The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-19
NEW ENGLAND VOIENATVARY
mot At ALL" SAY PRESIDENT
AND EX-PRESIDENT.

But Mrs. shepard DIDN'T Co 70 Mrs. SHADES
Reception. and Mrs. SHADE ,Whe Founded
the Society. wants 20 Know why mo
Told Reporter she stayed Away.
Mrs. E. Gerry slade Of $50 West Eighty
seventh street gave q reception yes
terday afternoon for the members Of the
New England women's Association. OF
which she was the founder and the FIRST
president. Mrs. J. woolsey Shepard. the
president Of the association did not attend.
The advance notices of the reception stated
that the retiring president (drs. Shepards
term will end on April So) the incoming
president and the newly elected second
vice-president Of the association would b
in the receiving party. -
Chroniclers Of social happen ngs who
asked Mrs. Shepard about the affair last
night were cautioned In the interest OF
accurate reporting not to include her among
those present.
Mrs. Slade sent out $50 invitations. With
the card to Mrs. Shepard she send note
which read:
that this little stisir sSsil Be- REGARDED -
e eits me- on mi line but VIII s.S 70
tanning.
Mrs. Shepard did not receive or assist
in entertaining. Mrs. Henry Clark Coo
Of 8 West Seventy sixth street. an ex-
president OF tho association, did not attend.
Mrs. Shepard said last night:
1T seems that many people got the I'M,
precision from what the newspapers SAID
In ADVANCED have no doubt that they
were innooently led into saying it-that
a personal function at which Mrs. Slade
and her DAUGHTER received.
only members Of the association were
asked. but that did not make II an asso-
citation affair by any means. l did not
fssl GH HSssd To- Eo one s0d ases 60
It doesn't seem to me that It's sign OF
friction in the organization because some
people didn't choose to 60 to Mrs. siaoe .
MIS-. Siade said: THE association wa.
formed In my house with just six original
members, and for three years al the meet
ings were held In my house. During the
four years that was president the $3.50
citation grew 90 that II now has . member
1T was . custom for the President 70
| give an annual reception. While ] was
president this reception took place IN my
house and the expenses were paid by the
1 1sssSs n srsSSRhsya M4s os sn and Mrs
Van Sickel, the annual reception was held
| each year at the house Of the president,
but the organization paid the bills. These
were official functions.
Il have been In society very little Tor
three years as have been III and mem,
| Der Of my family died not long ago; l
wanted to give q reception for the New
England women and opened my house ior
| the first time in three years. l saw moth
| ing wrong In that. and 40 that 1t might not
be assumed that I was giving an ofiicisi
| function sent little note With my, card
| to Mrs. Shepard making that explanation.
mo doubt Mrs. Shepard believes that
she was doing what ! thought would oe
best In staying away. She is woman o.
great exactness, and may have formed
| the opinion that her presence would give
| the function an Official sense that did not
mean II should have. And again she had
| q right to stay away because l did not go
| to her reception last October. But l was
| In mourning then.
I until I learn II from Mrs. Shepard her.
| self shall assume that we are the best OF
friends. OF oourse I shall ask her why
she thought IL necessary to tell the aiter.
noon newspapers to Be sure not 70 say thss
she was present
You eee. sent out $50 invitations. About
$50 Of these people live or are temporarily
out Of town. I got about eighty regrets
and fully 800 came TO the reception. That
left about twenty to be accounted Tor.
Surely that's small number OF indictments
In 90 large q society.s