“In Philadelphia itself we should not be able to give concerts of the first quality, and you would naturally become dissatisfied. And after these second-rate concerts had gone on for one or two seasons, you would say to yourself, this must stop; we must have again an orchestra like what we used to have; we must have a first-class orchestra. You would begin all over again to rebuild your Orchestra once more, and do you realize how long it takes to build or rebuild an orchestra? “Do you realize that it took me personally all the seven years that I have been in Philadelphia to get three first-class artists for just one section of the Orchestra? And you have ninety-seven men in your Orchestra! That gives you just an idea of the work involved.” * * * * * “Will Philadelphia give its Orchestra its needed fund, avoid the calamity I have tried to outline and let the Orchestra go on as it is, and as the generations go on, and we go from this life, we will have the feeling that its influence will go on; that it will accumulate tradition; that it will go on maturing; and that it will become more and more beautiful. “LEOPOLD STOKOWSKI.” “P. S. In the above I have tried to tell you what must happen if the Orchestra fails to secure the Endowment Fund for which it asks. “In the programme for next week’s concerts, I want to tell you what will happen if we do get the Fund; the plan that we have so long had in mind for the Orchestra and Philadelphia.” * * * * * “TO THE FRIENDS OF THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA “We have reason to believe that it is in the hearts of a number of the friends of the Philadelphia Orchestra to leave a legacy in their wills to the Orchestra. Appreciative as we are of this beautiful thought on the part of these friends, we hope we may not be misunderstood if we suggest the thought that were such legacies now given to the Endowment Fund when the Orchestra stands at the cross-roads of its career, and when the next fortnight must determine its continuance or its dissolution, the service rendered would be greater than may be possible at any other period in its history. If ever the Orchestra has need of the kindliest thoughts of its friends it is at this time when the prestige of this superb organization may be maintained, its present excellence continued, and its strength conserved: when it is here to support and when the generosity of those who believe in it can save it and make it the permanent institution of Philadelphia that it deserves and should be.” * * * * * Programme, October 24th-25th, 1919: “It is not a campaign-slogan: it is the truth when we say: