New-York tribune., 1919-02-27
Ill in Bed, but Press Agent
for Undertaken 'sStars''
Her in Lecture Story
''Speaks'' to Sunset Club
Even Mr.. Campbell Affected
by ''Dear Old Lady of 85''
He 'SThought'' Was Writer

marion Harland, according to Fra nix
E. Campbell, the undertaken, spoke yes
terday afternoon at a meeting of the
Sunset Club, an organization of elderly
persons, in Mr.. Campbell's funeral
parlors.
Still, according to Mr.. Campbell, Ma
rion Harland, who in private life is
Mrs. E. P. Terhune, said:
1--WE come here to-day to learn more
of subject which we have all Stunned
in the past, and l am sure that we will
learn to-day that death, which will
come much too soon to all Of US, if no
more tragic than the setting of the
daily sun. In viewing this establish
ment, becoming more fully acquainted
with the subject Of which we old peo-
pie know too little, we are sure to
learn that even death must be as
as beautiful as ones life"
Yesterday, at the time when Mr..
Campbell says that Marion Harland
was making this complimentary ad-
dress in his funeral parlors the
authoress was i'll in her room with a
heavy cold. She did not go to the
meeting of the Sunset Club, at which
Mr.. Campbell was host. She did not
send any message to be read to the
members there assembled. She never
made any such statement as Mr.. Camp
bell attributed to her.
Mr.. Campbell Much Affected
Yet, despite the absence of Marion
Harland, Mr.. Campbell told The
Tribune over the telephone last night
that he saw her there and was much
affected by her presence.
"She is a dear old lady" he said
rapturously. "She is eighty-five years
old and a member of the club. Yes
she delivered the address sent out to
you'll"
Marion Harland is not member OF
the Sunset Club. The address that she
according to Mr.. Campbell, made at
the meeting was read to its reputed
author over the telephone last night.
ut is all tommyrot," she said heart
lily. 81 wrote to Mrs, Rugg, president
of the club, several days ago and told
her l would be unable to attend. To-
day, when she telephoned to me, was
lying down and my maid answered her
That is all l know about 1t. The
speech l was supposed to make is a
fake, pure and simple"
A. w. Covert, press agent for Mr.
Campbell, when questioned concerning
Rugg had introduced him to a woman
who she said was "Mrs. Harland." A
motion picture concern Photographic
her, he insisted, and his steuographe1
had transcribed her address.
Mr.. Covert ~Explains"
Later, he said, after calling up his
stenographer, that Mrs. Rugg had
read this message as coming from
Marion Harland and that the author
ess herself had not been present.
The Campbell account Of the affair
which followed the message delivered
by Miss Harland," follows:
Long before 2 o'clock, the hour SET
for the commencement Of the enter.
tainment. the Funeral Church was
crowded with the aged members Of the
Sunset Club--each more than sixty
years old---and their friends, including
many Junior Sunsetters. Addresses
were delivered BY the Rev. DR.. Nathan
Episcopal Church; the Rev. DR.. Fred.
erick de Mattas, Of Manitoba, Canada;
Frank E. Campbell, Miss Harland and
Mrs. @. A, H. Rugg, founder and ma
tional head Of the Sunsetters.
"The musical programme included
the Clyric Quartet, solos by John Nc
Cullum and a piano recital by Anna
Mcnamara. Refreshments were served
by Bazetti. 1t was not until after Z
p. m. that the last Of the members
wended their way homeward.*
Met Some "Dear Old Lady"
After having been informed that
Mrs. Harland denied having attended
the meeting Of the Sunset Club, Mr.
Campbell admitted he probably had