Year: 1878

FAILURE Of THE WOMAN'S HOTEL.


A PARADISE THAT EVE REFUSES TO ENTER


BECAUSE ADAM ISN'T THERE.


Mrs. A. T. Stewart, bitterly disappointed,
has made up her mind, after two months ex-
perience, that the Woman's Hotel experiment
is complete failure. She has, therefore, con-
cluded to abandon it, and will open the edi6ce
to the public, on or about the 9th of June,
as commercial hotel.


Judge Hilton, when approached on the sub.
ject, said that Mrs. Stewart was very much
grieved at the failure. She had expected
grand results from the enterprise, had taken
room in the hotel for her own exclusive use,
and had hoped to spend the remainder of her
days in the midst of those of her sex whom
her husbands philanthropy had surrounded
with all the comforts of life. But after all
that had been done, and after the enormous
expenditures that had been made, the women
could not be brought to appreciate the hotel
and patronize it in sufficient numbers to war
rant running it any longer for the exclusive
benefit of women.


Mr.. Stewart conceived the plan of the Wo-
mans Hotel about fifteen years before his
death. The more he thought of the project,
the more firmly he became convinced that it
could not fail of being grand success. He
consulted with his friends about it, and could
find no one among them who would take any
stock in his pet theory. Every one he talked
to discouraged the idea, but opposition only
strengthened his own opinions on the matter.
He set to work to perfect grand plan, which
the hotel, as it stood when opened two months
ago, accurately embodied. The building was
begun in January, 1869, and took nine years
to construct. 1t cost to build, finish and fur
nish just $3,7OO0OO 1t was to be the largest
hotel in the world, perfectly 6re-proof, and to
be furnished in style of comfort and luxury
unprecedented. The lobbies and Railways
were to be adorned with soul lptures and paint
ings by the best masters, and the library was
to be equal to public library, and tc con-
tain every publication which any woman could
desire to read. The courtyard in the centre
of the structure was to be as inviting as the
science of horticulture could make such a
place. In order to afford exercise during un-
pleasant weather, every floor was to contain
600 feet of promenade in the shape of con-
tinuous Railways, beautifully furnished, and
made as attractive as possible. Such great
care was to be taken in every detail to make
the establishment thoroughly woman's
abode, that every chair on the marble floors
was to be booted with rubber, so that there
could be no "screechng" to pain sensitive
nerves. Mr.. Stewart used to 60 to the build
ing every day, and as he saw it advance, he
became correspondingly happy. He used to
say "That hotel will make 1000 working
women happy and independent. If it sue
ceeds, the example will be initiated. 1t will
be woman's kingdom, where those of them
who wish to be alone can be 30. 1t will prove
whether the sexes can live apart, and whether
or not it will be better for them to do so,
whether or not they will choose to-" Judge
Hilton, as Mr. Stewards business manager,
never believed in the enterprise. He often
attempted to dissuade Mr.. Stewart from the
undertaking, but without success. Mr.. Stew
art, by his will, provided amply for the fur
nishing of the hotel, and for its running ex-
penses until it should either succeed or fail


FAILURE AS A WoMANs HOTEL.


"Judge Hilton said "The Woman's Hotel
is failure as woman's hotel. There is no
doubt of it, Mrs. Stewart has come to that
conclusion, and the experiment will be at
once discontinued. AS manager of the estate
it devolves upon me to save the estate from
being burdeued by any additional expense
by turning the hotel to some profitable use 1t
will, therefore, be opened as commercial
hotel on or about June 5. The changes of
structure essential are now going on as rapid.
ly as possible A smoking-room is being 6t-
ted up, as also billiard room, barber shop
and saloon. The furniture and all else will
remain as they are, except in some important
things. A freer access will be made to the
courtyard by surrounding it with balconies
and steps so that it can be made more easily
reached than now, as it will undoubtedly be
the favorite lounging place of the new guests.
Mr. Stewards wishes and vii! have been car.
ried out to the last letter. He intended it
for the very class of women we find will not
patronize it. There are $3,700,000 invested
in the hotel. No return was ever expected
on this. The amount was devoted to the ex-
pertinent. The annual interest on that amount,
S259,0OO, represents the additional yearly
gift which would willingly have been al.
lowed the scheme forever if it could have been
made selfsustaining. There is no structure
like it in the world none so beautiful, safe
or comfortable; none wherein women could
have enjoyed the material comforts of life to
such advantage Every room is differeny
from every other; the furniture and fixtures
were all designed and made especially for the
Womans Hotel. The library was vast, the
works of art unsurpassed, and there were over
100000 worth of oil paintings by the best
masters on the walls. The richest women in
this country have no better parlors or bed
rooms, and no place in the world can produce
better cooking service. But it is failure.
III tell you why. 1t is very simple and very
natural. l believe that you cannot get wo-
men to accept any bel p based on the condition
of separation from the other sex. You can't
run hotel for women successfully and keep
away the men. Women will not be kept
from the other sex. I am convinced that
they cannot be tempted by any comforts and
luxuries to stay or live away from the other
sex. You can run hotel for men exclusive
ly-but for women you can't l believe that
the majority Of women not over fifty years of
age entertain some hopes Of union, and a
great many over that age do; and you can
not do anything for them fyou make the con-
dition impair their chances in the least. The
failure of the Woman's Hotel will be world
wide example too for phlanthropists. 1t is a
terrible disappointment to all interested. I
am not greatly surprised at the failure. But
l have done my full duty in the face of con-
viction of inevitable failure. The scheme has
not been understood. Some have thought the
hotel was to be working girls home. 1t
was for the very class we tried to get and
which wouldn't come. Mr.. Stewart express
ly provided that the place should be for ladies