Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-07-19
GOLF AND HISTORY
BY Frederic j. Haskin.

HEV CHASE, Nd, July 19.-Play will
start today in the Twenty-hfth Open Golf
Tournament of the United States over the mag
nihcent course Of the Columbia Country Club
in Chevy Chase, Montgomery county. Maryland.
Arecord filed of the crack players of America,
England. Canada and Australia will struggle
for the honor of this great classic under con-
ditions which will be unusual in many respects.
The visitors will play over ground that is not
only superlatively beautiful, but extraordinarily
historic. They will be playing in the first county
in the United States that was named after an
American. There are eighteen Montgomery
counties in various states of the Union, but the
one in Maryland is the parent of them all.
In the early days 1t was the fashion to name
counties and cities and states after foreigners.
Thus we have Prince George county, after
Prince George of Denmark, who was later King
Of England; Baltimore, after Lord Baltimore
of the House OF Calvert, and MARYLAND after
Queen Henrietta Maria, the consort of Charles
l of England. 1t was a departure, a novelty,
almost a presumption when this county was
named after Richard Montgomery, the gallant
general in the Continental Army who fell at
Quebec.
Another incident of rare historical importance
is the fact that in the French and Indian War,
in 1855, a portion of General Braddock's army
on its first days march from Alexandria,, Vir-
ginia, to what is now Rockville. Maryland,
passed nearby or across the Columbia golf course,
With these troops was a doughty young colonel:
twenty-three years of age. In all the annals or
war few men have ever risen to such heights
of glory and renown. The ns me of the budding
colonel was George Washington.
Mothered the Capital.
The greater portion Of the territory in the
District of Columbia, including Georgetown and
the capital site, originally belonged to Mont
gomery county. Before all Of the states had
finished ratifying the constitution, congress was
debating where to locate the capital. FROM
the outset both Maryland and Virginia were
anxious for the honor, and although the loss OF
so much territory was a serious hardsh1p 10
Montgomery, the cession Of its land was not
opposed. So this ancient county added to its
long list Of honors by generously taking to her
bosom the capital of the young nation.
The noted historian. ]. Thomas Scharf, says
that the first railroad in operation in Maryland
probably was built in Montgomery county. The
rails were laid and a line Of road four or five
transportation of stone from the great White
at the foot of the Sugar Loaf, for the
building of an aqueduct by the Chesapeake q
at its junction with the Potomac. Excavations
for the Baltimore G. Ohia Railroad may have
before those of this little mountain
road, but it is quite certain that here the first
rails were laid, and here the first railroad in
Maryland, and perhaps the first in the United
States, was put in full operation. Wooden rails
were used instead of Iron.
rive at the tenth green they will find confront
ing them the beautiful Dunlop estate, a splendid
example of the historic homes which abound
Hayes. 1852" According to the rec
ords Parson Williamson cam over from Eng
land 159 years ago and selected this site for his
abode. The good parson was said to have been
a powerful exhorter and as energetic as he was
He preached to five different focks
and took his pay in tobacco.
After nineteen years he sold out to James
Dunlop whose descendants have resided mere
continuously. The present incumbents, MIR.
George Thomas Dunlop and his charming
family, are of the fifth generation. The central
portion Of the house is the original structure
built by Parson Williamson. while the furniture
and china were brought over from Scotland by
the first James Dunlop. The collection of Lowe
stoft and Spode has been appraised as the best
in the United States.
COY is Hunting Again"
Directly across the fields from the Columbia
Club the ancient Cummins estate is stubbornly
resisting the Entertainments OF the smart
suburb, Chevy Chase When the MOUNDS are
ICY is hunting again. Cy Cummins is a mem
her Of the reception during the
he is just a few sizes smaller than the Washing
ton Monument. This applies not only to stature
but bigness of heart. He Is a tireless coon
hunter, a booming orator, and a f~irst-rate judge
of iiouor-when there is any. People always
look twice at. Cy Cummins because While he IS
of this generation he has an air about him OF
old Maryland-that old Maryland which pro-
duced giants who ran their estates like gentle
men and played like boys while they laid the
solid foundations of the great republic.
All visitors to Columbia exclaim at the beauty
of the prospect when the hlgher parts OF tne
course are reached. The blue hills OF ola Mont
away in undulating majesty. The sunsets are
often sheer blazes of colored glory. There are
where Maxfeld Parrish gets his ideas for those
snowy drawings. \
These things are set down here so that the
of the club and putter, and the
gentle reader elsewhere. may know the nature
of the fair and honorable soil that will be trod
in the great tourney.
And may the best man win.