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the Swiss chalet and the Norway villa。 Here are expressed a quiet dignity； an unassuming luxury； and an appreciation of outing needs。 Not a Waldorf…Astoriaadmirable as that type is for the city but a big； country clubhouse； where the traveler seeking high…class accommodations also finds freedom from ultrafashionable restrictions。 You may wear a dress suit at dinner or not。 You may mix with the jolly crowd； or sit alone in a quiet nook。 You may lunch at almost any hour of the day or night。 You may dine with other guests； or enjoy the seclusion of a private dining…room。 Good fellowship perhaps best expresses the motto of El Tovar。
The hotel contains more than a hundred bedrooms。 Ample accommodations are provided for two hundred and fifty guests； and more can be comfortably housed in the annex； at Bright Angel Camp。 Outside are porches and roof gardens； from which one has wide views in every direction。 The inside finish is mainly of peeled slabs； wood in the rough； and tinted plaster； interspersed with huge wooden beams。 Triple casement windows and generous fireplaces abound。 Indian curios and trophies of the chase are used in the decorations。 The furniture is of special pattern。
El Tovar is more than a hotel； it is a village devoted to the entertainment of travelers。 Far from the accustomed home of luxury； money has here summoned the beneficent genii who minister to our bodily comfort。 Merely that you may have pure water to drink； it is brought from a mountain spring ninety miles away！ And that is only one of the many provisions for unquestioned excellence of shelter and food。 The hotel is conducted on the American plan。 The rates are four dollars a day and upwards。
The Rendezvous。 Leaving the train at the station； a short distance from the hotel； you proceed up a winding road to the main entrance； a hasty glimpse through low cedars revealing the far canyon wall。
Above the wide steps； and in front of the Norway gable； hospitably swings the Tovar coat…of…arms。 On the broad porch are numerous rocking…chairs and small tables； with a push…button handy for ordering light refreshments。 The porch corners are of solid rough masonry； built in old mission style； the arches wide and low。 The first impression is one of good cheer。 Once inside； the traveler will willingly linger a few moments in the Rendezvous or Nimrod's Cabin。 This is a large room； forty…one by thirty…seven feet； notable for uneven walls of dark stained fogs and bulky rafters。 In a huge corner fireplace； pine knots burn cheerily when the air is chilly。 Electric lights are placed in log squares； swinging from the low roof at the end of long chains。 Gray Navaho rugs cover the brown floor。 There are cosy tete…a…tetes and easy chairs。 On an upper shelf repose heads of the deer； elk； moose； mountain sheep； and buffalo； mingling with curiously shaped and gaudily tinted Indian jars from the southwest pueblos。 An old…fashioned clock ticks off the hours。 Several small escritoires remind you of letters to be written to the home people。 Recessed window…seats； partly hidden by red curtains； complete the picture。
What wonder that every morning and evening most of the guests gather in this roomthe ladies to read and gossip； the gentlemen to smoke and tell of their latest adventures。 Few country clubs have as pleasant a meeting place； yet it is only one of El Tovar's many allurements。
The Office and Ladies' Lounging Room。 Cross the western edge of the Rendezvous； and you are in the rotunda； the centre of the hotel's many activities and its very necessary hub。 Whether bound for dining…room or parlors； for guest chamber or amusement room； whether attracted by the click of billiards below； or the brightness of the roof…garden above；all paths here intersect。
On the first floor is the office。 A story above； reached by an easily ascended stairway； is the ladies' lounging room； nestled around an octagonal open space that extends from the office to the roof。
Just beyond are the art rooms； containing paintings and photographs of the Canyon； on the walls hang paintings of southwest scenery from the brushes of noted American artists； including some of Thomas Moran's masterpieces。 Yellow hangings and electric lights brighten the dark tones of the woodwork。
The Sleeping…Rooms。 There are more than a hundred of them。 They are found on all four floors。 The Arizona sunshine generously enters each one at some hour of the day。 Steam heat （automatically regulated）； electric lights and office telephones are providedwilling servants quickly to do your bidding。
On the first and second floors are forty…two rooms en suite。 There are twenty…one commodious bathrooms； white as snow and kept spotlessly clean。
On the office and first floors are two private parlors en suite。 The furniture is mostly of arts and crafts design。
Dining…Room。 When travel stains are removed； you are directed to the dining…room。 It is quadrangular in form； ninety feet long by forty feet wide； arched overhead； the roof supported by six huge log trusses。 Walls and trusses and roof are all finished in rough wood； and are as brown as a coffee berry。 The two fireplaces are built of gray sandstone。
A dozen electroliers of rustic pattern hang from the ceiling。 Electric wall lights and candelabra for the side tables complete the lighting。
Through any of the many triple windows may be seen the large…eyed stars； for here the sky seems to bend closer to earth than in lower altitudes。
The tables are adorned with glass； silver and flowers。 You also notice old brass dishes； antique Dutch and English platters； and Indian ollas； displayed on the plate rail。
Well…trained waitresses； in white uniforms； deftly serve the meal； which is Harvey's best。 While you are leisurely dining； it is pleasant to look around and see who your neighbors are。 They have come here from every sectionperhaps a New York or Chicago banker； a Harvard professor； an Arizona ranchman； an English globe…trotter； and a German savant。 Pretty women and lovely children complete the picture。
The dinner itself is prepared under the direction of a capable Italian chef； once employed in New York and Chicago clubs。 He presides over one of the most complete and up…to…the…minute hotel kitchens in the United States。
On the right of the main entrance is a small breakfast room； tastefully decorated in fifteenth century style。 On the left is a private dining…room； whose wall decorations mainly consist of Indian deer hieroglyphics； reproduced from old pictographs in Mallery Grotto。
The Music…Room and Solarium。 At the end of the north wing； on the office floor； fronting the Canyon's abyss； is a spacious room devoted to refined amusements。 The wall decorations are of gold； trimmed in old ivory； imitating fifteenth century leather。 Sunshine streams in from numerous windows。 The music…room is so admirably located and so daintily furnished； that it is a favorite resort for lovers of music； cards； and dancing。
Where the south wing terminates； and on the office floor； is a sunny； glass…enclosed nook； open on three sides and sheltered from cool north winds。 It is called the solarium or sun…parlor。 To this retreat come the ladies； with sewing baskets and book