All was not smooth sailing during the early years or for years to come. Scheel had enemies, so did the orchestra. Many people were not pleased when plans other than their own succeeded, and there was unpleasant comment from time to time. This was gradually overcome by the sincere attitude and the industry of the conductor and the improvement in the playing of the orchestra. The Beethoven Cycle, the Strauss concerts and the appearance of Weingartner were helps to popularity, not a sudden popularity, but one achieved by real worth. Scheel was fast making a place for himself in the musical life of the city, and in 1905 he was engaged as leader of the Orpheus Club and of the Eurydice Chorus to succeed Dr. Frank Damrosch. This put added burdens onto him, but it was not understood then that the strain of leading an orchestra is enough for one man. Recognition also came from outside of Philadelphia. Scheel had the compliment paid him of being invited to lead two concerts in New York in place of Theodore Thomas, who had recently died, which concerts were to mark the semi-centennial of Thomas’s connection with the Philharmonic Orchestra. Unfortunately, conflicting dates made acceptance impossible. He was even spoken of as a possible successor to Thomas by Mr. Louis Elson, of Boston, who said: “There is a most thorough and progressive musician, who is perfectly fitted for the Chicago position—Mr. Fritz Scheel of Philadelphia. This conductor, although he has been in America but a short time, has already won his spurs and proved his right to the highest orchestral position. He is not too conservative, an essential point with an orchestral conductor of the present.” In the meantime the concerts in Philadelphia were constantly improving, and the number had increased from six single concerts to eighteen pairs in six years. Out-of-town concerts in nearby places had been attempted with varying financial results. The Board of Directors, the Executive Committee and various Sub-committees worked hard to advance the interests of the orchestra. The standard of excellence was kept at a high point. Fritz Scheel, ever ambitious for this venture in America, and possessing a keen artistic sense, produced programmes of excellence, which equalled and sometimes surpassed those of older American orchestras. CHAPTER IV THE WOMEN’S COMMITTEES FOR THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA To the Philadelphia Orchestra Association belongs the distinction of first having promulgated the idea of procuring assistance from Women’s Committees.