The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-03-07
OF CONVENT
MAKES REPLY To
LADDEY CHARGES
Mother Superior Challenges
Woman Critic to Visit House
of Good Shepherd.

Referring to the recenta criticisms
made by Miss Paula Laddey, regard
ing conditions in the House of the Good
Shepherd. the mother superior said
today that Miss Laddey had written to
her personally. and that this letter had
been answered by her twice. She told
Miss Laddey over the telephone, she
added, that the sisters would be glad
to see her in the convent. after she
had made a public denial of her re-
marks. This has not been done by
Miss Laddey, and the mother superior
considers it due to the public and to
the convent that the substance of the
letters should be made known.
Miss Laddy's letter is dated So New
Lawn avenue. Arlington, and is adj
dressed to the every Rev. Mother SUI
perior," under date of February %. It
says:
"Honored Mother-Undoubtedly you
read in a local newspaper that my re-
marks about the House Of Good Shep-
herd have been misinterpreted and mis-
quoted. l write today to tell you that
1 have been the victim of a sensational
bit Of news. Had the reporter reported
that l said to the small gathering of
about twenty women, The sisters are
the sweetest women I ever came in
contact with there would have been
no sensation. Consequently my inno-
cent remarks were misconstrued.
Il regret exceedingly that you should
have been annoyed by the reporter, but
wish to extend to you my gratitude that
in answering you gave me the benefit
of the doubt, and always said if such
a thing was said. 1 received several
telephone messages from ladies who
heard me speak at the conference ex-
pressing their Indignation,
The mother superior's reply follows:
Dear Madam-Your gracious letter
was received and L thank you for the
kindly sentiments expressed about me
personally. But 1 feel, and, 1 venture
to say, you feel, too, that to sweep
away the erroneous and unjust state
ments regarding the Newark Convent
OF the Good Shepherd which have
been associated with your name in the
public press, something more is called
for than a private letter to the mother
superior claiming that your remarks
were misquoted or misinterpreted.
You arc reported to have made very
harmful unjust criticisms IN our
methods of work and the mental and
physical condition of our inmates. For
instance, I do not think I am exag-
serating if l say that 50 per cent. of the
girls in the House OF the Good Shop
herd look feeble-minded,' and neither
the physical nor moral condition could
be good
Fifty per cent. of the girls may be
wantonly labeled as feeble minded, as
pensions may be cast on the physical
and moral conditions surrounding them,
yet there would have been no sensa-
ton If the sisters had but known how
sweetly they impressed the casual Wis
itor.
The sisters can, like any one else,
take a compliment for what it is worth,
but they must and do protest against
rash statements of this sweeping char
acter made against any public insti-
tuition. By such statements incalcu-
liable harm is lone to the management
OF these institutions, and fragrant in
justice to the inmates, who are power
49, ~ OAS tAiCllloClNGS.
You write. If you wish to hear
further OF this matter, a note from
you will bring me to the House of the
Good Shepherd at any time you may
set =
ITO this we reply, 1t will afford Us
the greatest pleasure to welcome you
again to u convent. when by public.
acknowledgment over your own mann
you will deny the statements attributed
to you, particularly those that reflect
on the mental or moral condition of
our inmates and on the care that is
taken to help them with needful in
struction.
Hoping that 0 will thus right a
wrong which has been done the House
OF the Good Shepherd in Newar and
its inmates, a wrong which 1 am only
too happy to believe came from words
Of yours which We're misquoted ana
misunderstood. I remain, yours re-
spectfully.
MOTHER MARY DIVINE HEART
SUPERIOR.
House Of the Good Shepherd. Feb
| ruary 2e, 1905