The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-02-21
BY ESTHER GRIFFIN WHITE.

Why doesn't someone endoW our
symphony orchestra?
Just at the present moment it needs
to be financed.
No matter what the enthusiasm of
its members or how disinterested or
how civically patriotic or how imbued
with the spirit of art, it remains that
you can't run symphony orchestra
or any sort of an organiZation-with
out funds.
Mr.. Earhart organized and concen-
trated the artistic energies of this
body of musicians.
And it was kept together through
the force of his personality.
This year some arrangement was in
tended through which the professional
members of the orchestra could be
paid for their services at rehearsal
Rehearsals occur every Sunday
afternoon.
Naturally men who spend the other
six days of the week in the pursuit of
the dollar for necessary purposes feel
that their time on the additional after
noon should be paid for.
In other words the professional
musicians-namely, those who play in
professional bands and orchestras-
feel that they must receive some re-
enumeration for their services.
This is as it should be.
And as it is in all cities where a
symphony orchestra is maintained.
The Indianapolis Symphony orches-
ira, in instance.
Which has been in existence several
years.
And which has, for two seasons,
given orchestral concerts in the Murat
afternoon.
On February Ninth they celebrated
their second anniversary in the latter
phase of it's activities.
incidentally this is pointed to as an
interesting manifestation of the art
spirit of the state.
That this fine musical organization
has been able to give these Sunday
afternoon concerts for two years is
due to that public sentiment which
sustains it.
You can't legislate against public
sentiment.
And public sentiment in this state
is for the Sunday afternoon high class
concert.
Neither are the Indianapolis Sym
phony concerts sacred" They are
straight programs just as are given by
any orchestra, at any time, in any
place.
To make this organization possible,
the orchestra is financed by an orches-
trail organization made up of leading
citizens of Indianapolis, who enable
this body of musicians to remain to-
gether by payment for their attend
ance at rehearsals.
And the citizens of indianapolis who
do this are among the leading men of
the capital city.
This is true every place where an
orchestra is maintained
1t cannot subsist on love of art
alone.
People must live.
Musicians as we'll as the rest.
Therefore these musical bodies must
be financed.
The Minneapolis Symphony orches-
ira which recently visited this city is
made possible by the public spirited
citizens of Minneapolis.
Every year these latter guarantee
SOS, 900 for this purpose.
And it is one of the best advertise
ments Minneapolis has.
It's February tour included twenty
cities.
And its Spring tour nine weeks.
For many years the Chicago Sym
| phony orchestra has been able to keep
! up robust existence in the same
manner.
| Theodore Thomas struggled long
and hard before he was able to bring
| this about.
| Finally Chicago recognized the mu
nicipal asset such an organization
could be.
And organized for its emolument
Making it one of the famous orches
tras of the world.
| The Boston Symphony, admittedly
without peer on two continents, was