The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-11-17
THE BAxE or THE RURAL HOTEL.

Editor Richard II. Edmonds of the Maaufac-
turcrs' Record has just completed motor trip
through North Carolina and evidently rubbed up
against some Of the worst of the rural hotels in
that State What he thinks about them he ex-
presses in terse English in his Notes by the Way
in Dixie always one Of the most interesting and
enlvening departments of that valuable publica
ton
Says Mr. Edmonds
And. speaking of hotels. there are fairly good
ones at Raleigh, but there is modern, fire.
proof up-to-date hotel there. just there is
none at many other thriving towns in the state.
Many of the hotels in the smaller places at which
the average travelling man has TO put up are
indescrbably bad, The drummer-aud it is the
drummers that crowd many OF the commercial
hoteIs-are surely to be pitied. The tourist or
the peasOre-seeker can 60 where he pleases, but
the drummer, or he has been called, the
angel of commerce, must keep everlastngiy at
IT, regardless of the dscomforts of some Of the
denominations that bear the name of hotels. At
little town on the way between Raleigh and
Fayetteville, few days ago, the writer, seeking
a midday meal asked for the best hotel He
was directed to one. And when he tried TO eat
the Stops set before the guests he was reminded
Of the story OF two drummers who met at the
train, coming the other leaving The
f newcomer asked the departing II he could
tell him the of the best hotel in town.
Yes said he, but / prefer not to do So for
II did you would call liar you
got there That would III the situation IN many
Of the little towns where dirty, unsanitaFy con
ditious and ntolerably bad food have 70 be en-
dured by the men who are developing the bust
Of the country as travelling statesmen. Surely
+ the Recording Angel ought to deal lightly with
some Of the bad words that may he uttered by
men who have endure these privations. In
stead of giving a wel-cooked meal Of few
eatabe things, many of these small hotels Will
put half dozen or more "canary-btr tathtubs'
around mans Plate hlied with impossible con
coctions which a sef-respecting pig ought
refuse
That's mighty plain talk, but it ought to have
been said before The truth might help to work a
reform if persistently told and there seems to be
no reason for sparing the feelings OF hotelkeepers
who prey upon the public. While the fare and
the lack of comforts are the chief indignites
heaped upon the traveller. the fact rankles in his
mind that the station agent and the clerk at tbs
neighboring store and yokel who works at the
dairy are boarded and lodged" for about 81
week, while the transient must pay s. day fol
the same accommodations,
However, the complaint is not confined to tn,
rural hotels OF North Carolina by any means
Brother Edmonds viii find them wherever he
goes in the rural South The wonder is that The
travelling men who have to make the small towns
are not a class o: confirmed dyspeptics at best
We venture the assertion that insofar as the
sanitation is concerned at least the rural hotels
OF Virginia far ahead OF those of any South
ern State for the reason that Virginia has laws
requiring rigid inspection. But unfortunately
these laws do not govern the menu.
Anyhow We are glad Mr.. Edmonds has brought
the matter to public attention and so forcibly
! What he says ought to have been said before anc
ow that It is said it should receive wide pub
IIcity.