The Washington herald., 1908-03-22

But II is not only snobbishness, AFRO
gance, and recently acquired wealth that
makes a man an undesirable member OF
some of the clubs. There are countless
reasons why he may not be welcome. and
none of the reasons may be TO his dis
credit. How absurd. for instance, 90 elect
man 10 a riding club who was never
on the back OF a horse; TO a golf club.
a chess enthusiast who takes no interest
In any other game: to a sporting club,
a dry-as-dust bookworm. and. vice versa.
10 a scientific club, a recognized sport:
to a club made up of society people. an
absolute stranger to society. And yet.
such is the perversity of human nature
that when man can't have a thing that
Is the very thing he wants most, and we
see man. actuated by this desire Of get
ting what is denied him. knocking at the
doors OF clubs where. if he were allowed
to enter he would be i'll at ease himself
and make everybody about him i'll at
ease.
a gentleman would never clamorously
demand entrance to club any more
than he would demand entrance 20
family circle. 1t is an impertinence 10
intrude where one suspects even that he
is not wanted. and no one would do so
who had the least claim To refinement
and good breeding. and a gentleman
would never allow his name to be pro-
posed before he had satisfied himself that
there would be no opposition to his cleo
ton. Ii is only the inexperienced and un-
wary whose names are put up only 10
be withdrawn. which is an embarrass-
ment both TO himself and 10 his p-oposer.
to rotkfnor . t1,a -,,.,, nh, 49,, g..
onded him and written letters in ..ls be-
half. There has been so much gossip
about this matter lately that TO allude
TO IL here is not untimely, and il some
or the hints given are seriously taken
it may save those who have looked at
the matter from a narrow point OF view
some chagrin and embarrassment.
The two smart suburban clubs in
Washington are the Country and the
Chevy Chase. The former occupies the
old estate on Tennallytown road. known
as Grasslands. which was the country
home OF the late Mr.. Whitney when he
was a member of Mr.. Cleveland's Cabi-
net. and is managed much after the same
fashion as the Alibi Club: that is. there
/ is very little general club life in which all
/ its members participate. but the club IS
| used by those who belong 10 II much as
4 II il We're their own house, and when a
member gives an entertainment there the
otner members are expected to make
themselves as scarce as possible. as they
| invariably do so that a dinner. breakfast.
or supper there is quite as private as
though the host were the only person
who held the privileges of the club.
This arrangement not only insures pri-
vaey. but it prevents any account OF the
somewhat extraordinary doings that
| sometimes go on there from leaking out
at least il goes far toward preventing
! gossip. but a few of the remarkable in
eidents that occurred there were too
amusing not TO be told. and will long be
! remembered both by those who partici-
pated in them. and those who were edited
/ by their recital. II was years ago that
a daring young diplomatist trotted his
horse into the dining-room and then gal
! loped him around the table. Yet who does
not listen to-day with mirthful apprecIa-
tion OF the Oft-repeated tale. and who
does not listen with keenestg interest TO
the account OF the society belle who
danced the tarantella. or an imitation OF
it. on the dining-rOom table? Oniy last
! winter there was the eT-tO- be-fOrgot-
ten supper party which rode out in See
ing Washington cars after one Of the
Bachelors. TO finish up the night in rev.
elry. 1t was cold. as cold as Greenland
and the heating apparatus was out OF or
der. SO men and women huddled about in
fur coats and drank champagne to keep
warm. The servants followed the ex-
ample Of their masters, SO that when il
Fcr
to be had but they danced as gayly on
empty stomaehs, and in the morning
breakfasted on griddle cakes and cham
pagne again, and made merry generally
until the automObiles-fOr il was bitter
cold. and they in evening dress. so they
were forced TO abandon the Seeing Wash
ington cars-came 10 take them home
It was at the Country Club. too that
the famous party was given TO Langtry
and Duse and Bernhardt have been en-.
tertained there, not to mention other less
er lights of the theatrical profession. In.
deed, no noted person comes TO town
that he is not. asked out to this haunt OF
the Upper Tendon. The roster Of the
Country Club the president of which is
at present Woodbury. Blair. contains the
names OF the smartest people In town
from grave statesmen 10 gilded youths
but its membership. like that Of the Alibi
is limited and no man is admitted who
is not "One of us" as Thackeray puts il
in word, the club membership is an or.
ganizatiOn Of friends. men Of widely diver
gent tastes and views. perhaps, but bound
together by common interests becaus,
they belong to the same set.
The Chevy Chase is the pleasantest LITTLE
country club in all the land; It is not 81
very little. either, for in late years it,
roll Of membership has increased so rap
idly that should all of the members max,
frequent use OF the club its accommoda
tions would be tested to the utmost. Tn,
lack of space is already a serious ques
tion and a project is on foot TO build al
extensive addition which will probably b,
carried out this summer Col. Denny
president Of the club, is most respected
/, officer. He has all the qualities that max,
a good executive and the genialitv ant
bOnhomie that should characterize TN
chief of a social club. To the Chew
Chase Club belong those members OF. so
ciety who are interested in outdoor sports
and are fond of outdoor life, and there il
more real sportsmanlke feeling in thi
club than in any similar organization o
! the kind in the country. There is no make
/ believe, no taking up a sport because /
is the fashion of the moment. but thos
who play golf and tennis. tenpins an,
. baseball do so because they like the spor
, and want the exercise; with them IL /
sport for sports sake.
;
: The gay season at the club has alread
begun. and will continue until the no
: weather sends the majority of Its mem
bers away on their summer outings Th