The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-12
MONTMENT 10 HIMSELF.
4 Chance for Some Rich Man, SAYS Mile. Ma
rie Deccn.


There is a chance for rich man i'm this city
TO erect himself monument" was the remark
which Mis-, Marie Decca made last night TO
representative OF TIE TBns AZ the Exchange
Hotel while in conversation about the prospects
of Professor ShaN's orchestra, when 'oFti'u
itself with glory at the PHILHARMONIC Com en-.
given at the Academy Oh MUSIC oh l"''""'
Fit has been my pleasure 10 sing a. the mrs.
Philharmonic Concert ~ TINS city. Hi'a -
went on 20 say. "and was very much pitas'l
last night 90 SEE that the orchestra mas so
improved i'm comparatively so short a ilne. iii'
goes to show that II The members oI me oICI5
ira hal the time and opportunity 10 EtrII,'
tlem,elye, there could be no reason why thc
orchestra could not become OF the Lr'l-CIa,N
order, and it Is greatly 70 be- regretted, .hIee'
that there is chance OF ITS dlsbahnIhthl OH az
count of financial dlthculty
Now IA the time for one Of the rich men jill
this city 10 come 10 the front anu 90 ~ lhS lll-
terest OF his fellow citizens lust what UT ms
gibson did some time ago in BOSTON VIZ. i.
kindly advanced the money for the orgahl1ati,t
of AN orchestra. which az this time can salcA io
called the best one IN the world even NOT llo
one i'm Vienna excepted. g.
There has been so much money spent Tor
parks bOuleyards and other Improvement
towards the identifying of the city bqt i j. Il
great pity that no one as yet has ielt called lpvh
10 DO something for the advancement or ART
The amount necessary To perpetuate the orc l'9-
ira would not DE very great. PROFESSOR SHAW
and his men worked very hard indeed, ana IL Is
greatly 20 be regretted If the orchestra womb
have 20 disband after giving four concerts only
There should be an endowment Iuhu SUM-
cient 10 keep the orchestra alive until 10 can De
made self-sustalning. This Is Just WHAT M
HigglnsOn did IN Boston. lie furnished the
necessary funds and paid for the rent OF ne
hall where the musicians could pracuce' Inc
| orchestra went along very nicely, anu they De-
| became soon self-sustalnlng and are ar prs SEM
making money They not only refunded pr.
/ HigginsOn the amount which lac 80 generously
advanced. but they are now paying him COM
! mission on their income.
/ There is no reason why such an orchestra
could not be made self-supportlng III TINS 'llg.
Richmond could easily be made sort OF lnllsi-
/ cal centre for the South, and It's orchestra could
| give concerts at the principal cities 40 various
/ timcs-fOr instance az the music festival az
/ Petersburg. Professor Shaw ought % be paid a
| good salary for year on trial by some gen,
erOus citizen, and II one man could not De Iouhi
! 10 do this, perhaps u might be wise 10 get Two
or three rich men 70 form company Tor that
The sum Of $4,000. together with the'receipts
! OF their concert, would be sufficient 20 give the
orchestra fair start Tor year, and az the emo
OF that time they would very probably be IN 4
position TO support themselves and To- refund
/ the money advanced, II this was desired.
AT the time when Mr.. Higglnson began %
back up the Boston symphony Orchestra the
| play was rather poor one, but the musicians
| soon became more perfect, and their engage
ments kept on increasing All the time, until last
! year they became 80 numerous that the orchestra
could not I'LL them all. An orchestra Of this KIND
| once started in this city would soon md enough
! 70 do. for the rich men Of this city would be
ANXIOUS to have them play at garden parties,
! weddings. and other festivals.
The Philharmonic orchestra, IN Brooklyn,
was started IN q similar manner as that in Bos-
ton, by public spirited citizen, whose name Il
! now forever connected with the fortunes OF that
| organization. The Southern people are known
| a. a lc-lOyng people and they certainly
| should be able TO support flrst-class orchestra
| The Peabody orchestra IN Baltimore was backed
| by the knabe people until they succeeded IN be-
The trouble is," Miss Decca continued. that
outsiders have no idea OF the enormous amount
| of money necessary 70 arrange for a few con.
certs only For instance. there are the orches-
ira parts 10 be written out, and II takes time
and labor 20 do That's the conductor who re-
hearses his men two OF three hours every morn.
ing and evening loses his time, for which he
ought to be compensated. Ii there
was permanent orchestra. with well.
stocked library. there would be COM
paratiyely little work for the members. A man
who would give part Of his surplus 10 establish
suchan institution, would make,his name eternal
and the fact alone that he was Instrumental IL
the promotion Of art IN this beautiful city
should be sufficient gratlncatlOn Tor nm to dC
II even at sacrifice.
with each other IN the advancing OF art IL II
rather strange TO see how much more successful
woman will be. A man goes on IN his own way
but he does not possess the tact OF woman, who
cess An illustration for this fact is furnished
in the case of Mrs, Thurber; For many year
men had failed TO induce Congress 10 pass al
act creating national conservatory of musi,
and il WAS left for this little woman. to do tn
work and in six months she succeeded in he
efforts TO have the law enacted which gave tn,
grounds and building in Washington Tor tina
purpose.
| or gives his helping hand for the establishment
Of a permanent orchestra, would only follow tn
example Of Andrew Carnegie. He was a self
made man, but he thought enough OF art 4
erect a splendid conservatory Of music AZ Sew
enth avenue and Fifth avenue IN New York city
the place where he made most OF his money. an'
Pittsburg. Similar deeds could be done il
Richmond. A fine conservatory could be bull
] Without difficulty. containing 4 largo hall 70