HOTEL. CECIL PASSES

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1004, 21 June 1930, Page 30

HOTEL. CECIL PASSES

PETROL REPLACES PEOPLE A sad-faced porter stood at the doors of the Hotel Cecil, London, says a writer in the “Daily Chronicle.” “You'll find the sale room just along there, sir.” and with frigid dignity, he pointed to the Palm Court, writes a “Daily Chronicle” representative. “A bad day, this, sir,” he added, softly, as he watched the hard-headed, hard-hatted furniture dealers prodding some of the chairs that stood in the lounge. “A very bad day . . .” It was the first day of the sale of furniture in the famous London hotel which is to become the headquarters of a big petrol concern. Rooms that had sheltered royalty were being investigated by curious buyers. CARPET FOR £9 9s In the Palm Court, the only part of the hotel that seems to have retained its rather forlorn dignity, an auctioneer sat at his table iu the corner. “A very fine carpet, this,” he was saying. “What bids?” And .a very fine carpet fell for nine guineas. Men wpo, with raised fingers, were putting up the prices of dressingtables, bedsteads and chairs by halfguineas, crowded forward. In the background less pushing men were standing, making no attempt to bid. They were matching the end of a favourite London haunt. I watched one of these men edge forward through the crowd. He tapped a dealer on the shoulder, and, after a few words, retired to his corner. As the dealer walked over to him, he murmured, vaguely, "Memories, you know, are precious things.” Nearly twelve thousand lots are to be sold from the famous hotel before it is left an empty cave of forgotten glory; before Petrol stejjs in where People have stepped out.