Stories from Deli

Mr. Editor! Although attention has already been drawn to the above-mentioned hotel several times in your paper, I still consider it desirable to make a few further announcements. Indeed, many a Delicaciesn, staying in Penang for a short or long time, gladly wishes to have a place where, besides the necessary rest, he receives inner refreshment. Without wishing, however, to criticize the existing hotels in any way — I must nevertheless express that this hotel is your hotel.

Numerous reasons support this. In the first place, it lies closest to the quay — secondly, it is under the sound management of persons very well known to our Delicacies — Messrs. W. Cornfield and W. Gubbi — the latter being the head chef of the Hotel de Boer! — and thirdly, it excels in every respect — space, amenities, furniture, food and drink, everything is top class.

Passing the corner of Leith Street and Northom Road, one sees on the left a grand Chinese house, which one would not mistake for a hotel were it not for the resembling letters on the side walls and on the roof of the canopy that draw attention to it. Entering through the stately gate, one comes under a spacious mat leading to the vestibule, offering ample room for chatting guests. This follows the large hall—with large rooms opening onto it on either side. Veils, mirrors, glass chandeliers for electric light, fine furnishings, etc., make you forget you are in a Chinese house—although the massive paneling, the paintings, and remnants of artistic carving here and there keep the memory of former owners alive.

A broad crosswalk—through which a spiral staircase leads you upstairs—overhangs the spacious, airy dining room, which makes a pleasant impression with its elegant tables, glassware, plants, etc. Moreover, a huge electric fan provides the necessary cooling. A majestic staircase leads you from here to the second floor. Behind the dining room stretches a spacious yard, on which stand numerous outbuildings and where the large kitchen is also located, where everything necessary is prepared to satisfy everyone’s desires.

Upstairs, one finds numerous large, spacious rooms, mostly all furnished in the same way—large or small bed, dressing table, desk with mirror, writing desk, chairs, etc. Here again, too, a large indoor hall onto which the chambers open, and in front of this hall a large anteroom from which one has a great view over Penang! Here again, blackout chandeliers for electric light.

Since it has thus been demonstrated that the space in each of the twenty rooms the hotel contains is more than sufficient, indeed even very large, and moreover there is ample room to move around properly in the building (bathrooms both upstairs and downstairs, with running water), it does not seem unreasonable to me to also point out that both breakfast and lunch and dinner are, to put it mildly, excellent. I am not alone in that opinion, for during the short time I stayed there, I heard the same favorable judgment from both foreigners and compatriots.

The opening of this hotel was indeed an event for Penang. Space does not permit me to go into details—yet I want to tell you that it cost our former city-going goodness a great deal of effort to obtain permission to convert all this building into a hotel. And once that permission had been granted and the results of the insight and foresight of both managers were seen, people not only loudly expressed admiration for the transformation the solid Cainee house had undergone—but also unanimously praised what the Hotel achieved.

Regarding the 4th dedication banquet — attended by all who were present in Peñang — the Straits Echo expressed itself as follows: More than forty guests were entertained at a fine dinner, which was exquisitely delicious. What was served was perfection itself, as the Penang people could not easily recognize in the form in which it was served. The tables adorned with a selection of flowers, glittering glassware, snow-white tablecloths, etc., etc.

The Pinang Gazette also expressed its opinion and simply stated that the impression of the feast was very favorable. Where the arriving or departing Deliaan is at a loss as to where to go — there I dove him in good stead and advise him to direct his steps to “The Lutheran Hotel”, which is a good — if not the best — address. G. J. D. Meesters. (SP 23-06-1905)

DC 09-06-1905