“A constituency of nearly 3,000,000 people within sight of William Penn’s statue on the Public Buildings ought to be able to support all the institutions pertaining to a great modern metropolis. The newspapers, the hotels, the theatres, the great stores, the transportation facilities, and the institutions of learning and of science in Philadelphia will compare favorably with those of any other community of 2,000,000 in the world; while the Park attractions, and the galleries and exhibitions of works of art are, in some important respects, far above the standard referred to. One factor of the metropolitan order of civilization has, however, been lacking. Up to a very recent period, Philadelphia has not kept pace with the modern procession in the public recognition of the value of music as a factor of civic life. While several American cities of half the size and quarter of the wealth have each maintained a permanent orchestra of the first class, Philadelphia has not had such an organization of any class. True, the Germania Orchestra made a brave struggle for existence, aided by the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, and, for a time, gave promise of building up a permanent orchestral structure on a solid basis, but this endeavor was made largely at the cost of the musicians. While the Germanians and others who have devoted time and money to the service of the community deserve and should be given credit and honor for their labors, it yet remains true that to establish a permanent orchestra worthy of the city, the first requirement is a solid financial foundation to build on.