Los Angeles, a city of destiny, located in the center of America's most beautiful and fruitful area, bathed in a wealth of never-ending sunshine, her homes bowered in ever-blossoning vines, her business quarter metropolitan in every sense and her commerce causing her to rank among the great cities of the western world. Such is the "City of the Angels," which, in far less than a generation, has from a semi-Mexican pueblo of but little more than 10,000 souls, covering an area easily measured in furlongs, been transformed into a great and bustling city approaching the 200,000 mark in population and occupying an area which to-day requires leagues in its computation.
Any description of the city of Las Angeles would be incomplete without direct reference to the several palatial hotels which, as place of temporary residence, form a special feature in the city's attractiveness. In the matter of entertainment, for either casual or permanent guests, there is no city in Americas which affords a greater variety of high-class accommodations or institutions which reflect more directly its progress or prosperity.
The cars upon which this "auto" tour of "The City of the Angels" is made call regularly at every one of these great hotels, which have made fame among the world's most exacting travellers. As the journey of every one of our patrons will be commenced at one or another of these temporary dwelling places, a brief description will tend to recall pleasant memories of your stay in the "Southland."
The latest addition to the Los Angeles' list of splendid hotels is the "Alexandria," located at the corner of Fifth and Spring streets. In this new and elegant structure the famous hotels of the world have a most important rival. Erected and furnished solely by Los Angeles capital, the "Alexandria" is a monument to the wonderful advance made by this city in the few years since she entered that stage of her transition which permitted of her being termed "city" instead of "pueblo." as one gazes upon the towering walls of the "Alexandria," it seems hard to believe that its site was occupied less than a decade since, by clumsy one-story structures which marked the southernmost business suburbs of Los Angeles. To go back a second decade would bring us to a period when this location failed to attract even as modest business property and a third look backward would bring us to the time when this very corner was an orchard and considered "well out of town." Yet in spite of these realities in reminiscence, the corner of these busy streets is today occupied by one of America's most attractive hotels which forms in its ensemble a fitting parallel to such famous houses as the "St. Francis" of San Francisco, the "Waldorf-Astoria" of New York, the "Touraine" of Boston , or the "Planters" of St. Louis.
At the intersection of Fourth and Spring streets stands another important hotel, which bears a name in thorough keeping with the city, the "Angelus." Here is another example of the hotel perfection which has attracted thousands of visitors to Los Angeles. The "Angelus" is but little more than three years old, and the beauty of its architecture with its palatial fittings and splendid service have carried its reputation around the entire world. Thoroughly modern in every aspect, nothing is wanting in its make-up or methods of operation that might in any way render The "Angelus" perfect in its every department. [eecue note: oops forgot to complete that double negative they were going for!]
The "Van Nuys" is another important factor in Los Angeles' hotel life. Standing at the corner of Fourth and Main streets its location is most desirable. In architecture it is specially attractive, and its accommodations second to those of no other hotel in California. Operated directly in conjunction with the Van Nuys is one of California's noted sea-side resorts, the "Hotel Potter" of Santa Barbara. These sister hotels have become famous stopping places on the tour of California.
Occupying a second corner of Main and Fourth streets, stands one of the city's older byt none the less popular hostelries, the "Westminster." Originally constructed in the days when Los Angeles first began to attract east-
