Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-16

| WASHINGTON, Nov. 16.-Twenty years
ago Washington socially was the least out-of-
doors community in this country All this
summer and fall Washington socially would
J have stagnated had It not been for its lately
! developed opportunities for out-of-doors rec
! reations and the indoors affairs, which one
may call by-products of golf and tennis. The
reason, of course, for this is not wholly the
present-day lure OF golf links and tennis
courts, the added reasons being the suspen-
sion Of all social affairs in the White House,
owing to the death of Mrs. Wison-this
affecting the homes of Cabinet officials as
well-and the war in Europe, which has sus-
pended social affairs in many embassies
In sort of way Senator Newlands, Of
Nevada, may be said to have made outdoor
life possible for Washington; certainly he
made 1t more conveniently obtained In that
long time ago rye spoken of Newlands was
a member OF the House and had the income
of rich estate to invest as trustee. One day
he asked Senator Jones, OF his State, for ad-
vice as TO investment in the District, and the
wise old Senator drew q pencil line on a Dis
trict map indicating extension of Connec-
ticut avenue northwest out through the farms
and woodlands beyond Rock Creek toward
the Maryland line.
buy acreage property out there, grade it,
build streets, sewers, light 1t, build car lines
you'll found a suburban district Washing
ton must have" said the Senator.
It took courage-and millions of dollars-to
act on that advice, but Newlands did
Result of His Courage
Today Connecticut avenue spans Rock
Creek by handsome bridge, arches springing
from arches supporting a solid roadway, and
continues not only to the District line, but
couple of miles into Maryland. 1t is the main
avenue through Washngton's fashionable
suburb, cabbage fields turned into lawns sur
rounding hundreds OF villas and thousands of
modest little 10 or 15 room cottages. New
lands invited Washington out into the coun-
try, and It went with a rush
To return to our mutton: Beyond the
District line over in Maryland, but still in |
the Chevy Chase Additions Washington |
people have built two 1S-hole golf
links, each with It's dozen tennis courts and |
each with a big clubhouse designed, rather
more than in the metropolitan district, |
for teas, dinners and dances. This fall they |
are the centres of all that goes on socially in
Washington,
The first formed Of these golf clubs Chevy
Chase got for members the pick of official
society. Cabinet officers diplomats, generals
and admirals and President Taft set the
seal of final official approval upon Chevy
Chase by joining the club and playing there
regularly.
Better Links for Less Exalted
little beyond the Chevy Chase links is
the Columbia Country Club course with
better links to play over but with a mem
bership of less exalted officials. Besides
spending lot of money for ground improve
ment, Columbia had big and expensive club
house to run and was not doing very well,
thank you, until the Congress elected in 1910
began it's session.
Some country club member discovered that
in that Congress were twoscore Of
ardent golfers, and he induced the club Of
hclals to offer these congressional golfers
attractive terms for special membership
Thirty-five or 40 Representatives and Sem
ators Joined, and then the President turn
Ing down Chevy Chase's offer of honorary
allowed how he'd like to
play over the Columbia links. was elected in
the usual manner, sent his little check-and
there you are! Columbia prospers.
This summer. during the hereafter to be
Known as Long Session, during the months
when the lingering permitted daylight
approach to the 18th hole late as o'clock
n the evenings, there was hike of golfers
rom both ends of the Capitol after adjourn
nent.
And much truly wonderful golf was played.
NOT All OF the uuHeT Qudllly elIHefs IOr SSnd- |
or Hollis, OF New Hampshire, and Senator
of Delaware, have been prize win
lers on their own home links. and similar
lonors have been won in smart golf company
" Representatives Oglesby, of New York;
Yhaley, of South Carolina, and Connolly OF
owa.
But. gentle reader from general impress
ions you may have received OF them, would
ou guess that Senators Bristow, Cummins
nd O'Gorman. Representatives Prouty, I'm
erwood and Fitzgerald are the most devoted
offers in Congress? It's so. If one were
rriting of less distinguished statesmen It
you'd be permissible TO say OF them that
hey are "golf nuts What I want to write
ow is not a study in golf but a study in
ONE amazing reversals of accredited tenn
erament have observed In some of these
golfers.
Cyclonic in House; Placid on Green
Take two instances; Representatives
routy Dust elected to the Supreme Court Of
1wa, by the way) and Fitzgerald, OF New
ork. Judge Prouty in action on the floor
( the House is a cyclone backed by an omi-
Gus black cloud.
He is a tall. spare, outstanding middle-aged
ian, of the Lincoln type. one often hears 1t
aid whose special mental equipment makes
lm the sturdy foe OF proposed fool taxation
easures. When he is on the floor pointing /
CURIOSITY SHOP