Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-11-11
ORCHESTRA FUND
OVERSUBSCR|BED
Pledges at Final Banquet Boost
Total From $oo4,ooo to
i~
$1,1oo,ooo
MANY MEMORIAL GIFT

The Philadelphia Orchestra drive /
went over the top last night with a |
total of 81 100000
'rhc amazing success of the cam
pagn is fitting tribute to our or
chestra. TO its conductor. Mr.. Sto-
kowSki. the foremost conductor in thr
country. and to Mr.. Alexander Van
Rensselaer,. its president. vino, for the |
last seventeen years. has devoted the
grentcG part of his time and effort to
it." said Edward Box. chairman of
the campaign committee.
The banquet in the Ritz Carlton last
night. which topped off the drive of
<'forty days and forty nights, as Mr.. !
= Box called it, was an occasion of color
full enthusiasm. 1t began with Il total
fund of $gO4 900.
But amid applause and daughter. the
total rose higher and higher. Reports
from the committee chaiimrn summed
an additional contribution of So1 600.
A testimonial tribute to Mr.. Van Rcns-
sclacr was raised on the spot Mt the
suggestion of Mr.. Box. who contributed
$4,000 ITO start the ball u-rolling.' and
whose contribution was matched by Cy-
rus II. *. Curtis. "a father who would
match his son, according to Mr.. p9k.
The entire tribute amounted TO S2QsTo0.
10 huuotpN biHnhtuUutE
Other memorial contributions an
nounccd at the banquet nctted $4,000.
One of them was Il contribution Of $1,000
by friend" as testimonial to Ru-
dolph Blankenburg. There was II time
when Philadelphia had/a Mayor said
Mr.. Box. "lIc was Rudolph Blanken-
burg. He was not only II good Mayor,
but he was great friend of the Phila-
delphia Orchestra
Mr.. Box said the official teller might
add S12.2J0 to the fund because the
Victor Talking Machine Co. of Camden
had increased its original gift of $500
by that much.
Mr.. and Mrs. e. II. Stotcsbury CON
tributcd $4,000 This is surprise
for you," said Mr.. Stokowski. Sun
day morning | received card with the
name of +. Il. Stotesbury on it. |
went downstairs. and Mr.. Stotcsbury
handed me a check for 500, 900.
Mrs. Rudolph Blankcnburg then con
tributed 500 and Mr.. Van Rensselaer,
$1,000 to bring the entire total up to
81 100. 900.
'What a wonderful emotion feel to
realize by your generosity your Won
derful intrest in the Orchestra said
Ieopold Stokowski "It is surprising
to think that the Philadelphia Orchestra
can now go on forever and ever. we
alb want Immortality: we all want 2
finer and nobler life for the future. And
it is a great emotion to realize that
/. some one or something we love can go
on forever and forever. | thank you
sfrom the deeps of my heart. y
Signatures of Stars
This last meeting and banquet was
pithy with interest. Eleventh hour con ..
tributions were,thrown about recklessly
bNlr tl,n .nt PC
of the evening auctioned Oft Sloo
Fourth Liberty Loan. Bond which was
contributed bv the Metropolitan Opera
Company Of New York, and which was
signed by Caruso, Mrs. Caruso. tarrar r,
Amato, Gatti- Casa2za. BOdanski, Scotti
and Rothier. 1t was bought for $1,000
by John +, Braun.
''Tonight." said Mr.. Box. 81 shall
tell you a secret. Folks have been ask ,
resigned. And I have never really tod
them. Tonight I spill the beans, 81
knew an Orchestra campaign was about
due. / had choice between my old job
and the Orchestra Craftsmanship, !
wanted this. SO l resigned the other
And I'm proud of the campaign.
This campaign is the most econom
ical campaign ever conducted IN thls
= CITY. We ran this campaign at a cost
uOJ pNCPtulllS H-c'buV. lis 10 W '''J
only per cent of our proceeds were
used for expenses. The drive has
brought the Orchestra many new
friends There have been approXimatelS
10000 subscribers to this fund: Ant
these subscribers hereafter will know
the Orchestra in an entirely dltteren
way They will follow where thei1
money has gone.
God Bless WOmen.'
"And may / add that the mems com
mttee collected $345 ZOO, in the drive
y the women, $3.50, 900. God bless th'
women!
In introducing Mr.. Curtis, Mr.; Boi
paid him a glowing tribute. VIVA
] am. whatever | have. said Mr.. BOX
81 owe to Mr.. Curtis
Our Orchestra is of exceptions,
business advantage to Philadelphia
said Mr.. Curtis. Fifty years ago
was a boy in Portland, Me-, and
went on occasions to hear the great or
csn in Boston, That organ was an as
a set to Boston, it drew folks from al
over New England to Boston. In 1871
came the great peace jubilee. ana TN
enormous Colosseum was erected with
seating capacity for thousands and stag
room for a chorus of 10000. The
came the Boston Symphony Orchestra
bringing renown to the city; no,
short -visioned men must be, VINO can
see that business and sentiment mix
"Six years ago, the people built I, a a
extraordinary organ in the City Ha
of Portland. They had concerts daily
and the chief of police used to say that
now the organ was there, all the crook
spent their time in City Hall singln
HYMNS. That organ put Portland o
the map.
Visit to Portland
'In February, 1915, the PhiladeI
nhia Orchestra came for the first tim
70 Portland. Nobody wanted 1t peIor
it came because t3ey salT Rut tneS after uiuI III
t;rst concert. they clamored for more
IF Philadelphia wouldn't have gon