The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1913-05-30
old TIMERS SEE
AST0R HOUSE CLOSE
crowd sings "Auld Lang Svno"
Before Doors Are Closed
Forever.
BY CHINA As SOUVENIRS
Waiter. Thrown Ont of .Ioh,
Fats Last Sandwich in Fa.
nous Old Hotel.

Very -arly this m orning IN Irish v- 8
stradded high stool In the Astor II. =.
rotunda q nd com planned while he munctA4
~ sandwich Of his fate that he should o'i
live his Job and that the beer svrf..,
should run short at one and the Same
time For hours before the big room
now deserted had been crowded W..
men and women. They had conc t.
mourn the passing Of the famous Old
hotel There had been impronp,s
speeches much singing Of Aud Lang
Syne" and some scenes Of real pa'hos ss
the few old timers who staid on IN 70
last bade farewell to the place 'hevsno.A
of nnadectedlv as home
But the waiter was really the last 10 a.
and drink where famous men Of o'har
generations once dIued in state and o'ha,
famous but more hurried persons hava
often elbowed less known and eqral-
hurried ones at the high counters He
wasn't poetic figure. but he providei
the HI man element that made tho desoi,.
ton all the more desolate
YES. the last drink had been servai
the last plate Of soft clam souss devou-e1
and where ia more to lie hadA- tho fires
were drawn and there seemed no doubt
abou. It. the old Astor House was olos.d
and about 10 become the subject or con.
versations beginning: \ remember when
the Astor House. ac.." There were n 10
sure hopeful few who decided ha,
they wouldn't give up without ono la,t
attempt, This self appointed rescu.
band started in early yesterday getting
sig natures to petition addressed IN
faith er built the hotel in 1884 recitirs
the history Of the famous place and
asking Mr. Astor 20 'eu bnIft some propo-
sition 10 the present management which
will serve to maintain the .Astor House as
! il Is to-day and as our forebears knew II
and the present generation respect II
The petition had nearly 500 signatures
at midnight. which the management
considered the Official closing time, sven
| il some OF the veterans insisted upon
prolon ging their farewells
rhe real business of paying respects
to the place began at luncheon hour. Men
crowded about the counters IN the rotundR
until the ranks were four deep II was
estimated that 700 persons paid lunch
upstairs was also crowded and many
women stood al the doors waiting for
their turn at the tables. For some reason
the little room ON the Barclay street side,
| the one most used by the regulars. had
| few patrons.
As there was a demand for souvenirs,
| the comparatively few cupe, eaucers and
plates bearing gilt 4. d 'were put on
sale at the desk. where the clerk did .
brisk business.
There was a great demand Tor extra
copies of the -fairweu manu. card which
Manager Thurston had COTTON UP. THE
was the regular menu card wtth eight
pages inserted giving brief hlstory Of
, the. Astor House and piotuFee Of lts past
the hotel - IL appeared on tho day II
was opened 81 May 81. 1888. when The New
York Mirror spoke OF it a. This immensa
and imposing 5tfuoture--the most oom-
mAndinG edihce ever raised in America
except the capitol AZ WashingtonT
| The last man 10 register was Franc:s
J. Torrance OF Pittsburg. Pa. Tho clefk
wrote "P1nis' f-er his namesandrlossd
the book.