Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-25
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
AN APPEAL MADE TO THE PUBLIC
FOR SUPPORT.
Unless Prompt Response is Made Or
ganiEation Will Disand-A Fund
of $4,000 Needed.

Orchestra:
1.-THE Washington Symphony Orchestra
must have larger public support or ter
inmate its season abruptly, after notice TO
the musicians, and in all probability go
permanently out of existence with the
stamp of failure upon it, thereby rendering
futile all efforts along this line for many
years to come.
"While not as large numerically as most
symphony orchestras, it compares favor
ably in quality with any other orchestra of
equal size in this country or elsewhere.
Mr. de Koven's tender of his services as
conductor and the initial subscriptions of
two persons made possible the beginning of
three years ago, beginning which has
been fostered by those who have felt that
the result would be worth the effort, until
the limit seems now about reached.
THE hope is often expressed that Wash
ington may be to this country what the
great capitals of Europe, London, Berlin,
raris Vienna, are today as art centers.
But can it ever be-. no matter what our
growth and development in other respects,
idents generally having some degree of ma
tional pride stride? The beginning must
come from within, not from without.
The cry is heard that we need hall
music hall or other well-equipped and
suitably located place of public assem-
blage, adaptable to large affairs-concerts,
conventions, inaugural balls, and the like.
The greatest patron of such an auditorium
would be good music. and the true course
to secure a hall is to create and maintain
demand for it. The Symphony Orchestra is
an important step in this direction and the
fact that it was necessary to give concerts
at or near the dinner hour of many people,
or during business hours of hosts of 9TH
ers on Sunday nights at a theater did
not deter those who launched this move
ment and has not yet completely discour-
aged those who have since maintained it
amid constant diScoura gements.
The orchestra was incorporated in
May last, is organized in the form of a
stock company, capitalized at $50, 600
with shares placed at the popular price
of So, worcestershire and without indi-
vidual responsibility attaching to the
shareholders. This makes it possible for
hundreds who are fond of good music or
wish to cultivate a taste for it in them
selves or their families to become share
holders. and hence part owners, so to
speak, and active participants in a move
ment which they may hereafter be able
to look back to with pardonable sense
OF pride. And yet the efforts made pri-
vately thus far have resulted in a total
subscription list of 102 persons, few of
these not wishing to be stockholders, and
sun a few others giving amounts less
than So, doing what they could to show
their desire to have the highest form of
good music an established fixture in the
national capital. The total stock and
guarantee subscription is $9,497, in sums
ranging from IS to So 400.
The few who by large subscriptions
added to from time D time to meet new
eXlgencies, have ma it possible for the
orchestra to continlr up to this point
feel that unless there appears to he n
strong public sentiment for the continue
ance of the orchestra and one that shall
take substantial form and not consist
ing or mere praise or regrets, it is well
to discontinue the effort without unneces-
sary delay, before the debt of 81 500 all
ready incurred grows out of all proper
tlon to the seeming Importance of the
matter to the Washington public
An etlclent symphony orchestra well
supported is, and can be made more than it
is, valuable factor in the DEVELOPMENT of
the capital as residence city and as the
great national center of American wealth
and refinement AS such it ought to an
peal to the business element of the civ
apart from those whose interest springs
chiehy from a fondneSS for good music
The opportunity is now presented for an
eVnclng OF the interest which all classes
feel or should feel in the material and ar
tlstic advancement of the capital
1t is desired to raise substitution of at
least $4,000, One-third payable at once to
insure the continuance of the orchestra
Tor the present season and at least the sea-
son Following. The sum is much less than
mas been easily and quickly raised for occa-
SONS OF few days duration of onlv tern
porary value. If the orchestra can he
saved now it is probable that the local or
chestfa interests can be combined with
those OF baltimore, where an orchestra fund
OF 100000 is already pledged, thus insuring
10 the TWO cities essentially local or
chestra, larger and even more efficient than
that at present enjoyed by the Washington
musical public.
AS business and professional men and
music lovers, having for the most part no
professional connection of business char
acter with musical matters. we address
IN oil h.
IN substantial manner to their desire that
the work we have undertaken continue.
Ihe Evening Star will receive and acknowl-
edge all subscriptions
ANY further information desired NAV he
obtained from Mr. De Koven, from the
manager, Mr.. Wrightson, 1920 F street. or
rom the treasurer, Mr.. Stevens, SIT 18th
street This appeal is signed by Thomas
De koven, John Hay, Owen c. Staples,
MRS George Tod Ford, George Peabody
,Metmore, VIM. F. Draper, Mrs. Florence T.
ma%ser' p Mrs Abastair Gordon Cum
Dit, Mrs. John III. Roche, Mrs James b.
Z erhins VIM Barrett Ridgely. Mrs. Arthur
Lee Mrs. Hunt Slater. Royal E. Fox. Mrs
mons, Mrs. Euphrasia Cruikshank. n r
Johnson Mrs. H. C. Lodge, Mrs. Edward
douglas White. VIM. B. King, Mrs. Mary
Il T Tnsersa,, Bernard r. Green, Miss Fannie
Bradley, VIM A. Slater, Miss Tuckerman.
s. w: Woodward, Mrs. Laura w. Lowndes'
Mrs. Harriet Porter. Mrs. Herman c. Rake
ney Sydney Lloyd Wrightson. Mrs Colin
Powys Campbell. Col. George L. Andrews.
Mrs Samuel Hill. Charles C. Hornung. Mrs.
caroline Cohen. p. Francis Riggs, w. p.
Pierce, J. Martin Scranage, James r Rar-
beur, A. ]. Lewis, Miss Mary Gwynn, VIM.
Knabe & Co.. Miss Alice E. Burbage. M. G.
Audenried, Mrs. 8. s. Trip, Herman c.
Rakemann, B. Pickman Mann the Wagner
Brahm Club, Henry May, the Friday Morn
ing Music Club, Mrs. Sarah b. Dean Mrs.
Maud T. Ely. Edmund Pendleton, r. B.
Caverly; e. g. Schafer, Arnold Hague, Ed
ward Eberbach, J. w. Jeudwine. Mrs. Mar