New-York tribune., 1919-08-31

nitted to qualify my answers, which
did, by saying that the hall should be
either large enough for the big con-
certs or small enough for effective
chamber music and recitals, both being
desirable. had an inkling of the
source whence the suggestion had
come to him and to quiet an appre-
hension which felt, that if he built a
hall under the influences which were
working upon him, it would be popu-
larly looked upon as a monument to
one of the cliques into which musical
New York was then divided Gas it still
is, and probably always will be),
pleaded for hall which should be the
neutral meeting place Of all parties
the home equally of the Philharmonic,
Symphony and Oratorio societies and
free from monopolization by any piano
forte manufacturer. urged that the
Philharmonic Society, which had been
ambitious to own q hall since its ear
liest days, be asked to subscribe to a
nominal amount Of stock and the
other societies also, and that William
Steinways interest be also enlisted.
to put too much trust in an individual,
who l suspected to be his chief adviser.
Then one Of the traits of his character,
of which he was fond of speaking came
prominently to the fore. II never
make mistake in choosing my agents."
said, he; ~ have picked my business
associates and let them get rich while
making me richer. That's the secret
of my success"
However, he agreed with me on gen.
eral principles, and said that he would
talk to his friend Mr. Steinway, if
would bring the matter to the atten-
tion of the Philharmonic Society.
consulted with Mr.. Theodore Thomas
at once, and he undertook to bring the
Philharmonic directors into line for
the project. II was living in the hope
that the communal plan would be car
ried out when | met Mr.. Carnegie's ad-
wiser on train coming from Philadel-
phia, and was told by him that Mr.,
Carnegie would build hall at Fifty
seventh Street and Seventh Avenue.
Before building operations were begun,
the Madison Square Garden project was
broached, and it was proposed that in
stead Of small concert room, the
building be made to include a large
concert hall. Mr.. Carnegie sent me the
architects plans and asked my opinion.
am under the impression that l wrote
him, favoring a plan to substitute a
large concert hall for the Garden Thea
tre. | heard no more about it. Mr..
Carnegie followed the advice of his
friend and intrusted him with the work
of looking after the purchase of the
land and the construction of Carnegie
Hall.
Though know of no musical endow-
ments by Mr.. Carnegie in America
other than those which l have men,
toned, there is Carnegie Trust in
Great Britain of which music mas been
a beneficiary. Many organs have been
built in parishes and, l suppose, also IN
independent churches, and last year d
publication scheme was put into opera
tion for the first time. With funds
derived from the trust no less than
seven compositions of large dimensions
were published. They were a symphony
for contralto solo, chorus and orches-
ira, entitled Before Sunrise" by E. L.
Bainton; "Hebridean Symphony" by
Granville Bantock; A"The Immortal
Hour" an opera by Rutland Bough-
ton; "The Sea-" a symphonic suite by
Frank Rridpe. q nuartet for nianofa.+a