“4. The Board of Trustees, when it considers that the completion of the fund is assured, shall select the leader upon the careful and unbiased consideration of the merits and records of all candidates submitted to it.” * * * * * Subscriptions towards this immense sum of money—$250,000[8]—did not come in fast, and finally the proposition was abandoned under the prospect of a Philadelphia Orchestra formed on a very different and much more modest plan. There are two ways of embarking on an enterprise, one is to procure the funds in advance on faith; the other is to start the undertaking on faith and hope for the best to pay the bills. The first plan failed, the second succeeded; and after twenty years of effort, an orchestra was financially established in Philadelphia. [8] After a year of work the total sum promised was $50,000. CHAPTER II THE LAST TURN OF THE ROAD The last turn of the road was a long one. It led from Germany to New York, to the World’s Fair in Chicago, to San Francisco, back to New York and to Woodside Park, Philadelphia. The turn was made by Fritz Scheel. The beginning of the Philadelphia Orchestra was the moment in July, 1899, when Mrs. Innes, wife of Bandmaster Frederic N. Innes, showed some programmes to Dr. Edward I. Keffer and asked whether he had heard Fritz Scheel and his orchestra at Woodside Park. At that moment the man for whom Philadelphia had been waiting was found; and when the place and the man come together the hour has come. Was it chance or was it fate that caused that question to be asked? Who shall determine? Dr. Keffer speedily went to Woodside Park[9] and was so pleased with what he heard that he recommended his friends to go to hear Scheel’s masterly leading and fine concerts, besides mailing several hundred programmes to the musicians of his acquaintance. He found to his surprise that in one week a Wagner Night, a Beethoven Night and a Symphony Night were included. Many of the listeners were convinced that Scheel was the man to organize an orchestra in Philadelphia. He was competent to do it, he had no permanent position and he saw the opportunity. Mr. John Fasshauer, an active member in Mr. Thunder’s orchestra, succeeded in arranging a meeting of professional musicians, who consented to enter into a liberal agreement as to salaries and services. Still a guarantee fund seemed to be a necessity. The plan proposed was to continue the Friday afternoon concerts, long a feature here, under Fritz Scheel at the Academy of Music. A conference was held at the University Club with Mr. John H. Converse, Mr. George Burnham, Jr., and Mr. Thomas a’Becket. The question of a fund was discussed and Mr. Converse, a trustee of the proposed Permanent Orchestra, suggested that the Women’s Committee for that orchestra should co-operate. This plan did not succeed, however, and the idea of a Friday afternoon series was abandoned.