100 MUSICIANS UNDER LEOPOLD STOKOWSKI ENTERTAIN 3000 SOLDIERS “The Philadelphia Orchestra, led by Leopold Stokowski, aroused more than 3000 khaki-clad men here in the big Y. M. C. A. auditorium to outbursts of enthusiastic applause, when they concluded an entire Tschaikowsky programme, including the Symphony Pathétique, the famous ‘Nutcracker’ Suite, and the stirring overture Solennelle. The concert was made possible through the courtesy of the Philadelphia Orchestra Association. “The large auditorium was crowded to the doors with the privates in training for the National Army, while the officers occupied a square patch of seats in the center. Alexander Van Rensselaer, President of the Orchestra Association, and Edward Bok and Charles D. Hart, directors, were among the officials who accompanied the orchestra. With the party also was Noah Swayne of the Orpheus Club. The party arrived in Camp on a special train, and the musicians were escorted to the Y. M. C. A. hostess house and served a luncheon by society girls. “Mr. Van Rensselaer, Mr. Bok, Mr. Stokowski and Mr. Swayne were entertained at the division headquarters mess. “When Mr. Stokowski took his place at the stage, he was given an ovation, and throughout the four movements of the symphony, the men watched the discipline of the players with an interested eye. “The contrast of the dark evening suits of the orchestra with the mud-stained puttees and brown uniforms of the thousands of enlisted men formed a novel sight. One officer was overheard saying to another: “‘How would you like to be captain of those collective artistic temperaments?’ “After the first movement of the symphony was ended in a crash of tympani, the same officer said: “‘Well, if we can train a million men of the National Army to such precision and such discipline as that, we will have no trouble in beating the Huns.’ “During the intermission, the entire audience did a sort of ‘eyes right’ when a group picture of the concert was taken.” Besides this concert, men in the service stationed at Philadelphia were given many opportunities to enjoy the orchestra. Beginning in November, 1917, subscribers were requested through a notice in the programme to send tickets that they could not use to the manager, to be placed at the disposal of soldiers and sailors and it was a common sight to see men in uniform at the Saturday evening concerts. On January 23rd the promised Red Cross Concert was given at the Metropolitan Opera House before a large audience. The affair was most successful financially, the amount turned over being $7045.00. LIBERTY LOANS The subject of Liberty Loans was more and more occupying the public mind and soon claimed the attention of musicians.