VOL.- II., NO. 8.
PINEHURST, N. C, DEO. 10, 1898.
PRICE THREE CENTS.
THE BERKSHIRE OPENS.
Pinehurst's New Hotel1 Is Now
; Readyi for Business.
A Handsome Structure, Finely Furnished,
and Under Efficient Management.
Large Dining Facilities Make it Possible to
Supply Cottagers with Table Board.
The latest addition to Piuehurst's long
list of hotels, "The Berkshire," opened
its doors to the public yesterday morn
ing, under the management of Mr. W. li.
Peek.
During the short history of our village
the constantly increasing number of
people who have found in Pinehurst their
ideal of a beautiful, quiet, healthful
winter resort, has each year taxed to the
utmost the capacity of our hotels and
cot ta ires. With each succeeding season
enlarged accommodations have been pro
vided, only to find a host of old and new
visitors waiting to occupy them. While
the proportions of the Holly Inn have
been annually growing larger, and
several new hotels of smaller dimensions
have been erected, the Casino cafe, our
popular village restaurant, has received
no additions and for several seasons has
been unable to supply the wants of many
of those who lodge in the numerous
apartment houses, and of a. large portion
of our cottagers who prefer to take their
meals out. There has been a growing
demand for another hostelry with nice
appointments and quiet, homelike sur
roundings, where refined people of mod
erate means could tind a pleasant winter
home. To meet the wants of this class
of people and to provide dining accom
modations for many of our villagers who
do not care to prepare their own meals,
Mr. Tufts has erected this new inn,
which can comfortably care for about
sixty guests.
The "Berkshire' is located on Magno
lia road, and embraces within its limits
what were formerly the "Oaks" and the
"Hanover." The hotel proper is located
between -these t wo popular boarding and
apartment houses and is connected with
them at the front in such a way as to
practically niake one building,- While on
the back the edifice is arranged in three
sections, so that all parts may receive an
ample supply of pure air and sunlight.
On entering the main doors we find
ourselves, in a siaeious hall -with the
ain staircase on tie left and ladies' par
!r to the right, wh'le directly in front is
I he entrance to the j: lining room.
The parlor is a, br ght cozy apartment,
handsomely furnished, with a large open
fireplace of finished brick on one side.
.Just beyond is the reading and writing
room which connects the main building
with what was formerly the "Hanover."'
The two sides of the room are composed
wholly of windows, making it especially
light and pleasant. It is well fitted up
with writing tables, easy chairs and
everything necessary for the comfort and
convenience of those who care to use it.
Opening ofi' this room is the office and
smoking room.
In all of the hostelries of the village
special efforts have been made to have
the diningjooms particularly attractive,
and that of the "Berkshire"' is no excep
tion. This is a fine, well lighted apart
ment 38 by 5G feet, with 11 foot stud
ding, and is finished in handsome North
Carolina pine. A large (men fireplace of
finished brick is located at one end,
where, on cool days, the blazing fat pine
logs will diffuse a pleasing warmth and
light and add to the coin fort and pleasure of
the diners. About one hundred people can
be seated at the tables in this room and
it is expected that many of our cottagers
and others who lodge outside will avail
been thoroughly renovated and all the
rooms in the inn and annex cottages are
heated with steam and lighted by elec
tricity.
The building was erected by Mr. J. X.
Longest, whose name is synonymous for
good work; the steam heating and elee
trical apparatus were installed by Pine
hurst's electrical engineer, Mr. A. C.
Butler, whose work has been pronounced
first class; and our genial village super
intendent, Mr. C. I). Benbow, with his
usual care has supervised the whole and
seen that all the little details have been
fully carried out.
Mr. W. B. Peck, the manager, is a well
known hotel man and proprietor of the
Mt. Everett House, in the Berkshire
Hills at South Egremont, Mass., where
he has catered to the wants of the sum
mer population for over twenty-five
years. During this long period a large
portion of his patrons have returned
from year to year, and many of those
who now spend the heated term at his
hostelry are the children or grand-child
ran of those who were among his first
iruests. Each season he is obliged to
themselves of the excellent cuisine and
service provided, and obtain their meals
here. The sides of this room contain
numerous large windows, while myriads
of electric lamps depend from the ceil
ing, providing an abundance of light
both day and evening.
Back of the dining hall is the serving
room containing a steam table of the
latest model and every convenience that
s necessary for the proper serving of the
food. .Just beyond is a large kitchen fit-
edwitha double French range, Acme
oven, charcoal broiler and all the appur
tenances needed to supply the wants
of the expected host of hungry guests.
dioining is a fine pantry well fitted up,
with refrigerating facilities connected.
The second floor has nice, large, well-
lighted sleeping rooms handsomely fur
nished, with fine niatresses and springs
:md provided with . good sized closets.
Several first class bath rooms are also
located on this floor.
The main building is connected with
the "Oaks" by a covered piazza, and is
joined to the "Hanover" by the reading
ooni, as previously siareu. spacious
eranda runs along nearly the whole
front of the inn, from which there is a
fine view across the lawns to the pine
r.M. 111 To iirki'Pl' VP
grove, rue wiiKi miu n''
quarter many of his boarders in cottages
about the village, and even then, owing
to the lack of accommodations, he gen
erally finds it necessary to turn away
about as many as he has provided
for.
Many of those who spend their sum
mers with Mr. Peck at his northern home
have signified their intention of passing
the winter season with him here in the
Southland. He is constantly receiving
inquiries from people all over the coun
try, many of his rooms have already
been engaged, and after the holidays the
house will fill up rapidly.
Mr. Peck brings his help with him,
and many of them have been in his em
ploy for a long time. His cook is espec
ially competent and has remained with
him for over twelve years. The wait
resses are all white girls from the North
and his guests are assured of neat,
prompt and efficient service.
For this handsome and finely equipped
new hostelry, located in the midst of
our healthful pine-clad sand hills, with
pleasant surroundings and under such
efficient management, we predict a most
successful season one that will add to the
renown of our already famous village.
Send The Oftlook to your friends.
PERSIMMONS.
"Simmons seem to be as popular as
Pinehurst itself. I am told that there
are experts now among our guests who
can discern, even by taste, a puckering
persimmon from a sweet one. 'Simmons
are more plentiful this year than 'pos
sums, which fact indicates, according to
the prognostication of local forecasters,
that somebody has to saw wood before
spring.
Persimmons grow naturally on a tree,
but after we get a taste of them they
grow into our liking and heart, and our
hands will be shaking every time w e pass
a well laden 'simmon tree, for, as is well
known, the fruits must be "shaken be
fore taken." Vae rictis reads here proh
vivtix "the best are those which drop."
Persimmon trees generally appear in
groups, with distinct male and female
specimens ; the . latter ones of course
being preferable. If your ill star has
willed it that you have not yet seen a
persimmon you will, undoubtedly, go
abroad and hunt for one. The persim
mon forms a small tree of admirably
symmetrical proportions, and its trunk
has a grayish bark. The best proof,
however, that you have found what you
looked for, is that you see the branches
laden with brownish round plum-like
fruits, and that said fruits taste better
than nectar and ambrosia. The tree be
longs to the ebony family and botanists
call it DUtspyrox virytniana. It is grow
ing wild all over the Southland, and has
been found as far north as lUiode Island
and New York State. It cannot be relied
upon as hardy much beyond Philadelphia.
The leaves are very ornamental, bright
green and glossy, appear in earliest
slu ing and turn purple before dropping
in the fall. The modest greenish-white
flowers open in .June, are very fra
grant, and help the bees to produce the
famous persimmon honey.
The fruit grows very rapidly, and by
August it has attained its full size and
coloring. Some trees will be found
among others which need not wait for
frost to make their fruits palatable. Gen
erally, however, it is best policy not to
be too forward and to let well enough
and August persimmons alone until the
early frosts break their unqualified pride.
It is always a source of fiendish inter
est to the adept to watch a novice go
through the process of enjoying a puck
ering fruit. How the first delighted
exclamation about the pretty fruit
soon makes place to a woeful ex
pression or aistracuon upon uj
face of the student! That puckering
taste will not be easily forgotten; not at
least, until the green, plump fruit lias
been followed by a shriveled ripe one.
Then, indeed, persimmons will be pro
nounced "too sweet for anything," and
the former despiser will turn into an ar
dent admirer who will not mind even to
climb into a tree himself, just like a real
possum. 'Possums and "simmons were,