The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-02
JOHN NC e. BOWMAN, HEAD OF COMPANY
THAT BUILT THE COMMODORE

=z==z=@ e.
n Railroad or Senator from over the
Ridge. You cannot afford to be SUI
perior or sullen with any Patron of
this Hotel. l said So"
1t is in an innovation OF service that
Mr. Statler thinks he has the most dis
tinctive thing in q new hotel. He be-
lieves that the one thing which causes
more trouble in hotels than anything
else is the possibility that soon after
a man has registered at hotel some
one may call him from outside and be
told that he Is not there yet. because
OF fault in the system. To obviate
this. he has provided that the clerk
shall always ask the mans name and
then repeat it in this way:
! Brown, ]. w, Chicago, Ill, room
/ 1872 price 81. Is that right"
\ The man says It IS While the clerk
has been repeating this two girls at
! his side take 1t down. 1t is immedi-
ately manifolded and sent to the room
index, the telephone informs ton desk
and every other place In the hotel
where information might be asked
about this guest.
N''4hN hitiI 10 just ob'ul as
proof as anything can be" he said.
land II will be n hit. 1t is Of littlo
things like that that hotels success
! Is built"
The Pennsylvania Is about as dif-
! ferent in plan and design from the
Commodore as n hotel could be, al
though the ideals back of the different
arrangements are the same. Each
aims To give Il distinctive atmosphere
and neither looks upon itself as COM
peting with the other. OF course the
widely separated locations have somc-
thing to do with that, but the real req.
son lies deeper, and only an inspection
Of the two places can reveal just why
this is.
The Pennsylvania has a number uf
unusual things, such as a swimming
pool for men and one for women. u
shopping corner at one end of the
lobby gallery, a separate floor for din
ners and balls. TO which access is
gained by elevators used for nothing
else But it is In little things in the
bedrooms that one finds the most
striking conveniencos for the use OF
guests.
The Compodorc has continuance
by which the maid can tell by merely
pattinG her key in the door whether
the room is occupied The Ponnsyl-
van!a door is fitted with a button that
answers the maids inquiry IS mere
pressure of tho finger. without the NO.
ccssity OF inserting the key. At tho
base of the door is q small space wide
enough for a newspaper TO be pushed
through. and tho guest will find under
his door every morning paper
marked With the compliments Of tho
hotel"
Being NnIctcd by Unseen Hnndr.
The room door IS Of peculiar shape,
convex on both sides. and one learns
that II is known rs the "Sery,dor''
door. In It is what corresponds 10 4,
small closet, In which the guest can
place his suit to be pressed. his sho",,
to he cleaned, or his laundry Then
IN the night, or any time when he
rings the telephone and gives the or
der, a servant will unlock the outer
side Of the door. take out the suit o,.
laundry ana lock it again. The door
is so arranged that when tho outer
convcSity Is unlocked the inner ono
~'''''N ~ "p' tA>Si 81 ul no 1llne, OnlRSH
the guest So chooses, can the servant
gain entrance to the room. 1t gives
privacy and also obN iatcs the necvs-
sity OF tipping for minor services.
which Mr.. Statler feels the guest is
entitled to have without even the sug-
gestlon that tip Is in order
On each Iloor also Is n small pantry
and kitchen. in which standard break
lasts OF fruit, eggs, toast and coffee
can be prepared ana brought to the
room while Mr.. business Man Is stu
AT ms shave. No more than three
minutes ought 10 clapsc between the
giving OF an order ana the delivery
OF fit
So it is far cry from the nm.
tavern started by sam l'raunrcs e. the
TWO villages that have recently been
opened in the city. II spells the whole
n'tory OF tho development Of the New
YORK hotel and the development and
northward passage of the city Itself
sans heating apparatus was an upru
Grate, his. guests walked up stairs, and
II he conld haN" seen The aitomohiic
elevator in the Commodorc. which HTS
guests automobile - the ballroom
door. he probably would have consiI-
eTel himself quite mad, or dr,amiup