIC HOTEL
HAS LAST GUEST
Manager Peter Taylor, Jrs Of Old
Arlington Ready for wrecksrs
to Begin Work.
BREAD WILD BE BROKEN
AND WINE SPILLED TODAY
Famous Home Of Statesmen, DiplO-
mats, and MilliOnaires Soon to
Pass Out Of Existence.

Last night a name was blotted on
the register OF the Arlington Hotel for
the last time, and tomorrow night the
final guest will sorrowfully pack up his
suitcase and take his leave. for the
doom OF the good old hosiery swiftly
approaches.
Night Clerk Heath, who has beckoned
the visitor within our gates to the Ar
lingtoD's hospitality for the past eight
cen years. was saying his farewelIs last
night and preparing for the dreariest
Sunday that the once proud and stately
caravansary has ever known.
Bread VIII be broken and wine will
be spilled at dinner to-day by'a select
company OF ''oldsters." who have loved
the hotel for what It was. Manager
Peter Taylor. jr., Mrs. T. 2. Roessle.
and Chief Clerk James o. Breast will
done, It viii be but a short cry to the
crack Of the auctioneer's hammer, and
the vandalistic Ak Of the wrecker.
Furniture Piled Up.
In the old banquet hall. furniture is
now piled UP in wild disarray-black
walnut, mahogany, birch. and oak
pieces that know naught Of Grand Rap
ids and are of honest hand workman
ship. Comfy old oil paintings that
have melIowed into their surroundings
are huddled together like a flock OF
sheep. and the big, ceiling-high mirrors
have been compelled TO accept similar
touch of rudeness.
In the big parlor facing Vermont Ave
nue.. a touch OF the old dignity remains,
and some OF the choicest treasures of
the house are here displayed. But their
peace Is to be short-lived- Tomorrow
morning the auctioneer will shout out
their doom as II conducting a slave
mart. and an anxious. excited crowd Of
buyers will irreverently carry OF these
relics of elder days into the pitiless
glare Of the sunlight.
Even the ghosts are preparing to make
the getaway. The only hobgoblin who
has proudly announced to his fellows
that he is going to stay belongs 10 ].
Pierpont Morgan. Mr.. Morgan has an
nounced that he will consent to en-
gage a suite in the new Arlington only
on condition that II be an exact replica
Of his present one. He wants his fur
niture, his pictures, his walter, and his
barber intact. Otherwise he will seek
pastures new when he comes to Wash
ington His wish will be compiled with.
and his suite will be the only suggestion
Of the '7Os IN the new house.
VIII Cost SS,OOO,OOO
June 1 the wrecker takes hold after
the auctioneer gets through, and IL IL
hoped that by Inauguration Day. 1913,
the magnificent 10000 hotel viii be in
shape for a gala opening. The new Ar
lington will be much larger than the
present one, and will take over the en-
tire row of structures in Street recent
ly occupied by George Washington Uni
versity.
The old hotel was erected in 1857, and
was opened to the public three years
later. An addition was constructed in
1880. giving the caravansary the full
sweep from 1 to H Streets. Mrs. 7. E.
Roessle. widow of the former proprietor.
and sister OF Manager Peter Taylor. IT..
is the owner Of the equipment, which
will be placed on sale tomorrow.
Manager Taylor leaves the Arlington
to assume charge of the Normandie,
across Mcpherson Square, in the fall.
The Normandie will be remodeled and
renamed. Clerks Breast and Heath will
follow him across the square.
The old employees, including Harry
Hand. who has been a faithful servitor
of the Arlington for quarter Of a CEN
fury, were almost in tears last night,
for the old lobby looked bleak and desc
late. To-day is their last among scenes
they have known and loved well.
The Arlington Hotel and its site has
been Identified with the history of the
country since President Washington de-
fined the boundaries OF Lafayette Park,
on which It stands, when he selected the
site for the Executive Mansion In 1880
At the time OF the American Revolu-
ton the site OF the hotel was a part OF
David Burns farm. II was destined early
to be the place of residence Of the most
famous leaders in war and diplomacy.
- k,,EI
Of the park which Washington had
named for Lafayette.
Three Stately Residences.