CHAPTER IV

THE WOMEN’S COMMITTEES FOR THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA

To the Philadelphia Orchestra Association belongs the distinction of first having promulgated the idea of procuring assistance from Women’s Committees.

These were formed to promote out-of-town concerts in Harrisburg, Lancaster, Allentown and Trenton. In 1902-03, during the second season of concerts in those cities, it became evident that help was needed to increase interest in the concerts and procure a larger audience. Miss Mary Sergeant, sister of Mrs. A. J. Dallas Dixon, of Philadelphia, undertook this work in Harrisburg; Miss Hall became the Chairman in Trenton; Mrs. A. J. Steinman, in Lancaster; and Mrs. Robert E. Wright, in Allentown. These committees worked hard to make the Philadelphia Orchestra concerts successful.

No help of this kind seems to have been thought of for Philadelphia until the financial situation became so acute in 1904, as to endanger the life of the orchestra.

THE WOMEN’S COMMITTEE FOR THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA AND THE FIRST TEN THOUSAND

Each year had become more difficult financially and while the orchestra was learning many tunes the Board of Directors could remember but one. They constantly repeated the same question: “Where shall we get the money?” with variations. The Academy was not sold out; if it had been it would not have paid expenses. Nobody wanted to hear the Philadelphia Orchestra. The general attitude was that there were too many concerts, that even the Boston Symphony Orchestra gave only five in a series, and that only a few extreme musical enthusiasts went to the two Boston series, a total of ten. The Executive Committee and the Board of Directors spent hours discussing means of procuring more guarantors to meet the increasing deficit. Every improvement in players or special soloists meant money.

The Guarantee Fund for a three-year term expired in the spring of 1904, and there would be an extra deficit of $16,000. The Association was facing a crisis. No contracts could be made without some financial background.

Just at this moment an idea occurred to Mrs. Edward G. McCollin, wife of a member of the Executive Committee. After approaching several friends on this subject and failing to interest them, Mrs. McCollin one day spoke to Mrs. A. J. Dallas Dixon, who persuaded Mrs. C. Stuart Patterson to call a meeting. The result was that a number of women met at Mrs. Dixon’s house, 709 Pine Street, to discuss plans to assist the orchestra, on March 11th, 1904. Mrs. Dixon was elected president and on March 13th, a Women’s Committee of twenty was formally organized. The officers and directors were:[14]

MRS. A. J. DALLAS DIXON, _President_ MRS. SPENCER ERVIN, _First Vice-president_ MRS. THOMAS S. HARRISON, _Second Vice-president_ MRS. E. G. MCCOLLIN, _Corresponding Secretary_ MRS. E. COLEMAN LEWIS, _Recording Secretary_ MRS. ALFRED REGINALD ALLEN, _Treasurer_

_Directors_ MRS. S. NAUDAIN DUER MRS. GEORGE A. HUHN MRS. THEODORE N. ELY MRS. EDWARD I. KEFFER MRS. SAMUEL S. FELS MRS. W. L. MCLEAN MRS. SIMON B. FLEISHER MRS. JOHN B. MILES MRS. J. M. GAZZAM MRS. N. DUBOIS MILLER MISS BEULAH HACKER MRS. MORRIS PFAELZER MRS. WALTER HORSTMANN MRS. GEORGE D. WIDENER MISS FRANCES A. WISTER

[14] For present membership see Appendix K.

Later the following Honorary Vice-presidents accepted:

Mrs. Wm. W. Arnett, Mrs. George F. Baer, Mrs. Alexander W. Biddle, Mrs. John Cadwalader, Mrs. Alexander J. Cassatt, Mrs. Charles B. Coxe, Miss Mary K. Gibson, Mrs. Austin S. Heckscher, Mrs. Charles Edward Ingersoll, Mrs. Thomas McKean, Jr., Mrs. C. Stuart Patterson, Mrs. Frank Rosengarten, Mrs. Cornelius Stevenson, Miss Anne Thomson, Mrs. Alexander Van Rensselaer, Mrs. Henry Whelen, Jr.

[Illustration: MRS. ALEXANDER J. DALLAS DIXON]

The original of this letter is preserved in the archives of the Committee:

“MRS. MCCOLLIN “Dear Madam:

“I wish to say on behalf of the Executive Committee of the Philadelphia Orchestra that our Committee is in hearty sympathy with the effort to form a Women’s Committee, and fully appreciates the kindness of the ladies who propose to form such a Committee in coming to the assistance of the Association, at a rather critical time. We fully endorse any measures you see fit to take in carrying out your plans.

Yours very truly, JOHN H. INGHAM, _Secretary_ 333 South 16th Street

“March 13, 1904.”

Committees on Guarantors, Boxes and General Subscriptions were formed and their labors began.

The first work which the women undertook at the request of the Executive Committee was to secure $10,000, in new guarantees within the first month of its existence; the Executive Committee feeling that the best indication of a desire to continue the orchestra would be shown by an increase in the Guarantee Fund.

The Committee at once went to the musical critics of the various Philadelphia newspapers and secured their hearty co-operation in the work of rousing the public to an appreciation of the musical and civic importance of the orchestra. Within the allotted time the Committee had not only secured more than $10,000 in new guarantees, but had received new orders for $5,000 worth of seats and boxes for the next season. The Association thereupon decided to continue the orchestra for one more year, hoping that public interest would continue to increase.

The Guarantee Committee appointed by Mrs. Dixon to raise this sum was composed of Mrs. Spencer Ervin, now Mrs. Harold E. Yarnall, Chairman; Mrs. Morris Pfaelzer, Mrs. Edward I. Keffer, Mrs. George D. Widener and Miss Frances A. Wister, Secretary. A careful plan was made for this attack upon the public purse and all the members of the Committee threw themselves into the task of raising this large sum for a little known and unpopular cause.

Lists of prospective guarantors were compiled and each woman was assigned her quota of people to approach. The time was short, the pace was quick and the excitement was great. To at least one member it was a first experience at raising a large amount, but the novelty quickly wore off in the face of the continuous needs of the Association.

The Committee on Seats and Boxes became active at once, and Mrs. McCollin as Chairman of the Press Committee attended most ably to the publicity. Numberless articles appeared describing the Committee and its activities, and the help of the papers was very valuable.

Another way of making the orchestra and the Committee known was the parlor meetings. These were held in various places, with speakers of influence in the community. The first of these took place at the residence of Mrs. Thomas S. Harrison. Addresses were made by Dr. Alfred C. Lambdin, Mr. Constantin von Sternberg, Miss Esther Kelly and Miss Wister. No money was asked for at these meetings which were held in all sections of Philadelphia and vicinity during many seasons. The fact that Philadelphia had an orchestra was the point emphasized, as there was general ignorance of its existence. Then its importance to the musical life of the city and its needs were mentioned. Perhaps the most useful work next to procuring guarantors was the formation of the Auxiliary. These women were elected and asked to become season seat holders. The reports of the sale of boxes and season seats show thousands of dollars secured in new orders during the first years and frequent comment is made upon the improved appearance of the house through the filling of the boxes. The Friday house has been sold out for a number of years, but the Saturday house was a more difficult problem and only recently has been filled by season subscribers.

The list of activities was never-ending, and included visits to music schools, circulars, appeals, the co-operation of libraries, orchestra clubs, special rates for students, parlor meetings, of which Mrs. Keffer became Chairman in 1905, letters to friends in other cities where the orchestra was to appear and many more. The results were good. Between 1904-05 and 1907-08, the total sales of new orders for seats and boxes amounted to $29,670.00, and new guarantees amounted to $37,500.

THE GERMANTOWN AND CHESTNUT HILL WOMEN’S COMMITTEE

The activity of the Women’s Committee during its first year of existence and the great need of the Association brought about the formation of a second Committee in Germantown and Chestnut Hill, on March 28th, 1905, under the leadership of Mrs. Francis Howard Williams, a woman prominent in every good cause.

MRS. FRANCIS HOWARD WILLIAMS, _President_[15] MISS ANNA HAZEN HOWELL, _Recording Secretary_ MRS. HENRY W. RAYMOND, _Corresponding Secretary_ MRS. AUGUSTUS STOUGHTON, _Treasurer_ MISS FRANCES A. WISTER, _Secretary_ for the Guarantee Fund

No sooner were these women organized than they threw themselves enthusiastically into work in their section and have since co-operated with the Women’s Committee in every undertaking. They raised $26,825 for the Million Dollar Endowment Fund.

Mrs. Williams declined to be a candidate for the presidency in 1916 and was succeeded by the Countess of Santa Eulalia, who still holds that office. The Committee has recently celebrated its Twentieth Anniversary.

THE WEST PHILADELPHIA WOMEN’S COMMITTEE

Shortly afterwards, on April 6th, 1905, the spirit moved the women of West Philadelphia to form a third Committee. Mrs. C. Lincoln Furbush, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Burnham, staunch supporters of the orchestra, organized it at her mother’s house, and became its first president and the youngest of Women’s Committee presidents.

The officers were:

MRS. C. LINCOLN FURBUSH, _President_[16] MISS MARGARETTA HINCHMAN, _Vice-president_ MISS HELEN FERGUSSON, _Corresponding Secretary_ MISS EDITH SCHOFF, _Recording Secretary_ MISS GRACE ATLEE, _Treasurer_

After one year of service Mrs. Furbush, Miss Schoff and Miss Atlee resigned, and Mrs. Monroe Smith, now Mrs. L. Howard Weatherly, Mrs. Charles L. Mitchell and Mrs. Samuel S. Fels succeeded them and still hold those offices.

[15] For present membership see Appendix K.

[16] For present membership see Appendix K.

This active Committee has constantly been inaugurating new plans. In 1915, to commemorate its Tenth Anniversary, it presented to the Association the stage setting completed in 1918, which was used until the new plans of Mr. Stokowski made a complete change of size and shape necessary.

Entertainments of many kinds have been given and the Twentieth Anniversary was celebrated in May, 1925.

THE MEDIA, CHESTER AND WEST CHESTER WOMEN’S COMMITTEE, SINCE 1923, THE DELAWARE COUNTY WOMEN’S COMMITTEE

At the Annual Meeting of the Women’s Committees and their Auxiliaries in April, 1911, Mrs. J. Claude Bedford, an active amateur musician, then living in Media, proposed that a Women’s Committee should be formed in Delaware County. She had become convinced that work of value could be done there and with the help of Mrs. Arnett, she formed a Committee with members from nine towns within twenty-five miles of Philadelphia, including West Chester, Glen Mills, Media, Wallingford, Swarthmore, Primos, Lansdowne, Darby and Chester.

The task was a hard one. Many residents of the district were unable, on account of the distance and of poor train service, to attend the concerts. Yet there was enthusiasm and much hard work in Delaware County. After several years, Mrs. Bedford was obliged to relinquish her position, and Mrs. Matthew H. Cryer, of Lansdowne, succeeded to the office of President, which she still retains. The work of this Committee has been extraordinary and beset with obstacles. No enterprise has ever been entered into by the other Committees, in which the Delaware County Committee has not done its share and more, including bringing in its quota of $20,000 for the Million Dollar Endowment Fund. The Tenth Anniversary was celebrated in May, 1911, by a reception given at the house of Mrs. Cryer.

These four Committees are actively engaged in working for the Philadelphia Orchestra in Philadelphia, but they have been instrumental in helping the out-of-town concerts by persuading women in other places to foster concerts given there. The first of these was formed in Wilmington, Delaware.

WOMEN’S COMMITTEES IN OTHER PLACES

DELAWARE COMMITTEE WILMINGTON FORMED JUNE 29TH, 1905 OFFICERS

Mrs. Lewis C. Vandegrift, President; Mrs. Joseph Swift, Vice-president; Mrs. William Betts, Secretary; Miss Annie T. Flinn, Treasurer.

Concerts were given in Wilmington as early as the season of 1902-03, but they were not thriving as they should. The Women’s Committee therefore sent a mission to Wilmington, where Mrs. Joseph Swift, a composer and an amateur musician of prominence, called a meeting at her house. Mrs. Dixon, Mrs. McCollin and Miss Wister were the emissaries and the visit resulted in the formation of the Delaware Committee, with the above officers and twenty-three Directors.

For fifteen years this Committee continued its active work under the successive leadership of Mrs. Lewis C. Vandegrift, Mrs. Swift, and Mrs. Robert B. Bird. It was active in selling seats, procuring the Guarantee Fund for the Wilmington Concerts, without which the orchestra could not appear, in arousing interest by giving receptions for our leaders and in other ways. It was of immense help to have an organized group of people furthering the interests of the orchestra in Wilmington. The Committee continued its labors until the concerts had to be given up on account of the press of engagements. This Committee was affiliated with the Philadelphia Women’s Committee, and always sent a representative to the Annual Meetings.

THE BALTIMORE COMMITTEE FORMED MAY, 1906

Baltimore and Washington were considered fruitful fields and Philadelphia’s by right of propinquity. The Boston Symphony Orchestra had established a large clientele in these cities, but it had years of reputation, and of artistic achievement, with which to attract audiences. Not so with a new and little known orchestra. Mrs. Dixon, Miss Wister and Mrs. Thomas S. Kirkbride, Jr., paid a visit there in December, 1905, on the occasion of an afternoon concert at the Arundell Club, at which two members of the orchestra, with Mrs. Kirkbride at the piano, played trios. In the following spring, Miss Mary B. Shearer organized a Committee and became the Chairman[17].

THE WASHINGTON COMMITTEE

In Washington, Miss Aileen Bell, after a meeting at which Mrs. Dixon spoke, organized a group of women to assist in popularizing the orchestra, and also secured many patronesses.[18]

Washington, the abode of representatives of foreign countries and with a fluctuating population, was an easier field than Baltimore. Neither of these Committees has been active lately, because the necessity is past, but their help was much appreciated then.

[17] See Appendix K.

[18] See Appendix K.

THE ATLANTIC COUNTY COMMITTEE

This Committee, which was affiliated with the Women’s Committee, was formed in Atlantic City, after a concert by the Philadelphia Orchestra in 1912, and was active until 1915.

A Committee of five women was appointed, with Mrs. Joseph H. Ireland as President, to take charge of a permanent series of concerts in Atlantic City. During the three years of its existence, they sold the tickets, carried on educational work in the schools, arranged for special students’ tickets, distributed programmes in advance as a basis for study, managed the publicity and indulged in other forms of activity.

The Women’s Committees for the Philadelphia Orchestra have been an important part of the work at home and abroad. There have been twelve:

1902: Women’s Committees in Harrisburg, Lancaster, Allentown, Pennsylvania, and Trenton, New Jersey.

1904: The Women’s Committee for the Philadelphia Orchestra.

1905: The Germantown and Chestnut Hill Women’s Committee, the West Philadelphia Women’s Committee, the Delaware Committee.

1906: The Baltimore Committee, the Washington Committee.

1911: The Media, Chester and West Chester Women’s Committee (now Delaware County Committee).

1912: The Atlantic County Committee.

THE TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WOMEN’S COMMITTEE

The Women’s Committee, pioneer of the four in Philadelphia, celebrated its Twentieth Anniversary in March, 1924. The event was marked by a series of entertainments, beginning with a luncheon given by the Officers and Directors of the Philadelphia Orchestra Association on March 11th. After a number of speeches an anonymous gift of one thousand Dollars to the Pension Fund from a member of the Committee, in honor of the occasion, was presented to the President of the Association. By vote of the Board of Directors this has been placed in a separate fund bearing the donor’s name and the Women’s Committee has the privilege of designating a special use for the income each year.

The next event was the reception given by the Women’s Committee, in the Foyer of the Academy of Music, on March 14th, in which the members of the Auxiliary joined, and at which the guests of honor were the Officers and Directors of the Association, Mr. Leopold Stokowski and the members of the Philadelphia Orchestra.

The Treasurer’s Report at the Twentieth Annual Meeting in 1924, showed that since 1904, for dues and subscriptions to special entertainments and gifts by the Committee, $11,432.00 had passed through her hands. While for special funds such as the Scheel Memorial Bas-relief, the Philadelphia Orchestra Chorus and the Opera Supper Dances, an additional amount of $25,335.00 was received and expended, making a grand total in twenty years of $36,759.00. This does not include any money for the Guarantee or Endowment Funds, or money for tickets sold by the Committee. Two interesting items are those of $6,456.00 for the Fritz Scheel Memorial raised by the three committees; and of $7770 raised for the Philadelphia Orchestra Chorus in 1921-22.

“The time has come to talk of many things” when an account of the work of the women is to be given; for the things they have done have been as diverse as the “ships and shoes and sealing wax and cabbages and kings” which so puzzled “Alice in Wonderland.”

They have ranged from guarantors, ticket selling and parlor meetings, to balls, dances and selling post cards. Not to mention the two Endowment Funds and the silhouettes, the contribution toward the Chorus in 1921, and the receptions for the various conductors and soloists during twenty-one years. While thousands of dollars have passed through the Women’s Committees for the maintenance of the orchestra, apart from the tickets they have sold, the women had no fund to fall back on until 1921, when the Women’s Committees Fund was established, to which the proceeds of the Opera Supper Dances are added each year.

In speaking of the Endowment Funds it should be recorded that the first gift ever made for such a fund came to the Women’s Committee in 1906, from Mr. Theodore N. Ely.

“RESOLUTION ADOPTED DECEMBER, 1906

“RESOLVED: That this Committee send to Mr. Theodore N. Ely, their most sincere and appreciative thanks for his most generous contribution towards the cause for which this Committee exists.

“And further resolved, that the Committee appoint a Sub-committee of four, to urge upon the Executive Committee of the Philadelphia Orchestra, the desirability and great appropriateness of starting the Permanent Endowment Fund for the perpetuation of the Philadelphia Orchestra, with this generous contribution in memory of one of the first members of the Board of Managers of the Women’s Committee, Mrs. Theodore N. Ely.

“And further resolved, that copies of this resolution be sent to Mr. Ely, and to the Executive Committee of the Orchestra.

“In pursuance of this, our President has appointed the following ladies a Committee to confer with the Executive Committee of the Orchestra concerning this matter, Mrs. Yarnall, Mrs. Widener, Miss Wister and Mrs. McCollin.”

THE AUXILIARIES

With the exception of raising money for the various funds the most important feature of the four Women’s Committees is their Auxiliaries, now numbering 1985 women, attending the three Philadelphia series. It was through these that the Friday audience was built up, for Auxiliary members must have season seats. There are no dues and no other duties; but some of the best work done for the Endowment Fund and for the Anniversary Ball, was done by Auxiliary members, who for years have had a deep regard for the orchestra. All women season ticket holders are eligible.

The Women’s Committees have given many entertainments, beginning with a reception in honor of Fritz Scheel on March 6th, 1905, followed by House Music under Mr. Scheel’s direction.

Others have been given in the following order:

Mr. Carl Pohlig, 1908;

Mme. Pohlig and her daughter Mme. Maillard, 1909.

Mr. and Mrs. Leopold Stokowski, 1912.

Luncheon to celebrate Tenth Anniversary of the Women’s Committee, March 6th, 1914.

Reception to Mr. Stokowski and soloists and members of the Mahler Chorus, March 4th, 1916.

Supper for Mr. Stokowski and assisting artists, March 4th, 1916, at which many out-of-town guests were present.

Receptions at the houses of Mrs. Alexander J. Cassatt, the Countess of Santa Eulalia, Mrs. Weatherly and Mrs. Cryer, in the interest of the Seven Year Endowment Fund, October, 1916.

Reception to Mlle. Guiomar Novaes, 1917.

Receptions for Mme. Olga Samaroff, M. Alphonse Catherine, M. Sergei Rachmaninoff, 1919.

Luncheon to celebrate Fifteenth Anniversary of the Women’s Committee, April 14th, 1919.

Reception at house of Mrs. Matthew H. Cryer, Lansdowne, to celebrate Tenth Anniversary of the Media, Chester and West Chester Women’s Committee, 1921.

Musicale and reception at the house of Mrs. L. Howard Weatherly, to celebrate Tenth Anniversary of the West Philadelphia Women’s Committee, May, 1915.

Luncheon for Mr. Frederick A. Stock, guest conductor, January 19th, 1924.

Reception to celebrate Twentieth Anniversary of the Women’s Committee, March 14th, 1924.

Reception to Mr. Igor Strawinsky, January 30th, 1925.

Luncheon to celebrate Twentieth Anniversary of Germantown and Chestnut Hill Women’s Committee, March 31st, 1925.

Reception to celebrate Twentieth Anniversary of West Philadelphia Women’s Committee, May 13th, 1925.

Among the artists whom the Women’s Committees have entertained, the most popular one is Mme. Olga Samaroff. She is beloved by all the members, and admired, not only because she is a great artist, but on account of her unusual and delightful personality. The women will never forget what she did for the orchestra during her years of residence in Philadelphia.

THE ANNIVERSARY BALL FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CHORUS

No mention of the entertainments of the Committees would be complete without an account of this. It was held January 24th, 1921, to mark the Sixty-fourth Anniversary of the opening ball of the Academy of Music, on January 26th, 1857. It should be called a study in co-operation, for besides the four Women’s Committees, almost the whole city joined to make it a beautiful affair and a success. The feature of the evening was the quadrille in the costume of the period to which a number of persons contributed sets, as well as the following organizations.

The Co-operating Societies were:

Matinee Musical Club, Mendelssohn Club, Musical Art Club, Musical Fund Society, Philadelphia Music Club, Philadelphia Orchestra Chorus, Philadelphia Choral Society, Treble Clef, Fortnightly Club, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Sketch Club, School of Industrial Art, School of Design for Women, Plastic Club, T Square Club.

Old trunks were overhauled and old papers assiduously read to get the local color of the time, so that when row after row of the dancers began to march down from the dais at the back of the stage and take their places on the floor there was a scene of beauty which brought forth rounds of applause. Mr. Charles S. Morgan, Jr., impersonated Mr. Hlasko, Master of Ceremonies, and took charge of the quadrille which he had trained.

A Loan Exhibition of much interest was held in the Foyer for which many treasures were unearthed, including “Miss Ethel Newcome,” of London, the doll dating from the Sanitary Fair. Various business firms assisted by contributing materials and allowing the Committees to use their windows for publicity of a unique kind, such as dolls and jewelry of the period. Twenty years before such a joint undertaking would not have been possible, and it was a mark of the general good will felt for the Philadelphia Orchestra.

THE OPERA SUPPER DANCES

A word should be said about these Dances, the Sixth Series of which has just begun. They are held in the Foyer of the Academy, after performances of the Metropolitan Opera Company. The subscription and supper are moderate in price and the affairs are much patronized. The object is to raise money yearly and have a fund that can be used when necessity arises.

* * * * *

When the war came a loss of interest might have been expected, but it was the reverse. Not only the weekly respite at the concerts proved a boon, but the activities of the Committees were a relief from the anxiety and rush of war work.

The Women’s Committee has had good friends in the Board of Directors. When they had no means of support, Mr. Richard Y. Cook for many years contributed towards their expenses. Without his assistance they would have been in a serious situation.

Mr. Wm. Jay Turner, the Vice-president, was an important person at the Anniversary Ball which he led with Miss Frances A. Wister, president of the Committee.

Mr. Edward W. Bok spurred the women on to victory for the Fund with a kind but firm hand. Mr. Andrew Wheeler is always friendly and interested, and so the story might go on naming every director.

First and last is Mr. Van Rensselaer, who has never lost an opportunity to assist the women’s enterprises and who is regarded as the patron saint of the Women’s Committees. Mrs. Van Rensselaer’s interest has been a great help.

The members of the Committee deserve individual mention, but space is lacking. In the early days Mrs. McCollin and Mrs. Keffer were untiring. Mrs. Yarnall and Mrs. Allen have held office for twenty-one years. Mrs. Henry is an adept at managing entertainments. Mrs. Cassatt was a most valuable officer, possessing courage and judgment and her loss is constantly felt.[19] Mrs. Arnett’s direction of the work for the Auxiliary, passed on from Mrs. McCollin, has been a quiet labor with little public notice. The Recording Secretaries, Mrs. Ashton and Mrs. Wood, have been efficient in keeping the minutes.

[19] See In Memoriam.

The woman who bore most of the burden of the pioneers was Mrs. Alexander J. Dallas Dixon, whose recent death has left a gap in their ranks. Although she gave up the presidency some years ago, her influence was always noticeable and her fulfillment of the task was appreciated. A special meeting was held on October 8th, 1925, to pass resolutions for Mrs. Dixon.[20] At the concert of October 16th, these were inserted in the programme and the audience stood while the Chopin Funeral March was played, in memory of the first president of the Women’s Committee.

The four Committees and their Auxiliaries have an Annual Meeting each April, and the President of the Women’s Committee presents a general report to the Association in May. The names of some of the reports are indicative of the work, for instance: “A Calm Sea and a Prosperous Voyage,” “The Adventures of the Women’s Committees, or How We Financed the Chorus,” “Twenty Years at Hard Labor, a Motion Picture, with a Prologue and an Epilogue and Continuous Music by the Philadelphia Orchestra.” Their work has been strenuous, but the women have had many thrills and good times in the doing of it. There are pleasures in the chase only known to those who hunt, even when the quarry is an Endowment Fund.

Women are needed in every household to attend to the personal side of life, the entertainment of guests, the timely gifts, the flowers and many other things. They have even been known to help to support the establishment when the struggle seemed too hard for the men. This has been much the position occupied by the Women’s Committees during the last twenty-one years. Their entertainments have made many artists welcome to this city. Their gifts have come at just the right time: the share in the loving cup to Mr. Van Rensselaer; the silver plates to Mr. Stokowski on the completion of his tenth year as conductor; the silver vase to Dr. Rich after eighteen years of service; the porringer to little Sonia Marie Noël Stokowski, engraved with a verse from Wordsworth, all give a human touch to the Association. And when the men were spent in the battle, the women worked to support the establishment.

[20] See In Memoriam

The Women’s Committees rejoice in the work they have done for the Philadelphia Orchestra, and in blazing the trail for women elsewhere. When the first was formed twenty-one years ago it was a pioneer and a unique organization, unknown anywhere in connection with a permanent orchestra. Many persons looked on it with, at least, a question. Now the questions are of a different nature, and come from other cities where orchestras are being formed.

The value of women’s efforts in fostering music, and in making orchestras popular, seems to be recognized. Women’s work for art in America is rapidly expanding; the torch has been borne by the Women’s Committees for the Philadelphia Orchestra.

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