The Washington herald., 1918-12-14

Special Correspondent of TIE Washington Herald
New York, Dec. l3.-This is not a
olurb for the Knickerbocker Hotel On
account OF its location 1t is always
niied and needs no free putting from
me. Situated at the corner Of Broad
way and Forty-second street, the busi-
est spot in New York. Il Is. as a fa-
nous traveller once said. at the top
of the world"
Jim Regan runs the knickerbocker,
the ground belonging to the Astors.
Regan Is probably the most indepen-
dent hotel keeper in the world. lie
started as poor boy on the East
Side. He occupies a nine-room apart
ment on the second floor at Broadway
and Forty-second street. Mrs. Regain
takes an active part In the maEage-
ment.
Regan will not stand nonsense from
any one--that includes his guests. The
knickerbocker is In the very heart or
the White Light district. The lobby Is
small, but men and women of every
type and description drift through the
lobby daily. Naturally, unless shrewd-
ness was exercised the hotel would
become the prey OF New York's para
sites
Every man who works at the
Knickerbockcr for three years be-
comes suspicious of every one" for!
mer employe told me. The Knicker-
booker guest gets perhaps the best
service in the world. He must pay
for 1t, but he gets 1t. Regan makes
his din!ng-rooms and cafes pay. Other
hotel men say they cannot.
Every room in the hotel Is fitted up
in elegance. There are bathrobes.
comb and brush, shaving cream, laun-
dry bag. handsome vases, famous
paintings, leather writing pads. etc.
for the guest. 1t Is a bad place for
the souvenir hunter.
For instance, Il departing guest
decides to take a keepsake in the way
of leather writing pad, he will be
surprised upon reaching the desk to
have the clerk say firmly. The writ
ing pad you took from your room will
cost you $40. sir
The process is simple. There Is a
telephone exchange on every floor
There Is n maid to almost every room.
! The maid is responsible and under
bond for every article in the room.
The minute the guest departs she hur-
ries into the room. takes in everything
at a trained glance and II anything Is
missing notifies the operator who in
turn notifies the front office.
II guest comes in with light bag
gage, every one who should know II
knows it. and it is said that no pro-
fessional hotel beat" ever defrauded
Regan. If there is anything shady
about guests, Regan will ask them to
leave. preferring to face a libel suit
rather than tarnish the good name of
his hotel. He has had one libel suit
and that was brought by a famous
French actress who later developed
to be a demi- mondaine. Regan resign
ed from the hotel association Of New
York for many years because he want
ed to do things as he liked. He will
not be dictated to.
He is a small. smOoth-shaven mana
gifted talker when he is properly in
spired He may be seen almost any
evening in the lobby. DIRE essed in a we'll
fitting Tuxedo Many of his employees
have been with him for years. Regan
has only one rule. one employe told
me: DO what you are told or get
out" Even wrong order must be
carried out. and Regan will willingly
Shoulder the blame. but if the man
fails to carry out the wrong order he
is fired But 1t might be added that
Regan is very seldom wrong.
New York is party mad. Every
body is giving a party for some re-
turning soldier or sailor. Private ban
Quet rooms cannot be secured and ta-
bles in cafes are at a premium as the
result of the craze to entertain. There
is little drinking done in contrast with
the pre-war days. The war has had
its SOLDERING influence. New Years
Eve it is believed will be celebrated
with more viRor than ever. but there
will be less wine buying. Thanksgiv-
ing Day was one of great celebration.
but there was little drinking. Sweet
cider was the favorite tipple.