The Washington herald., 1921-01-23
PHOTO-NEWS PAGE
SUNDAY. JANUARYfss, Isar.
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NEW YORK, Jan. 23.-People rush
to the whirling metropolis, register
at the giant caravansaries, are
ticketed and numbered, shunted of
to a dizzy elevator and shot up
twenty or more floors to their
rooms. It is all systematized-but
there is no atmosphere Of welcome
such as used to be dispensed before
Manhattan Island became too big
for its population.
A group of old timers were dis
cussing the hotels Of yesteryear the
other day. They spoke of the old
Saint Nicholas in Cincinnati. a fine
hOlstelry in its day, where there
was no long line of waiting to
register and the clerk called the
patron by name. 1t was the Ritz
of its period.
The Fifth avenue in New York
was a honey sort of place and at
night Tom PIatt and his satellites
gathered in the Amen Corner and
made political history. Trunks
were piled high in the lobby which
was spacious. The Grand Union
dispensed by Simeon Ford, a hotel
character.
Men who travel declare that Pas
adPna, Cal. has the three finest
hotels in the world today in the
Maryland. Huntington and Green.
OF course, they have the advantage
of having spacious lawns and
beautiful scenic backgrounds and
private golf courses. That would
be impossible in New York, but
New York could dispense the same
brand of hospitality and make the
patron feel that he had really ar
rived at home.
Generally speaking. the rule
among New York hotel clerks is
to appear naughty and make the
patron feel that a great privilege
is being bestowed in permitting
him to register. That might have
been all right during the war. when
men with fat bankrOlls SLEPT on
railroad station benches, but it won't
DO now with entire floors of some
Of the hnirIs vacant.
The general complaint Is that
New York hotels are too large and
it is true. Cesare Ritz. the great
Swiss hotel keeper, would never
build a hotel with more than 500
rooms and made the restaurant, the
most important feature. knowing
that people will always 60 where
food is good
\ new York hotel recently an
neXed a nearby hotel There is
one big restaurant where food
prices are high and there is an
other restaurant obviously leased
to outsiders where the food is
cheap. It is said the food all
comes from the same kitchen and in
that way they foil the cheap lunch
rooms which abound in the neigh
borhood.
Speaking for myself. I believe
the best hotel in the world is at
Plattsburg. Missouri. 1t is called
the LacIede. It used to be run
by my father. My preference for
it is because I could eat there free
and also swipe a cigar from the
case on the desk.
Among the hotels mentioned by
the old timers as having atmos-
phere today were The Roubidoux
St. Joseph, Mo: st. Francis, San
Francisco: The Cliff House in Colo
rado. The st. Charles, New Orleans;
blackstone. Chicago; The Hollenden,
Cleveland: The Boody House, To-
IedO, and. Of course. the Maryland
Huntington and Green in Passa-
dena-
new York boy traded a pair of
SIS ice skates presented to him
at Christmas for a pair of old
roller skates. His parents do not
know whether he showed business
aCumen or not. but they must con-
fess that up to date there has been
no signs of ice for Ice skating
purposes.
Cne thing that is safe in New
York despite the crime wave. That
is the elevator. Elevator accidents
average only one fatality for every
S7.5OO,OOO persons transported. An
average of 100000 ride on New
York elevators daily.
The word pal" is becoming op-
probrious. 1t used to signify a
rare friendship, but of late every
New York newspaper contains news
OF a 'Gangster Killed by Pal" In
fact, nearly all the murders are
committed by pals" and nearly all
the thieves are given over to the
police by pals"
Two young stenographers found
themselves out Of jobs in the re-
cent slump. They were experts
at making homemade candy and SO
they pooled their small savings and
opened a candy store near an ex-
elusive East Side section. In two
months they have rented an ad-
Joining store. installed marble fix
lures and have six employees. Last
week they were invited to return tc
their old positions at a reduced
salary. They motored down, gave
their former employers the Ritz
stare and exited laughingly.
Recent numbers of theatrical
weekIies typify the optimism OF
the theatrical world in face OF 9
season of layoffs. The professional
cards breathe the same spirit OF