THREATS TO A HOSTESS.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXIX, Issue 55, 21 February 1913, Page 2

THREATS TO A HOSTESS.

A scries of magnificent dinners and dances given liy Mrs Kdward T. Stotwbury, who is credited with the ambit-ion to become the leader <>t Philadelphia society, has had a< sequel in a number oi anonymous missives threatening her and her guests with ''a tragedy" unless she -abandons her lavish entertainments. Mrs Stotesbnrv is the wife of a partner of Mr J. Pierpont Morgan. Ht-r husband on the occasion of their marriage presented to her Ixtnds worth .£1,000,000. Her social campaign this season emhrases six dinners and balls, of which two have already been givenUntil affairs were described in detail in the newspapers, which estimated their cost at over £IOO,OOO. Several leading clergymen in Philadelphia made this expenditure the subject of denunciations from the pulpit. A Socialist newspaper dilated on Mr Stotesbury's controlling interests in the tramway systems of Philadelphia, and argued that the money for l)is wife's elaborate entertainments was gathered from the fares of poor people. Mrs Stoteslniry has now made a personal appeal to the newspapers in future to ignore her dinners and dancesSlit* declares that the. cost of those already given was scarcely a tenth of the sums published. As for the clergymen, Mrs Stotesbury informs them that they would bo bettor to dwell on hff husband's largo contributions to charity than 011 her alleged extravagances.