The Philadelphia Country Club 
THE TAP-ROOM 
of their elders who may be taking advantage ol the 
cool piazza. A dear little boy shooting his how and 
arrow was darting in and out ol the trees in charm¬ 
ing unconsciousness while the photographs were 
being taken. Another time he approached with his 
white woolly bear in his arms, requesting that the 
bear might have its picture taken. 
Situated at the end of the house are splendidly 
equipped stables where ample garage accommodation 
can also be obtained; riding, driving and auto- 
mobiling being among the distinctive features of the 
Philadelphia Country Club, 
as well as the game of polo 
for which it is celebrated. 
After passing the stables 
our steps are naturally di¬ 
rected to the golf grounds, the 
main seat of interest of the 
Philadelphia Country Club. 
Crossing the lawns we find 
a picturesque caddy house 
painted bright green, with 
yellow trim. Rapidly walk¬ 
ing down the hill may he 
seen a steady stream of golf 
enthusiasts, wending their 
way to the golf grounds. 
The Philadelphia Country 
Club is known as the “par¬ 
ent” of the golfing organi¬ 
zations around Philadelphia, 
and was founded in 1890. 
Golf was played with indif¬ 
ferent success until 1893 when 
the golf fever was caught, 
A WELL-PLANNED MANTEL 
and the members began to 
enter into the sport with 
great enthusiasm. How many 
to-day, remember the early 
days of golf or the first game 
played in Philadelphia, when 
one of the members laid out 
the first golf ground with 
improvised holes, lined with 
empty cans, which had con¬ 
tained French peas. He had 
previously sent to England 
for clubs and balls as none 
were available on this side. 
1 he game was dubbed poor 
croquet and the idea that 
there was any sport in the 
game pooh-poohed, and few 
anticipated that golf was des- 
t i n e d to become one of 
America’s most absorbing 
sports. 
I o show the change of 
feeling in this matter, at the time that golf was 
first started some serious minded people wrote to 
the newspapers complaining that there were a “lot 
of lunatics at large in the neighborhood of Bala 
and Fairmount Park chasing spit balls through acre 
lots.” This opinion could hardly be wondered at 
when the members themselves were making even 
more severe comments when the game was being 
started. To-day the club is considered a highly 
successful organization. The old nine hole course 
was played over the polo grounds and took in a 
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