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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
332
WILLIAM STEINWAY-
I
T is hardly an exaggeration to say that the name of
Steimvay is as well-known as the name of Wash-
ington; and of all the distinguished men who have
borne the former patronymic nqne have been more ac-
complished or respected than William, the present head
of the famous piano firm of Steimvay & Sons, of New
York, London, and Hamburg.
William Steinway is a man of extraordinary natural
gifts. His powers of physical endurance are phenom-
enal. No man works harder than he, or indulges in less
repose. This is fortunate—nay, providential, for if he
were not able to toil at his desk, night after night until
long past midnight, there is no doubt that the interests
both of the house of Steinway and also of the musical
public would seriously suffer. None of his lieutenants,
able as they are, possess so
marked an administrative faculty,
or so great a mastery of detail.
Still, under his supervision, the
younger members of the firm
have received a training that will
enable them to maintain the great
family concern with high honor
and credit. Mentally, William
Steinway is greater even than he
is physically. He is a fine orator
and linguist ; his knowledge of
piano construction is only second
to that possessed by his disting-
uished brother Theodore, lately
deceased ; as a judge of pictures
and sculpture he is almost un-
rivaled. AH this, however, and
more, is well known; it would be
superfluous to enlarge upon these
and the many other attainments
of our eminent fellow-cit'zen, or
to attempt a disquisition upon his
brilliant social qualities, which
are as charming and magnetic as
his mental endowments are brill-
iant.
As a public man Mr. Steinway
is exceedingly popular. His at-
tachment to his adopted country
is deep and strong. The recent
Centennial celebration was a fit-
ting occasion for the display of
his public spirit and generos tv,
as well as of his pride in the
noble craft of piano-making; and
the display made by his firm, at
an enormous expenditure of their
own money and time, was one of
the most impressive spectacles of
last Wednesday's parade.
parades were running hither and thither in the ignoble
pursuit of lucre, J. & C. Fischer were preparing their
magnificent »ew rooms in the imposing Judge building,
Fiffti avenue, for the free entertainment of their friends,
visitors, and customers. And right nobly did their en-
deavors succeed, as the efforts of this renowned firm
always do succeed. J. & C. Fischer ever perform their
undertakings thoroughly. It is the development of
this trait of thoroughness that accounts for their pres-
ent high position in the piano trade.
The attendance of guests at the Fischer warerooms
was large and brilliant on both Tuesday and Wednes-
day. The enthusiasm and good feeling that prevailed
among those who participated in the firm's generosity re-
flected honor upon all concerned. Every member of
the firm was present to greet the company. The vener-
able head of the house, Mr C. Fischer, for half a cen-
H. D. PEASE.
A THRIVING CONCERN'.
H
D. PEASE is one of the
most upright, most busi-
* ness-like, and most for-
tunate of men. He prospers con-
tinually. At the present time
he has on hand quite as many
orders for his very excellent and
truthfully - advertised medium
grade pianos as he can possibly
fill This Peaseable and alto-
gether satisfactory state of affairs
is due to his orderly and straight-
forward methods, his tact, the
merits of his goods, and his able
manager Mr. Theodore Silkman,
whose foresight and general busi-
ness ability and capacity have
given him a reputation of the
most enviable kind.
Mr. Pease has recently been
shrewd enough to add the dis-
tinguished firm of M. Steinert &
Sons to his staff of agents, and
has thereby added also to his
own prestige.
It really looks, on the whole,
as though the ways of Pease and
the paths of peace would in the
future be identical, and that they
run directly into the high road
to prosperity.
CENTENNIAL HOSPITAL-
ITIES.
MB. THOS. F. SCANLAN
AND HIS CREDITORS.
HOW THK GREAT PIANO FIRM OF
J. & C. FISCHKR ENTERTAINED
THEIR NUMEROUS GUESTS.
'0'
N
EW YORKERS have al-
ways been famed for
their open - heartedness
and hospitality. Their good rec-
ord in this regard is unbroken
from the days of Washington to
the time when the piano fratern-
ity of this city welcomed a host]
of friends on the occasion of the recent Centennial cele-
bration. There were few, if any, piano-makers in Man-
hattan Island in the time of the "Father of his Country,"
but whenever those musical benefactors of their race
appeared they "caught on "to the traditional kindliness
in the most natural way, and transmitted it to their de-
scendants and successors with equal facility.
These historical facts must have been agreeably
present in the minds of the distinguished company who,
on Wednesday last, had the honor of being entertained
at the new warerooms of Messrs. J. & C. Fischer. That
well-known and old-established firm were full of the
grand old spirit of generosity, and the manner in which
they lavished welcome and good cheer upon their guests
from far and near would have stricken Miser Paine, or
any other miser, with catalepsy. While some who
commanded splendid positions from which to view the
Mrs. Harrison, Messrs. Fischer's guests were frequently
gratified by glimpses of one or other of those dis-
tinguished personages. Not the least important item
of the Fischer festivities was the sumptuous lunch,
consisting of excellent viands and other creature com-
forts to which ample justice was done—a practical com-
mendation of his efforts which was greatly appreciated
by the worthy and specially-retained caterer.
Under these favorable circumstances, the two days of
the parades were passed without weariness and without
a single discomforting incident. The guests' apprecia-
tion of this royal entertainment was, in fact, commen-
surate with the generous spirit in which it was extended,
and undoubtedly gave extreme gratification to the en-
tertainers—a gratification which they could never have
derived from the possession of the hundreds of dollars
which might easily have been realized by the sale of
their windows for the occasion.
The country is proud of New
York, and New York is more
than proud of the great and hos-
pitable house of J. & C. Fischer.
tury a prominent member of the trade, was accompanied
by his venerated and amiable wife. The faces of this
aged and happy pair beamed with welcoming smiles,
while their five stalwart sons, junior members of the
concern, took a more onerous though not less willing
share in the dispensing of hospitalities. " How J. & C.
Fischer took care of their friends during the Centen-
nial" has already become a staple and stereotyped ex-
pressien in many communities besides those that are
identified with the piano industries.
Nothing was omitted that could contribute to the
comfort and pleasure of the visitors. An elegant and
commodious arrangement of seats was so constructed
and placed as te j^ford every occupant a full view of the
processions. Fifrther, as the warerooms are located ex-
actly opposite the residence of Vice-President Morton,
the home, during the celebration, of President and
N Wednesday last, May ist,
at a meeting of the cred-
itors of Mr. Thomas F.
Scanlan, President of the New
England Piano Company, held at
the Parker House, Boston,Mass.,
that gentleman stated his belief
that the present regrettable con-
edition of his affairs was due to
"his having a larger business than
[ he could well carry. The trade
of his house was good, and with an extension he con-
fidently anticipated that he could pay dollar for dollar.
A statement submitted by Mr. Scanlan showed direct
liabilities of $233,402, contingent lialilities, $259,168,
total $492,570; assets, $538,131. A committee was ap-
pointed to examine and report.
At this meeting representatives from the following
leading creditors were present:—Alfred Dolge, Richard
Ranft, C. S. Stone, O. J. Faxon & Co., James W. Cum-
ston, Hammacher, Schlemmer & Co., Sylvester Tower,
Comstock, Cheney & Co. The amount of indebtedness
represented was about $150,000.
THE Schubert Piano Co. are introducing new style
scales, which will be explained and illustrated in the
new catalogue to be shortly issued by them. Styles 8,
9, and 10 are exceedingly handsome.