“It is an old rule in Philadelphia, that when anybody undertakes to do anything, everybody else proposes a different way. This has always prevented the natural development of a local orchestra, and always will do so as long as the matter is open to public contention. The first essential to the establishment of a high-class orchestra is capital. If that is provided, the rest can be obtained, and those who provide it have the right to determine how to spend it, and the right also to command appreciation an support. Without this we can dispute till the cows come home with no more result than at any other time in the past forty years, during which time everybody has been agreed that Philadelphia should have such an orchestra, but no two agreed as to who should conduct it, or how it should be maintained.” _Public Leger_, March 4, 1899: “A PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA” “The movement which has long been on foot to establish a permanent symphony orchestra in this city, one which should from its inception challenge favorable comparison with any other orchestra in the United States, and one in which all who take an interest in music might feel a justifiable pride, has now taken such definite shape that its accomplishment is practically assured. “A perusal of the prospectus of the Philadelphia Permanent Orchestra which was issued yesterday by the committee who have piloted the undertaking into its present haven, an which will be found published in full on another page, shows that a paid-up fund of $250,000 is necessary for the work in hand. All who are interested in the civic progress of the city, an those in particular who are interested in music, are invited to contribute to the fund. “The details of the scheme speak for themselves, but the pith of the understanding is that $200,000 of the fund shall be permanently invested and the interest used for the advancement of the orchestra, while the $50,000 cash balance is to be devoted to the current expenses of the first few years. Preference is to be given to musicians resident in Philadelphia, and the Board of Trustees is to select the leader from conductors of acknowledged reputation at home or abroad. “That such an institution will be of great and permanent value to the city, there can be no possible doubt. A symphony orchestra of the calibre proposed is as essential to the musical taste of the rising generation as a well endowed public library is to their literary education. Without an acknowledged standard to judge by, musical taste and musical judgment become chaotic, and degenerate by feeding without discrimination on what is inferior.