“That such an organization will draw full houses, those who have seen the Academy packed to the ceiling at every concert given by the Boston Symphony Orchestra will not doubt, an the fact that Philadelphia has enabled a grand opera company of the first magnitude to give an extended season here with a large margin of profit for the past two years, is another demonstration of the existence of a large musical public. It must be admitted that the musical public of Philadelphia is peculiar in some respects; it has a rooted antipathy to mediocrity and an invincible dislike of being managed from New York. But the public know what they want. They have long wanted an orchestra—a real orchestra—of their own. Various obstacles have cropped up from time to time in the way, but the last one—the war with Spain—no longer exists; the way has been cleared and the time is ripe for the accomplishment of its desire. “The names of the committee who will direct the affairs of the orchestra are substantial guarantees of an able, impartial and business-like administration of its affairs, and the names of those who have endorsed it financially, a list that will be double and trebled in a few days, are certain indications that the orchestra will shortly be an accomplished fact.” APPENDIX N LITERATURE OF EARLY DAYS FIRST CIRCULAR ANNOUNCING THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA MAILED IN SEPTEMBER, 1900, TO ABOUT 4000 PEOPLE THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA 85 Performers MR. FRITZ SCHEEL, Conductor A series of six Symphony Concerts will be given at the Academy of Music during the season of 1900-1901, on the following dates: Friday evening, November 16; Friday evening, December 14; Friday evening, January 18; Friday evening, February 8; Wednesday evening, March 6; Friday evening, April 19. Soloists of the first rank will assist at the concerts, and names will be announced as soon as pending engagements have been made. The prices of season tickets, with reserve seats to the six concerts, are: Boxes with six seats $75; boxes with four seats $50; other seats $8, $6 and $4; proscenium boxes on application. Sale of seats to holders of Patronesses’ Cards will begin at Miss Harris’s office, No. 1115 Chestnut Street, on Wednesday morning, October 10, at 9 o’clock.