Chapter VII: The Support of the Public Press

Long before the project of a permanent orchestra for Philadelphia received any degree of public support, the newspapers of this city in a body used their influence in favor of such an institution. Some one has spoken of newspaper life as a “career for patriots,” and surely the editors of the daily papers deserve this title, if any newspaper men do. No stone was left unturned to further the effort for a first-class modern orchestra in this city. Paid-for space announcing performances is one thing. Editorials by the column and general information, besides the work of the music critic for each paper are another. In the orchestra archives are scrapbooks filled with editorials of immense value to the cause. For the newspaper is a marvelous teacher of public taste and a molder of public opinion. What would the task have been for such a small number of people, first five, then eight, then twenty-four, to which were presently added twenty-one women, if such support had not been prompt and constant? The gallant list of newspapers, some of which no longer exist is, the _Evening Bulletin_, the _Evening Ledger_, the _Evening Telegraph_, the _Item_, _The Inquirer_, the _North American_, the _Press_, the _Public Ledger_, the _Record_, the _Times_. Not only was support given to the orchestra itself, but to the Women’s Committees in every undertaking. For this publicity the Philadelphia Orchestra is in deep debt to the Philadelphia papers.

Of the music critics it can be said that they are human in their likes and dislikes, but have always been really interested and friendly.

One newspaper writer must be mentioned. Mrs. Cornelius Stevenson, as “Peggy Shippen” used her clever pen to further the cause and especially the work of the Women’s Committees; and was an honorary vice-president from the beginning until her death. She was also one of the original guarantors. She was not a music critic, but in her youth she had possessed a fine contralto voice and she was a devoted music-lover.

So many articles and extracts have already been given that only one more will be added in order to prove that Philadelphia newspapers and many others have been warm friends of the Philadelphia Orchestra.

_Evening Telegraph_, March 18th, 1901, Editorial:

“FOR A PERMANENT ORCHESTRA”

“A constituency of nearly 3,000,000 people within sight
of William Penn’s statue on the Public Buildings ought
to be able to support all the institutions pertaining
to a great modern metropolis. The newspapers,
the hotels, the theatres, the great stores, the
transportation facilities, and the institutions of
learning and of science in Philadelphia will compare
favorably with those of any other community of
2,000,000 in the world; while the Park attractions,
and the galleries and exhibitions of works of art are,
in some important respects, far above the standard
referred to. One factor of the metropolitan order of
civilization has, however, been lacking. Up to a very
recent period, Philadelphia has not kept pace with
the modern procession in the public recognition of
the value of music as a factor of civic life. While
several American cities of half the size and quarter of
the wealth have each maintained a permanent orchestra
of the first class, Philadelphia has not had such an
organization of any class. True, the Germania Orchestra
made a brave struggle for existence, aided by the
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, and, for a time,
gave promise of building up a permanent orchestral
structure on a solid basis, but this endeavor was
made largely at the cost of the musicians. While the
Germanians and others who have devoted time and money
to the service of the community deserve and should be
given credit and honor for their labors, it yet remains
true that to establish a permanent orchestra worthy of
the city, the first requirement is a solid financial
foundation to build on.

“Such a foundation is the one thing we need to
provide at this hour. We can today secure a permanent
orchestra of the best type for our city by providing a
permanent basis for its support. We are fortunate in
having here at this time a musician who is at once a
thorough artist and an efficient drill master—a rare
combination of qualities that gave to the late Anton
Seidl the highest place among orchestral leaders. It
is not necessary to institute comparisons between Mr.
Fritz Scheel and other conductors, but it is proper to
say he has demonstrated the possession of these higher
qualities that go to the making of a great leader. He
has done wonders with the material at his command in
this city, and that, too, under conditions unfavorable
enough to discourage any less enthusiastic musician
or less energetic worker. In view of what he has
already accomplished in the comparatively short time
he has been at work here, it is a safe and reasonable
presumption that if given a guarantee of control for
five years, with means enough available to warrant
satisfactory contracts with competent musicians, Mr.
Scheel would create for us a permanent orchestra second
to none in this country. There is no question as to
his ability to undertake this task; the only thing
to be determined being whether we are wise enough
and farseeing enough to strengthen his hands for its
accomplishment.”