One of the methods employed to persuade people to take season seats was the membership in the Auxiliary of the Women’s Committees. Another was the lure of big soloists. Year by year, this musical organization was obliged to attract by advertising the appearances of great artists. But once the audience was procured, it stayed; and today soloists are on the verge of becoming unpopular. Such is the influence of symphonic music. The right to interrupt the progress of a concert by demands for repeated encores was one which the audience gave up with little grace. In 1913 a paragraph appeared on the programme, stating that: “The management has decided in no case to permit more than one encore.” And again: “As encores tend to disturb the unity of an orchestral programme the patrons of the Philadelphia Orchestra Concerts are respectfully informed that encore demands cannot be granted.” The conductor had one or two bad experiences, which occupied some minutes, but finally patience won the day and the audiences realized that this pleasure, if it was a pleasure, was over forever at a symphony concert. Next came the hat question. It is not a new one, for in 1841 the Musical Fund Society placed this notice in one of its programmes: “Ladies are particularly requested not to wear their bonnets in the concert room.” This makes one realize that Philadelphia women were always devoted to their hats. The war on hats was a merry one and began as early as 1906, at a time when hats were large. It is rumored that the fashion at the moment required pinned on hair, so hats could not be removed. This matter was taken up in the Women’s Committee, thought by some to be like the complaint desk of a department store; a situation of which they are proud, as it shows how the public turns to the women. Much discussion arose and notices began to appear in the programmes: “For the greater convenience of all concerned, it is earnestly hoped that the women patrons of the Orchestra WILL REMOVE THEIR HATS during the performance. In many cities local ordinances compel, by legal means, the removal of head coverings that obstruct the view in places of amusement.”