When the business of this season was settled, a new fund had to be procured; forty-three Philadelphians were found who were willing to risk a three-year pledge for an untried experiment, and a number more for shorter terms. When this three-year guarantee expired the Association was facing a crisis and was on the point of disbanding the orchestra. Then the newly formed Women’s Committee was appealed to with the information that an addition of ten thousand dollars to the Guarantee Fund, secured within two weeks, was the only hope of saving the orchestra. An account of this first effort by the women has been given in a previous chapter. They succeeded in securing a number of new guarantors for one, two and three-year terms, and completed the amount within the required time. The story of the next sixteen years is one of constant begging on the part of everybody connected with this institution. Many methods were used to explain the financial condition. The Minutes, the programme book, and the numerous letters issued bear witness to this fact. Many were the meetings called “to consider the financial status of the Association.” “Dear Sir or Madam: “At the end of the second season the Directors of the Philadelphia Orchestra find that the deficit will practically be the same as at the end of the first year, viz: $68,000 or $70,000. The expense of managing the organization has been reduced as much as possible, and if the organization is to be maintained on the same standard of excellence, the management feel that a large guarantee fund is necessary. “It is proposed to increase the guarantee fund from $40,000 to $100,000, and by so doing we would not have to call on the entire guarantee fund, possibly 50 per cent of such fund would be necessary. The prices of admission for boxes and seats in the various parts of the house are as low as it is possible to make them, so that the concerts are within easy reach of students of music. “The Orchestra during the past year has completed a season of 20 weeks, having given 71 concerts in all, 43 in Philadelphia and 28 outside of the City. In addition to these performances the orchestra or a large number of them have appeared at concerts of the Orpheus Club, the Choral Society, the Temple Chorus and the Maennerchor under their several conductors.” * * * * * “The management have done their utmost to make the orchestra a success, being aided in their efforts by the excellent conductorship of Herr Scheel. Private individuals and those interested in music have generously contributed, but it is to the public that we now look. By an increased season sale the receipts will be greatly increased, and consequently there will be more money to defray the expenses.