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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
336
HENRY BEHNING.
T
HE excellent portrait of Henry Behning, Sr., which
adorns this issue of THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW,
will be readily recognized by the hundreds of his
friends who are among our readers. Mr. Behning is a
representative German-American, and combines the
best elements of both races in his individuality. He is
far-seeing, well-balanced, cautious, contemplative, in-
genious, brave, sociable, vivacious, and enterprising. By
his force of character and of intellect he has won honor
and respect throughout the United States.
Henry Behning, Sr., was born in Germany about fifty-
eight years ago. At the age of twenty-five he came to
this country, and at the outbreak of hostilities with the
South volunteered into the military service of his adopt-
ed land, speedily rising to the rank of captain in the First
Connecticut Volunteers. After long service and honor-
able discharge he devoted himself to the manufacture of
piano tops and cases, and in 1867 began that of piano-
fortes, a trade in which he served an apprenticeship dur-
ing boyhood. He has achieved the most
distinguished success in this calling. In
1881, his son, Mr. Henry Behning, Jr., who
had served an apprenticeship in his father's
factory, was admitted into partnership with
him, since which event the style of the firm
has been " Behning & Son." Early in last
year the house celebrated their Piano Silver
Jubilee, as it was called, by finishing their
piano No. 25,000. This celebration was a
very important event, and is not likely to
be forgotton by many who are not directly
connected with the Behning firm, but who
were present as guests.
Like many others among our best citizens
and most conspicuous self-made men, Mr.
Behning is exceedingly public spirited, an-i
actively interests himself in the musical and
industrial affairs of the country. Though
almost in his sixtieth year, he is still young,
and .presents a wonderful illustration of the
truth of his own saying that age is not so
much a matter of years as of temperament
and disposition.
DENVER, COL.
DENVER, COL., April 23d, 1S80.
When some weeks ago Dave Moffat, pre-
sident of the First National Bank, was bun-
coed out of $2[,ooo it was thought that these
" hold-ups" would decrease. Incidents since
that time, however, have led many to change
their minds. It was about the time that the
cashier of a small bank at Grover, Colorado,
was handing a cowboy $1000 at the point
of a gun, that Walter Strauss, of Salida,
Colorado, had the honor of entertaining a
similar visitor. Mr. Strauss has for years
past lived in various portions of New Mex-
ico and Colorado, being engaged in a mer-
cantile business. Of late years pianos and
organs have supplanted the other wares; so
when the store was recently opened in
Salida the only goods obtainable were We-
ber and Steinway & Sons' pianos and Estey and Mason
& Hamlin organs. As in nearly all the small mountain
towns, money is not a scarcity in Salida. In consequence
Mr. Strauss since his grand opening has been doing a
business that he may well feel proud of. Last Friday,
while the proprietor wasat dinner and Miss Dora Strauss
was the " maid in attendance," there entered into the
store a fashionably attired specimen of what is known
in the East as the genus dude, though in this section of
the West such creatures are entitled " damphools." As
the new arrival seemed to be a regular " la de dah "
young man, Miss Dora put on her Sunday-go-to-meet-
ing airs, and asked what was wanted. On being inform-
ed that the presence of the proprietor was desirable the
fair maiden asked his " dudeship " to be seated. After
a few minutes absence Mr. Strauss appeared. Seating
himself by the young man he was favored with a per-
fumed card which informed him that the name of his
visitor was "Mr. Ralph Johnson, representing the Chick-
ering piano firm of Boston, Mass." Mr. Strauss only
buying his goods through Denver *nd Chicago houses,
was ignorant as to the location of the Chickering house,
although he had frequently heard of their excellent in-
strumeot._ After some ten or fifteen minutes convorsa-
tion, during which time the young lady left the store, the
" drummer " asked the merchant to cash for him a twen-
ty dollar bill. Readily complying with the desires of
his guest, Mr. Strauss walked over to the safe, from
which he pulled out a box containing nearly three thou-
sand dollars worth of checks and bills. It was while he
was counting out the change that he happened to not-
ice a pistol scrutinizing his head, as well as to hear
the familiar command not to move, if he valued his life-
With awe the unfortunate music dealer gazed at the
money making its way into a side pocket of Chickering
& Co's affable drummer.
While this little scene was being enacted in the inter-
ior, a more interesting one was taking place on the ex-
terior. Miss Dora Strauss, like many other young ladies
of the present day, is fond of good looks, and on leaving
the store had made up her mind she would behold that
manly form once more. Calling together a couple of her
school " chums," she informed them that there was a
real live "damphool" in papa's store. That settled it,
and the trio immediately made for the spot where the
greatly since making the change described by me some
time ago.
Knight & McClure, during the rebuilding of their new
store, are occupying a small ware-house, where they are
meeting with deserved success.
I understand that Mrs. King intends, ere long, to open
a branch store in Ogden, Utah Ty.
Ovid Musin, the great musician, is favoring Denver
with his presence.
JACOB S. HIRSH.
PORTLAND. HE.
PORTLAND, ME., April 26, 188a.
Messrs BILL & BILL,
3 East 14th st., N. Y.
GENTLEMEN: In my trip through Vermont I have
found business in a fairly prosperous condition. I had
the pleasure of visiting manager H. W. Hall, of Bailey's
music rooms, Burlington. This is one of the most en-
terprising firms in New England, employing a force of
seven traveling men, together with a large
complement of help at the store, including
salesmen, stenographers, tuners, &c. This
house was established in Burlington ten
years ago as a branch of the St. Johnsbury
house, the two houses combined doing the
largest music business in New England, out-
side the large cities. The Burlington house,
under Mr. Hall's management, has increased
its business of forty instruments the first
year to over four hundred in the year 1888.
Mr. Hall is a live Yankee, of light weight
(225 lbs.), genial in disposition, and proba-
bly better acquainted with the leading busi-
ne -s men of the State than any other man
in this line of trade. His success in the mu-
sic business has been phenomenal, which
may be partially due to the prominence he
has attained in the fraternal circles. He is
a Past Grand of the Odd Fellows, and at
the present time Grand Representative of
the Sovereign Grand Lodge of the United
States, and a prominent Mason also.
Mr. Hall has in press at the present time
a book of some thirty-seven pages contain-
ing the names of his tirm's customers, toge-
ther with testimonials from the most prom-
inent men in the State who have purchased
instruments from them, and indorsements
from the Howard National Bank, where
they do iheir business; from General W. W.
Henry, Mayor of the city of Burlington, and
from numerous aldermen and members of
the Common Council. This firm represent
the leading manufacturers of the U. S., and
are selling, together with others, immense
quantities of the Sterling company's pianos
and organs.
B.
HOW TO ADVERTISE.
H E very best form of advertising is that
which consists of a readable, descrip-
COMRADE HENRY BEHNING, SR.
^ I ] tive announcement in the garb of
an essay. Mercantile houses of high stand-
handsome man was supposed to be. When the store ing have long realized this, and are willing to pay
was reached imagine the young ladies' surprise on seeing, very high salaries to literary men capable of recom-
in the rear of the store, the "damphool" holding a pis- mending their goods in original and attractive para-
tol at his victim's head. That settled it. The girls ran graphs and pamphlets. This is especially true of the
to their homes near by, each getting a rifle without an- leading houses in retail trades. Why should it not be
swering any questions, each on bravery bent.
so? All advertisements are news, and the more bright-
In less time than it takes to count a hundred the girls ly, freshly and attractively the news of the day is de-
reached the store, each with a rifle on her arm. With scribed the more is it likely to be read and remembered.
pretty Dora at the lead a grand entree was made, and While a well-set, tastefully arrayed advertisement in the
three rifles were pointed at the head of the " Boston columns of a paper arrests the physical eye of the
drummer," who unconditionally surrendered, throwing reader and thus does the advertiser some good, the im-
his pistol on the floor. The captive was then tied, a pression made upon the mental retina by a well-worded,
wagon was secured, and the prisoner was removed to crisp, breezy, and occasionally anecdotic recital is likely
the county jail. A few days afterwards, while the sher- to be deeper and more lasting still. The development
iff was removing his prisoner from Salida to Buena Vis- of the advertising art has by no means reached its limit.
ta for trial, the prisoner was granted a moment's leave.
WE have received a circular relating to the celebrated
After ten minutes absence the door was broken open,
and lo! the man had escaped through the window, since violins of Louis Otto, of Dtlsseldorf. Otto has closely
which time no trace of Mr. Ralph Johnson has been ob- studied the designs of the old Italian masters, and has
tainable. In the future, when Chickering's mtn reach also formed original models. His violins have been
txamined and highly praised by Joachim, Wilhelmj, and
Salida, they will be met with 48 calibre open arms.
Mr O. G. Pettis, for many years in the music business other violinists of the very highest fame. Wm, Tonk &
Brother, 26 Warren street, N. Y., are the agents in this
at Pueblo, has sold out to Mr. Frank Marshall.
Mr. W. W. Montelius tells me that he has prospered couatry.