on february n , 1897 , when daniel 's mother died , he moved out of their uptown st charles avenue home , leaving his sister in the care of nurses and maids , and took up residence in an ostentatious and lavish four-room suite at the old st louis hotel there he began to live 'like a king , ' according to bellhops and waiters and taxi drivers who received enormous tips from daniel and served him expensive meals in his parlor which fronted on the street .