The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-16
UPON THE EUROPEAN PLAN.
SCHEEL'S OFT-TALKED-OF Con-
SERVATORY MAY BECOME A
FACT AT LAST.
IT WAS Mrs. NEIrLER WHO IN
DUCED HIM TO COME TO
DECISION.

Ever since Scheel came to San Francisco
he has been talking of opening a conserva-
tory-strlctly first-class and on the Euro
pean plan. A year ago his factotum, Fritz
Blume, could talk nothing but conserva-
tory, and, as Blume did most OF the talkin g
for the popular conductor, it was hoped at
first that some great musical undertaking
was about to be commenced. Months
went by, however, and, as nothing ma
terialized, Scheel's acquaintance grew
skeptical about the conservatory.
But Scheel had not forgotten his dream,
and In moments of confidence he aired
to his friends. About month ago he was
crossing from Oakland with one or two
acquaintance, when one of them asked,
"How about the conservatory, Scheel ?"
Th conduc tor owned that he was not any
ne arer to open ing it, the dry business de-
tails being too sordid for his artistic mind.
"S hall L do that part of it for you?'
asked Mrs. Neitler, one of the party, who
had been friend of Scheel's in Germany,
and the conductor grasping her hand with
characteristic impulsiveness and fervor
swore that nothing would delight him
more.
And that was how Scheel's conservatory
came n carer to being an accomplished fact
was to supply the business ability and
manage Scheel; she was also to select a
house and furnish it. As for the con-
ductor, he was to walk in when everything
was ready and bring the pupils.
The arrangements being made the lady
set to work Immediately to carry them
out. With the eccentricity of musical
genius, Scheel did not trouble much about
ways and means. The first house upon
| which he set his affection called for a
rental OF $500 a month. Mrs. Neitler per-
suaded him to coIae down to a house that
was only about half that rent, and finally
settled upon LIS Suffer street. The place
viii probably soon be opened as con
servatory; Mrs. Neitler is only waiting, in
fact, for Scheel to engage his staff of pro-
fessors and begin, on the European plan
Tor great stress is laid upon that saving
clause, which will make the new conserva-
tory quite distinct from all its predeces-
sors.
Mrs. Neitler, who is a handsome
woman, speaking both German and Eng
lish fiuently, said yesterday: 81 have
known Scheel for years, and / thought
it such pity to see his conservatory idea
coming to nothing for want of business
ability, that 1t struck me the best thing 1
could do would be to look after it myself.
Amy number of people have tried to
dissuade me. 1t was only the other day
that Joe Redding said: Don't do it. You
| will I'LL your home with a lot of long
haired professors, and they won't any of
them have thing to eat Mrs. Marquardt
and ever so many more people have said
the conservatory could not succeed, but /
have taken the place now, and l mean to
go ahead"
When asked whether Mr.. Scheel had
taken an active part in the arrangements,
Mrs. Neitler laughed at the idea: ttHe
wanted to hold the classes in bare rooms,
furnished with states and benches, lust as
they do IN Europe, but | made him under
stand at last that people here expect some
thing very different. He promised to gel
me pictures of the composers, and some
handsome mirrors, but l notice they have
not materialized yet. The fact is that Mr..
Scheel has no idea of business, and outside
his music he does not seem able to attend
to anything. But in the conservatory the
music is what he will have to devote him
self to, and he can do that perfectly"
Fritz Scheel himself expressed great en-
thusiasm over the conservatory. ~ shall
have a chidren's class, an opera class
everything as they have in Europe, in
fact. In few days / shall have written
out the full course of study, but at present
l am too busy" And the popular con-
ductor dashed away to keep an engage
| ment.
But the question still remains: Is Schee]
talking in his infallible quality as a must
clan or as man without business abil-
lty" when he talks of giving San Francisco
a COnSerVatOrV-On tho EuroDean nlan?