FLOATING HOTELS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12859, 6 May 1905, Page 2 (Supplement)

FLOATING HOTELS.

HOW THE ARBUCKLE PLAN WORKS. John' Arhucklk's "deep sea hotels" in New York arc rapidly filling up with guests, and before the coming of summer there will probably be the full quota of one hundred young women aboard the .Jacob A. Stamler,

the flagship of the hotel fleet, and fifty men aboard the smaller vessel, the John A. Wise, while Mr. Ai'buckle's yacht will probably be pressed into service. Just now the

hotels are tied hard and fast to the wharf. Next summer they will sail off down the Hudson and out into the bay every even-

ing, returning in the morning in time to enable the guests to go to their work.

Mr. Arbuckle explains the establishment of his unique deep sea hotels in this way: — "I have for several summer seasons given a series of free excursions that have been well patronised. But after the Slocum disaster I said I would never give another excursion. A short time ago I got to thinking that these three boats lying idle might be turned to account as hotels, where deserving young men and women might come ami live at greatly reduced cost. 1 believe I have the cost reduced to a minimum. The young women pay 40 cents a day, or 2dol. 80 cents a week, for board and lodging, while the young men pay 50 cents a day, or 3dol. 50 cents a week."

The thirty or more young women nowliving on the Jacob A. Slander say they have found life aboard the floating hotel in the short time they have been there just 100 dear for anything." "It's so quiet here," said one young woman. "No rattle and roar from the street, you know. In summer it'll be just tine."

The floating hotel is unique among hosdries. There are no clanking elevators, no sleepy bellboys to be aroused by the cry of "Front" when a patron ■enters, and no "bid" is made for "transient trade." But the " service" is remarkably good when the low charge is considered. The ship is steam heated throughout, and is kept scrupulously clean. The cuisine, if not elaborate, is wholesome. Soup and beef, with vegetables, figure largely on the bill of fare mi weekdays, and on Sundays turkey and other treats are substituted. Nor are cake and pies left off the bill at the deep sea hotels just because the board is low. The diningroom is prettily fitted tip, and when tilled with the hotel's merry patrons it presents an animated picture. In the cabin there is plenty of good literature; also the newspapers and magazines of the day.

There is a piano aboard the floating hotel, and nearly every evening the girls have a "sing." On Sunday afternoons Mr. Ai'buckle himself plays while the girls sing. Games are played, and in various ways the winter evenings are passed pleasantly. But the girls arc looking forward anxiously to the coming of summer, and the trips the hotel fleet will make to Coney. Island, down the bay and up the Hudson, anywhere to set away from the heat and din of the city. Years ago, when sailing vessels were in their prime, the Stamler plied between Havre, France, and New York. Later .she went, into the China trade, and she still bears the scars of more than one raid made upon her by the pirates of the China Sea. After such 11, strenuous existence to he freighted with femininity and be carefully floated out a few miles from shore and 'back again may be & striking illustration of the peaceful tendencies of the times, but it i.perhaps just- as well that, like other ships, the Jacob A. Stamler cannot talk.