C arl Hollywood was awakened by a ringing in his ears and a burning in 
his cheek that turned out to be an inch-long fragment of plate glass driven 
into his flesh. When he sat up, his bed made clanking and crashing noises, 
shedding a heavy burden of shattered glass, and a fœtid exhalation from 
the wrecked windows blew over his face. Old hotels had their charms, but 
disadvantages too—such as windowpanes made out of antique materials.