THE MAMMOTH HOTELS OF PARIS AND SAN FRANCISCO COMPARED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 204, 26 September 1878, Page 4

THE MAMMOTH HOTELS OF PARIS AND SAN FRANCISCO COMPARED

A correspondent of the Philadelphia Times writes a letter descriptive of the Continental Hotel/.Paris, which was opened for guests June sth, and speaks of it as the most magnificent hotel in the world. In his letter he says : "It cost twenty million francs, or four million dollars, and is six storeys in height. It contains five hundred chambers for guests and employs two hundred and fifty servants of all classes." If the correspondent were familiar with American hotels he would know that the Palace hotel of San Francisco is seven storeys high, and that it cost 5,500,000 dols., and has 755 rooms above the grouud floor for gueste exclusively. The Palace, in the midst of the dullest season of a dull year, has 274 employes of all classes. The correspondent says, further, of the great hotel of Paris, that it has three passenger elevators and four for baggage within the building, and one other without, which carries people up to the coffee and billiard room up to the top of the house, and from which there is obtained a good view The Palace has five passenger elevators and one double decker for baggage. Erora the walks and observatories of the roof the guests have a grand view of a picturesque country. The Continental Hotel of Paris is ventilated and heated by steam, the machinery for which cost 20,000 dols. There is machinery for heating and ventilating every room of the Palace, and every room ha 3 a fireplace. The cost of heating and ventilating apparatus was not less than 200,000d015. The gasometer of the Continental supplies GOO burners inside the building, while tliß courtyard is lighted by electric light The Palace has no less than 10,000 gas burners inside, and in the grand central court there are more than 500 burners. The dining-room of the Paris hotel seats three hundred people. The Palacel dining-hall accommodates nearly twice that number. The silverware of the Continental is valued at 450,000 francs. The Palace silverware is of equal value. The correspondent, describing the furniture of the Paris caravansary, says : — " The salons and chambers are finished and furnished in the most gorgeous style. The grand salon, with bridal chamber attached, is finished in modern renaissance and upholstered in crimson and gold. Another parlor, called the salon of Louis XIV., is in the style of that period — the panel paiutings, by the best artists of Paris, represent nuptial scenes of that day. A single pair of curtains cost 3000 francs (GOOdols.) The mantel, of variegated black marbel, reaching nearly tQ jijio ceiling, brts iv cenjirepieco of a

mythological subject exquisitoly carved. Between the two courtyards is a large conversation-room. The ceiling Is painted by Mayerolle, a distinguished ar ist, and finished in gilt, while numerous statues, or marble pedestals, adorn the side walls Adjoining is the winter garden, finished in Moorish style, with reading-rooms for ladie3 and gentlemen on either side. The diningroom, to seat three hundred persons, is finished in the same general styJe, and adorned with paintings and Gobelin tapestry. The ceiling of the breakfast - room is painted by Luminiaa to represent hunting scenes in the time of Henry 11.. is wainscoated in ebony, inlaid with red copper, and the walls are hung with leathern Jtapestry. The chandeliers are made after antique patterns The cafe and billiard-room are also finished in the style of Henry 11, and the furniture is of solid walnut, covered with crimson velvet. The desk is an elegant piece of carved walnut, with a violet-colored Breche marble slab. The caryiog of the desk alone cost £1000 " All ot the rooms of the Palace Hotel are furnished with rich carpets and curtains, and furniture of beautiful designs. Without going into a detailed description of the parlors and reception rooms, it may be safely said that it is of the richest kind manufactured. In the decoration work of the artist, the Continental Hotel may surpass the Palace, but when the art treasures of the Palace Villa— the Belmout country place— are counted as belonging to the Palace, the advantage possibly rests with San Francisoo. Paris is certainly a good place to enjoy life and spend money, and the Exposition, according to all accounts, is worth seeing, but when one wants to see the best thing in hotels that the world has ever produced he must visit San Francisco. Even the Palmer House of Chicago is equal in size, splendor, and cost to the best hotel in Paris.