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February 5th, 1881.
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
20
KIND WORDS.
the crash of a tumbler which had been brushed off the table by his arm, for
the clinking of wine glasses.
MISTOOK OUR MEANING.
The New York MUSICAL CRITIC AND TKADE REVIEW of January 5th, 1881,
under the heading of " Kind Words," produces in almost its entirety an
article published in The Play, December 20th, in which we pointed out some
very superficial criticisms on a number of pieces, also noting that there was
an atmosphere about the journal reminding us of a party we do not care to
again mention.
If this course of proceeding was intended as an acknowledgment of the
justness of our remarks, it must be conceded a very graceful move, and
gives us the impression that, if a careless critique, Mr. Charles Avery Welles
must be a very amiable gentleman, with policy and good judgment regarding
some matters.
One of the very best correspondents on the staff of this paper is the
Chicago writer. There is a brilliancy, vigor and pith to the letters of this
party that render his services of great value to any musical journal, and we
cordially congratulate Mr. Welles on his fortunate acquisition of this intelli-
gent critique.—The Play, Chicago.
[Concerning our re-publication of the article alluded to above, we may
say that it was not done as an acknowledgment of auybody's strictures upon
us. It was done merely in accordance with our plan of publishing every-
thing that appears in print about this paper, whether complimentary, or un-
complimentary, for we are glad to give our readers an opportunity to see all
that is said upon the subject.
We must also deny that the editor and proprietor is a "careless critique,"
(critic is probably meant); he is not a critic, or " critique," if our friend will
have it so at all; he employs the best talent that can be obtained in a small
place like New York to attend to the aesthetic needs of his paper. Concern-
ing the statement that he must be a very amiable gentleman with policy and
good judgment regarding some matters, we may say that if the praise con-
tained in it were not just a little bit diluted, we might be induced to have it
handsomely engrossed, elegantly framed, and placed in a show case in the
street outside of our editorial rooms, as the photographers do with their
pictures.
At any rate we give our friend the credit for intending to compliment
us this time, and we are duly grateful for the intention. ED. MUSICAL CRITIC
AND TBADE REVIEW.]
A FRENCH FRIEND'S OPINION.
We have just received under this title (THE MUSICAL CKITIO AND TRADE
REVIEW) an excellent musical publication. This paper is published on the
5th and 20th of each month, in New York, U. S., and consists of twenty-four
pages. The editor is Mr. Chas. Avery Welles. We have only had time to
run over it hastily, but have seen enough of it to say that this publication is
one of the best that is published in the United States. THE MUSICAL CRITIC
is well posted on all musical subjects ; the paper also treats of the music
trades all over the world. In a word, it is a publication of the greatest
importance to all those who cultivate the musical art. The subscription is
but $2.00 per year.—Le Gonstitutionnel, Three Rivers, Canada.
OUR TRADE EDITOR'S DREAM OF THE PIANO TRADE.
FEW nights since our trade editor had been pouring over a large pile of
exchanges, and had found so many of Mother Shipton's prophecies for
188!, and so many lucubrations from various astrological, mathematical, and
astronomical editors, that their croakings 4 had mixed themselves up with
music trade matters. So as he dropped off to sleep, with his mind in this
condition he dreamed that the Millenium had, indeed, arrived in the music
trades, and that a meeting of prominent piano makers had been held at
Maurer's on Fourteenth Street, to take measures for the proper management
of their business for the present year.
The meeting was largely attended, and Mr. Felthammer, the celebrated
piano manufacturer, took the chair. After order had been secured, the chair-
man opened the meeting by saying, "gentlemen, the firm of which I am the
head make the best piano in the world," (cries of " Oh! Oh!! " ) " and our
factory is the biggest, and we have more big pianists in its employ than any
other house.
There he was again interrupted, cries of " order," "you wander froni
the subject," etc., and the disorder became so great that the chairman was
compelled to pause.
After some minutes, when the police had finally succeeded in restoring
quiet, the chairman commenced again: "Now, that you are all here, I may
be pardoned for saying that our firm is big enough and rich enough to sell
pianos at, or below cost, for an indefinite period, and still make money in
the business."
Here the chairman was once more interrupted by cries from every part
of the room, " And so can our firms!" "And so can mine!"
" Not the slightest doubt of it, gentlemen," said the chairman, " not the
slightest." This afternoon I instructed my agents throughout the country
to put down the price of my pianos $5 each.
Cries from all parts of the room, "And so did we!" " And so did we!"
"But," continued the chairman, " while considering the matter to-day,
I have been led to inquire why any of us should sell at such unprofitable
figures. There is trade enough for us all at good paying prices."
Cries of " Yes, that's so," and " Hear!" " Hear!"
"We do not get even thanks," said the chairman, " from either dealers
or retail buyers for selling at such low prices. We might sell a million
pianos at these rates and not receive a single, ' thank you ' ".
Shouts of " Not a thank!" "Nary a thank!"
" Therefore, gentlemen, considering that there is likely to be an active
demand for pianos this year, I feel like signing an agreement to put up prices
to their former profitable figure."
Cries of "So do we!" "So do we!"
"Very well, gentlemen, there is nothing further for us to do but to sign
our names to this agreement which contains the usual covenants about being
broken at the sweet will of any of the signers, and I will request Mr. Maurer
to bring in the Johannisberger. Excuse' my happy smile gentlemen, but I
never felt better in my life."
Cries of " Good!" " Good!" and cheers.
Here the Johannisberger arrived, and, amid the general clinking of
glasses which followed, our trade editor awoke, and found he had mistaken
A
ROOT-ING AND TINKER-ING.
•
E reprint below portions of an article which appeared in a recent num-
ber of the Oil, Paint, and Drug Reporter, a trade paper of this city.
It may be remembered that Messrs. Root and Tinker, whose names figure
conspicuously and unpleasantly in the matter quoted below, were the
original publishers of the MUSICAL CRITIC ANL TRADE REVIEW, when it was
known as the Music Trade Journal, and that its present proprietor purchased
it from them. Therefore, the present proprietor having had personal exper-
ience with Messrs. Root and Tinker, and their methods of transacting busi-
ness, is well pleased to reprint the statement made in the Oil, Paint, and
W
Drug Reporter,
Ihe article in question contains the following:—
CITY AND COUNTY o p ) go
NEW YORK.
[
WILLIAM R. CHRISTMAS,
statistician and reporter on the Oil, Paint, and
Drug Reporter, being duly sworn, says:
" On or about December 1st ulto. (as to the exact day I am not positive)
I was approached, while at lunch, by Mr. J. J. Comstock, on behalf of
Messrs. Root & Tinker, who introduced to me a ' Mr. Fredericks,' who said
that he was authorized by the said Root & Tinker to make certain arrange-
ments with me. The proposition made by the said Fredericks was that I
should retain my position on the Oil, Paint and Drug Reporter, and at the
same time furnish to the said Root & Tinker certain valuable information
with which, by reason of my position on the Oil, Paint and Drug Reporter,
I am entrusted. That safe precautions should be taken by the said Root &
Tinker to guard against my exposure to Mr. Allison of my connection with
them, and that, in case it was by accident discovered, then they would pro-
vide a place for me in their office. That while I remained in Mr. Allison's
employ and furnish them with the desired information, they would pay me
twenty dollars ($20) per week. The information for them and the money to
be paid to me were to be left at any place I might designate, where we
should not be in danger of discovery. The efforts of the said Fredericks to
induce me to accept this proposition were carried on during two subsequent
meetings, enabling me to fully understand that the design of the said Fred-
ericks and of Root & Tinker, whom he represented, was to induce me to
commit a breach of trust.
(Signed), WM. R. CHRISTMAS.
Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 17th day of January, 1881.
(Signed), WM. B. STUYVESANT, Notary Public.
CITY AND COUNTY OF ) w
NEW YORK.
j OB -
DENNIS J. DESMOND, mailing
clerk and carrier in the office of the Oil,
Paint and Drug Reporter, being duly sworn, says:
On Friday, January 7th inst., while delivering the daily import lists to
the subscribers to those lists, I was intercepted by Mr. J. J. C.omstock, in
front of No. 45 Cedar street, and was urged by him to deliver secretly to
him for the use of the firm of Root & Tinker, which he represented, a copy
of those import lists daily, for which he offered to pay me five dollars ($5)
per week. I declined at first to entertain any such proposition, but after
being repeatedly importuned by him, I consented to think the matter over
and to give him an answer next day. On Saturday, in answer to a summons
which he sent to me at the office of the Oil, Paint and Drug Reporter, I met
him in a liquor saloon in Cedar street, and subsequently at a saloon in Duane
street, and during these meetings it was arranged that I should furnish the
information referred to and should receive therefor five dollars ($5) per week
in advance. I insisted that I should have some assurance that my name
would not be disclosed in the matter and that no other information would
be demanded of me, and as I was not satisfied to accept Mr. Comstock's
guarantee to that effect, I went with him to the office of Root & Tinker,
where the matter was talked over between Mr. Comstock, the bookkeeper
and myself, and subsequently between Mr. Tinker, Mr. Comstock and
myself, and I was satisfied with the assurances made by Mr. Tinker that
no other demands would be made upon me, and that my name would not be
disclosed. I delivered the list for that day to Mr. Comstock, who handed it
to Mr. Tinker, and in the presence of Mr. Tinker paid me five dollars. After
some further consultation between Mr. Tinker and Mr. Comstock, the latter
and I withdrew to a saloon on Duane street, Avhere he (Mr. Comstock) drew
up an agreement, which I have in my possession, and in which he agrees not
to disclose my name in regard to the information furnished and to pay me
five dollars weekly.
Mr. Comstock stated that he had consulted a lawyer, and was
assured that nothing could be done with them (meaning Root & Tinker), in
case the matter was found out by Mr. Allison. I have since delivered one of
these lists to Mr. George Bartholomew the editor of Root
who told me that he understood the arrangement, and that it was " all right."
I have also delivered a copy to Mr. Tinker in person, who gave me further
assurance that the matter was all right, and was clearly understood by him.
Having delivered the lists for the term of one week for which I
received pay, I have declined to continue any further relations with the firm
of Root & Tinker, or their representatives, and freely make this affidavit for
the purpose of exposing an effort on their part to make me a thief, an effort
iu which they succeeded only long enough for me to get the evidence of
their designs which I have herein disclosed.
(Signed) DENNIS J. DESMOND.
Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 17th day of January, 1881.
(Signed) WM. B. STUYVESANT, Notary Public."
The editor of the Oil, Paint and Drug Reporter then adds:
" Any of our readers can probably realize how he would regard a similar
form of opposition applied to his own business. It is not difficult for him
to imagine the sentiments he would entertain toward a firm which endea-
vored, by bribery, to induce his trusted employees to divulge the private
information that constituted part of his stock in trade. Such methods
cannot be dignified as " competition," nor can the sneaks who employ those
methods, properly be called the "competitors" of the people with whom
they come into opposing business relations."
Work is being pushed vigorously on the excavations for the foundation
of the B. Shoninger Organ Co. 's new factory in New Haven.