The Hartford republican., 1913-09-12
IN HOTELS
HosteIries Now Provide Them for
Their Guests.
She Plans Shopping Tours, Purchases
Theater Tickets and Arranoes
Sightseeing Expeditions and
Otherwise Guides Patrons.

New York.-It is q long step from
the hotel of 20 years ago, which would
not receive q woman alone at night,
no matter what her appearance or her
necessities, to that of the big hotel
which provides a hostess. She has
nothing to do with the management
of the hotel Her duty is simply to
look after the comfort of the transient
women guests. The hotel clerk 10
supposed to know how to get any
where, from the Jumel mansion to
the Aquarium; he summons tailors
and taxis and ticket sellers. But
when II comes to women's clothes and
clubs even his bland resourcefulness
may be a trifie shaken. And SO enters
the woman hostess.
The first thing ! did was to circu-
larize all the women's clubs east OF
the Mississippi" she said. The club
women of New York have no head
quarters, and many out-oftown club
women who come here for week or
a month never get in touch with what
is going on in the club world here
at all.
Now, when a guest tells me she Is
from a club in Indiana | look her up
in my directory, and put her in touch
with the Daughters of Indiana here.
OF course, keep a careful directory
Of all club events and the concerts
and lectures that do not get into the
papers" Here. she displayed a large
blackboard in the women's writing
room, filled with a days program OF
New York clubs.
"Of course, keep in touch with
what Is going on at the theaters.
helped one Of the men guests to
choose seats the other day. He want
ed to take two ladies to the theater.
and in trying to find out what they
would prefer we got rather deep into
the psychology Of the feminine mind.
He said that he had never stopped to
think of what his guest might prefer,
but had always taken her to the musi-
cal comedies that he liked to see. 1t
is hard for q woman guest who has
not had time to read. the reviews to
choose a play that she will really en-
Joy, and make that sort Of decision
two. or three times an evening.
planning sightseeing itineraries IL
another regular part of my work.
Sometimes | send out woman guide.
and sometimes I simply write very
full directions about the proper side
| OF the street on which to take the
subway. A great deal of time can
be conserved in this way. The Other
day / sent a teacher who was here
for the weekend through Teachers
college with guide who took heI
through the whole building and ex
planned everything to her in about an
hour. Finding nurses, dentists. ocu'
lists and every sort Of supplies. from
millinery to rolling chairs. 10 com
monplace.
Making reservations on trains and
steamers and meeting incoming
guests when requested 10 q part OF
our daily routine.
| But even when q woman Is famil
lar with the city l feel that can dc
something for her by making her fee
that here In the midst of this great
hotel she may be quite comfortable
and secure. There are writing.rooms
reading-rooms. reception-rooms and q
library. And am here to show heI
how to make the most of all these
things, as we'll as Of what the city has
to offer, and to help her in any sud
den emergency that may arise"