The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-01-09
CoPYRIGH 1887 BY JOHN BARR
(BY JOHN BARR

the Civil War period, the grand
dining room OF the old Fifth Ave-
nue. hotel was a splendid stage
upon which a daily drama Of ma
tional and worldwide interest
was enacted.
A list Of characters who APP
peared on that stage would run
into hundreds OF thousands.
Such a list would include the
leading American statesmen OF
the time-the Presidents from
Abraham Lincoln and General
Grant TO Theodore Roosevelt
other American notables and cell
ebrities OF every description-and
distinguished guests from abroad.
When the Fifth Avenue Hotel
was opened in 1859, and for a
long time afterward, 1t was re-
garded as the most magnificent
hotel In the world.
The building had cost five mil
lion dollars--an enormous sum at
that time. Ia was of white mar
ble-six stories high - facing
Madison Square-across the block
between 23rd and Oath streets at
the intersection Of Fifth avenue
and Broadway.
First Elevator
Among the conveniences, that
the world had never seen before,
was the first passenger elevator
ever installed. And among the
first guests to ride on this devil
ishly clever Yankee contraption
and enjoy the hospitality Of the
whole blooming OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
the very popular young Prince Of
Wales, later King Edward VII.
who though born In royal pail
ace--and all his sisters and his
cousins and his aunts sitting on
thr. mes and residing in castles
found here In democratic America
something new In luxury and
splendor.
OF course this was all 'front.'
page story for the newspapers,
and SO no wonder the world came
flocking to see for itself, and the
telegraph wires we're hot with Or
ders for reservations for brides
and grooms.
And the owner and builder, Mr..
Amos Emo, grandfather OF the
present picturesque Governor OF
Pennsylvania---Hon. Clifford Pin
chot) who had been called crazy
and his project 'Eno's Folly was
hailed as very far-sighted and
public spirited citizen.
And what contributed very
greatly to the immense success
of the Fifth Avenue Hotel was
the very competent management
of Hitchcock & Darling, lessees.
men of the very highest character
and ability who acquired large
wealth and were active In pro-
noting many Of the finest public
institutions In the city.
Cosmopolitan
The Fifth Avenue Hotel was
eminently respectable and never
encouraged the patronage Of the
fast element. And however O
guest might conduct himself OUT
side--within the walls Of that ho-
tel he had TO be on his good be-
havior. Great wealth or djstinc-
ton made no difference with the
management Of that hotel In this
respect, as was discovered by
more than one big gun who
oyer-stepped the bounds and got
q notice from the office to vacate
his room.
Until near the close Of It's
career the hotel was conducted
on the American PLANS q day
and upward for room and four
meals: breakfast, luncheon, din
ncr, and supper tbetween and
12). The food was of the very
best quality and there was no
limit as to quantity. The Fifth
Avenue Hotel never served q
guest a piece Of pie. II you or
dered Apple pie, a whole pie was
set before you. II you wished
two or more kinds at sitting
and no expressed yourself, your
waiter would spread them all be-
fore you without q smile. II was
all up TO you.
with the rapid growth OF the
city and increase OF travel. COM
petition was not long In coming
and the era OF great New York
hotels was speeded BY the open
ing OF the Waldorf In 1898.
But though passenger elevators
ceased TO be q novelty and the
European q Ia carte plan came
into vogue generally with the
new hotels-still the reliable Ole
Fifth Avenue Hotel held its pres
tige TO the end.
It was still going strong In the
middle nineties, when the writei
had the experience Of being .
permanent guest there for Q cou'
pie OF years and the good fortune
to sit at meals ut particularly
interesting table, where the stor'
les herein related were original
~ told.
liacketgs Table
The table was popularity known
IN the diningfooIn as 'Chariel
TiaCketts table. Charley Hack
afg hAixtN the Mar. fynnFiaa HACK,