HOTELS IN AMERICA. The public house, or hotel, was established in the early days of the colonies to afford accommodation for those who might be compelled to journey from one place to another. As roads were poor, in those days, and stage transportation was slow, many of these houses were opened along the principal roads, or turnpikes, and the majority of these so-called inns bore such names as 'King's,'" °Queens," uThe Red Lion," etc. As public opinion changed, however, and the colo nies inaugurated their revolt against the Crown, there was a corresponding change in the names of these hotels which brought them into closer harmony with the spirit of the times. From being mere public houses, wherein beds and food might be obtained by travelers, they be came the meeting places of patriots, so it was but natural that the portrait of Washington, or of some other great American, should have taken the place of that of George III, and other royal personages, on the swinging signs before these doors. As time passed and the patriotic spirit rose to greater heights, these inns became the scenes of many events that brought them into the closest relation with the progress of the Revolutionary period and with the forma tive days which followed the declaration of peace. There was, for example, the City Tav ern, in Philadelphia (1775), at which General Washington was frequently a guest ; the Bunch of Grapes Tavern, Boston, where he enjoyed that *elegant dinner provided at public expense, while joy and gratitude sat on every counte nance and smiled in every (28 March 1776) ; the True American Inn, at Trenton (1777) ; Arnold's Tavern, Morristown; Suf fern's Tavern, Smith's Clove, N. Y.; the Buck Tavern, near Philadelphia; Smith's Tavern, Smith's Clove, N. Y. (1779) ; the tavern at East Chester, N. Y., where he was ill (1780) ; the Fountain Inn, Baltimore (1781) ; Day's Tavern, Harlem, where he stopped with Gov ernor Clinton (1783) ; Fraunces Tavern, New York, where, in the assembly-room, he bade farewell to the men who had followed his for tunes so faithfully; Mann's Hotel, Annapolis, from which he proceeded to Congress on the day when he resigned his commission, and the City Hotel, Alexandria, where he was after ward entertained by the Alexandria Lodge, of which he was a member. The tavern at East
Chester, where' Washington stayed during his illness, was erected soon after the beginning of the 17th century. At one time Lafayette was entertained in the house, and, for a season, .it was practically the seat of the national govern ment, President John Adams having taken refuge at East Chester during the yellow fever epidemic at Philadelphia, then the Federal capi tal. This tavern now stands within the New York city limits, and the rooms which have the greatest historic interest still preserve the same appearance which they had in those old days.
Among the other taverns of the country which are rich in historic memories, but which were not directly associated with the career of the first President, were the Catamount Tav ern, at Bennington, Vt.; George Burns' Coffee House, in New York, long the lounging place of the British officers, although privately fre quented by the Sons of Liberty during the occupation of the city by the British; the Tun Tavern, Philadelphia, the house in which the first Masonic lodge in America was organized; the City Tavern and the Bird in Hand, at Rich mond, Va., and the Rose Tree Inn, at Media, Pa.
The first hotels in this country were con ducted on the so-called American plan, which provided a fixed price for a day and for each fraction of a day. In those times $1 a day was considered a °good round price," and taverns were ordinarily so small that one which was provided with 20 rooms was regarded as a most commodious house. The rooms were usually comfortable, however, and were neatly, if plainly, furnished with strongly made furni ture. Carpets were rarely found, although hand woven rag-rugs frequently appeared on the floors. Meals, which were served at fixed hours only, were announced by the ringing of a bell or gong, and all guests were expected to re spond as quickly as possible. The table was abundantly supplied with dishes that were both substantial and palatable, the cooking being done by the wife of the landlord, with such assistants as the patronage of the inn might authorize, and while meat dishes predominated, game was so plentiful that its appearance at tracted no comment.