El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-02-27


countries of South America
Hotel Life is Feature.
The hotel life is interesting. Take the
Bristol, at which ] stopping. 1t is the
most famous seaside hotel Of the Argentine,
having something like zoo rooms, with din
ing rooms and parlors so large that they
would cover at least half an acre. The hotel
is built something like a great Swiss chalet,
running in the shape of a half moon facing
the Rambla. The front is walled with
glass, and there is wide promenade un-
der cover. The promenade is filled with
gay!y dressed people at night. There are
dances in the enormous ballroom, and
gypsy band plays the music Of the tango,
the maXiNe and the popular fox trOts. You
but you will gind few { the tables before
9, and they do not get through until o.
The men all wear evening dress and most
of the women have low-neCked gowns, al
though many also wear hats
As / looked, I was surprised at the num-
ber OF families, and especially so when I
thought Of the cost This is a resort Of
the rich, or OF those who would seem so.
and viii starve half year to spend here
in great style. The prices at the hotel are
$40 and upward per person day. and the
estanciero with a family may know that it
costs him more than big fat steer for
every day that he stays. / am paying $50
a day for myself and stenographer a young
man of 20. For this we have a double
bedded room without bath, and the water is
brought in in a pitcher. The furniture OF
my room would not sell for more than $50
if put up at auction in Washington, and I
have, as the EngHshman says. TO pay
through the nose
Prices Are High.
But this is only one instance of the high
prices Of the Argentine republic and es-
pecially Of the prices at this seaside resort.
Nearly everything is imported, and if any
comment is made the merchants will talk
about the heavy freight rates the European
war and the duties For instance, a we'll
known tooth paste which you can buy any
where in North America for a quarter, costs
here one peso, or more than 45 cents.
Shaving soap is doubled in price, and safety
razors are away out of sight. Photographs
which one can buy almost anywhere in the
world for % cents, costs here $3.50, and
picture postcard photographs cost 40 cents.
Papers which sell for nickel in the United
states cost % cents at Mar del Plata, and
20 cent magazine costs half a dollar The
mobile taxicabs are comparatively cheap.
All kinds Of service is high. The rates for
shaving and haircutung are such that il
seems to me they almost charge by the
rate enqual to 25 cents for each nail on my
hands. I have been travelling out on the
estancias, and my finger nails were so rough
and stained that I asked the hotel porter to
send me manicure girl.t He replied that
there were few such in the Argentine and
added that it was hardly proper for a girl
to hold mans hand. He added however
that there were men who made manicuring
a profession, and that he would order one
to come to the hotel 1 assented. and in
due time came the manicure man with bag
holding his tools and his powders He was
charged me five Argentine dollars. equal to
about $3.50 OF our money. The same ser
vice in Boston, Philadelphia or WASHINGTON
would have cost me just SO cents.