Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1905-07-07
The Chevy Chase Club.
Editor of the Sentinel.

Editor Of tie Sentinel:
As an ex-member Of the Chevy Chase
Club, want to protest against Mr.. Charles
4. Darby's article, entitled "Border Resorts"
In the last issue of the Montgomery advocate,
in which he attempts TO liken, classify and
| confuse the Chevy Chase Club with the
numerous road houses, beer shops and So
called "Clubs" that have OF late years sprung
| up In the country suburban 10 Washington.
Some places, | have understood, are, or
were, simply bar-rooms in disguise, or may
be without disguise-some Of them order
ly-some absolutely reprehensible. Having
no personal knowledge of them l can't dis
cuse them; but do know and insist that
Chevy Chase" ia genuine ClNb In the &C.
cepted sense OF the term. An association OF
gentlemen, congenial In thought, habit, ed
ucation, &C., acquired the property as q
country home, where, at their leisure, they
could come alone or with their families,
with or without their friends, and each be
at home on this, his property IN common
what they do at the Club Is what they do at
their homes, the people they meet are those
they meet at their homes-and such liquor
as Is served at the Club corresponds to that
served In the private home of the individual.
II Is needless to say that this Club is not
Chase Club, few years since, ran behind
several thousand dollars each year.
In its early days, when with but twenty
| five or fifty members and before II had set
tied home, there were few who insisted on
locating beyond the District, across the Mary.
land line. Mr.. Spencer Watkins and myself
(then, think, the only Montgomery county
members) urged this, knowing OF the big
expenditures Of money that would eventu-
ally be made. have no figures at hand
but feel safe In stating that at least ten
thousand, and possibly as much as thirty
thousand dollars Is put In circulation In
Montgomery county owing to the existence
of the Chevy Chase Club.
distinctly, positively and Indignantly
deny that now, or At any time, has any "evil
influence" emanated from the Chevy Chase
Club-and knowing what know, my aO0rd
for this is better than Mr.. Darby's, who as
sumes.
The Club is open daily-week day and
Sunday alike--except on certain occasions,
IL il probable that there are more persons
present on the average Sunday afternoon
than on week day. But, If 80, what Of 1t 7
There 10 no drunkenness, no gambling, not
q thing occurs there TO offend the sensibili
ties of any well bred person.
II might be we'll to say that now the Presi-
dent of our country 10 member, as are sew.
eral OF his Cabinet the Chief Justice and
several of the Justices Of the Supreme Court,
including Mr.. Justice Harlan, one Of the
leading laymen Of the Presbyterian Church
many prominent ministers of the different
churches, many members OF the Diplomatic
Corps, and many Of those persons In Wash
ington most prominent In social, business,
literary and scientific life, besides numerous
officers of the Navy and Army. But few
clubs 10 the world can show such an honor
able roll OF membership as the Chevy Chase,
| yet II Is this Club that Mr. Darby sees ct to
denounce IS an "inhuence for evil" and 10
class with, among others, houses bat few de.
grees removed from unmentionable resorts.
The term "club,r Of recent years has been
applied to resorts for drinking, 10 resorts for
fast women, to resorts for gambling, &c.
Mr.. Darby Is educated, besides being man
of some intelligence, and surely he must
know and appreciate the difference between
"club" OF this latter class and q gentle.
mans Country Club. Then why-in print
do all clubs look alike TO him or, Is his ar.
Rockville letters 10 the Baltimore Sun from
the Republican ally Of the "evll genius" Of
our countys Democracy.
wish TO say that this article Is written by
me absolutely on my own initiative and re.
sponsibllity, and because don't wish the
fair minded people of Montgomery TO be-
blinded to facts as they are.
Very truly,
FRANCIS @. HUTTON.
Choppers, Md.