The Washington times., 1904-05-15
At Chevy Chase Are
Some of the Swift Hunt
erS of the Country.
Washington Society Fol
lows the Hounds With
Rare Delight.
Brilliant Field on Frosty
Mornings Enjoys Sport
of Kings.

NM horn is heard out in the rural
V portions of the District or in
the adjoining counties Of Maryland. the
farmer. working in his fields. puts his
hand to his ear.
"Ah." he will mutter. 1.-THE Chevy
Chase hounds are out"
IN a feeting moment comes ample con-
hrmation OF his wisdom. In the distance
appears a flying speck Of red. scuttling
along in advance Of an inseparable mass
OF red and white. The flying speck gains
distinctness and appears as a fox; the
inseparable mass disintegrates into the
pack: in the background the leader OF
the field urges his game hunter on and
on in fast pursuit In another moment
the fox has disappeared the last of the
hounds has vanished. and the stragglers
among the hunters are taking the jumps
or avoiding them. as Yalor urges or dis
erection suggests.
1t is a field day Of the Chevy Chase
Hunt Club which just recently has
closed fits twelfth successful season.
that this pictures paints. Four times
each week of the season the hounds
are ont. and field OF the best known
men and women of Washington is fol-
lowing. If the sport is not that OF
kings it ought 10 be. for surely among
all the recreations in which the Ieisured
class INDUCES there Is nothing to COM
pare with 1t in excitement and interest:
nothing else so inspires and fascinates:
nothing else warns the blood with such
generous ardor.
Excitement and Danger.
The spice of danger is not lacking. for
a tumble turks among the possibilities
Of every moment: rivalry is intense for
every hunter and huntress would be in
at the death and wear the brush that
Is the trophy of the days sport. Add TO
these the delight that comes to those
who view life from the back of a met
tied horse. see beautiful scenery flying
fast. and scent the sweetness of the
morning air, and one wonders no long
er that those who can afford it follow
the hounds with such determined zest.
Since Washington was Washington,
and even before, there has been fox
hunting in the District and across. the
lire. with Washington hounds and
horses. in Maryland and Virginia. 1t
was the sport nearest and dearest to
the hearts Of the gentry Of the old days.
and the planters of that time loved
nothing better than to follow the pack
across hill and dale. In the sparkling
beauty of a winters morning.
AS the Capital grew IL size and i'm
pOrtance the private packs began to be
concentrated IN the control Of clubs and
associations. Long ago a pack was
hunted in Montgomery and Prince
George county which was largely con-
tTolled By the members Of the Diplo-
matte Corps. This was succeeded by the
Washington County Hounds. which
hunted on the south side OF the Poto-
mac, and Of which Hal Dulaney was
master.
The immediate predecessor OF the
Chevy Chase Club was the Dumblaine
Hunt Club. which had it's clubhouse
on the Tenleytown Road. and went out
OF existence about 1890. Two years later
the Chevy Chase CLUB was organized.
Clubs Modest Beginning.
During the first few years OF its ex-
istence the club was a relatively mod
est affair. It's first clubhouse was an
old farm home. standing Just south
west OF Chevy Chase Circle. from which
IL removed In 1893 70 the Bradley man
sion, two miles 10 the north. This old
place had been the country residence
OF the late Capt John Rodgers.
The club leased the place at first. but
subsequently acquired IL by purchase.
and has since steadily pursued the pol