“‘The lot of the orchestral conductor is the same, for he belongs to the class of interpreters, with the Garricks, the Marios, the Paganinis. No matter what magic comes from the baton that he waves, once that baton is laid down, the magic is dead.’ “REVIEWED MR. SCHEEL’S WORK” “Mr. Wister then went on to sketch briefly the work of Mr. Scheel from the time he came to this country and of his residence in Philadelphia for nine years, beginning with the conducting of the Amateur Symphony Orchestra and including the years he was at the head of the Philadelphia Orchestra. He said: “‘Arduous were the pioneer steps, but between each one lie many struggles, many examples of generosity, of munificent giving on the part of private citizens; some gave their time and some their purse and some both. Without their persmission (for they would refuse it), let the names of the pioneers be mentioned: “‘Mrs. A. J. Cassatt and that hardworking committee of four: Messrs. Edward Keffer, Edward McCollin, John Ingham, Oliver Judson. Let us remember next the boundless generosity of Alexander Van Rensselaer and Thomas McKean, who poured their thousands out like a royal gift; nor let us ever forget Miss Anne Thomson and Miss Mary Gibson; to let any of these names go in silence today, would be to fail in due appreciation. And for Henry Whelen, his untiring devotion of time and purse, let a special word of remembrance be said.’ “‘But for the loyal help of all these we might not be here—nor should we, if, in a dark hour, when masculine endurance gave out, feminine energy had not stepped in.’ “Mr. Wister then followed with a eulogy of Mr. Scheel, the ‘artist’ as well as Mr. Scheel the ‘man.’ In conclusion he said: “‘So did his work end. Many must be sitting here today who well remember those years when Theodore Thomas played to a mere handful of listeners in this house; when tickets were given away by the dozen and the fifty, in order that there might not be a desert of empty seats. “‘But it was not a barren field that Theodore Thomas sowed the seed in. He made it ready for the Boston Orchestra, and thus at length arrived the man and the hour for a Philadelphia Orchestra. We have grown to understand the great value of such music, not only the pleasure it gives, but its educational and civilizing importance; and, although now and again some benighted voice is raised against systematic musical instruction in our schools, the day of the municipal savage draws to its close!