Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
382
KRKE
f PR U)« eaa^'tfeat iaoks assistance,
Her tfcfl wrong that weds' resistance
Hw. Ue fntam in tfe distance,!
S«4 tfes good tljat t o cai) do."
The Conemaugh Catastrophe.
TIPPER 3F6
0F: THE
Now is the time for the Exercise
of that Generosity which
Characterizes all True
Americans.
DONATIONS TOR THE RELIEF OF THE
SUFFERERS WILL BE RECEIVED
PAPER, and WILL BE FOR-
WARDED to the PROPER
AUTHORITIES.
DESOLATION, and mourning, and woe have invaded
the erstwhile happy valley of the Conemaugh, in the
State of Pennsylvania. With a suddenness indescrib-
ably appalling, the cities and villages of that region
have been swept out of existence. Thousands of lusty
men, tender women, and innocent children who were
happy in fancied security on Friday evening last, ere
the lapse of twenty-four hours lay cold in death, a
sacrifice to the demon of the waters. Besides these
dead victims, the devastating torrent has left thousands
of living ones whose sufferings and losses, both in re-
gard to relatives and property, are calculated to melt
hearts of stone. Many who a few short days ago were
enjoying the comforts and luxuries of civilized life are
at this moment shorn of parents, of children, of sisters,
or of brothers, of home, of shelter, and even of food and
clothing. Women and helpless little ones are bereft of
the supporting arm, and are exposed to sickness and
death upon the bleak mountain side.
The mind recoils in horr»r from contemplation of
this dread event; actual inspection of the scenes of the
calamity has resulted in the publication of reports the
perusal of which has drawn tears of sympathy and sor-
row from countless eyes.
Seldom, happily, are we, called upon to chronicle such
awful occurrences, such heartrending happenings as
that which followed the bursting of the banks of the
Pennsylvania reservoir. The pen does not exist that
cao picture, in fitting phrase, so harrowing a catastrophe.
Neither can the most eloquent tongue describe, with
the slightest approximation to realism, the fearful suf-
ferings, mental as well as physical, of the dead and the
living.
The people of Johnstown and the neighboring cities
and villages were a quiet, intelligent, hospitable, indus-
trious community. Their daily lives were plain and
simple. They were an example, in point of morality,
contentment, and good sense, to the rest of the con-
tinent. A consideration of these facts only adds to the
poignancy of the feeling with which the disaster is re-
garded by the humane. While at their daily tasks,
whether in factory or in field, on the domestic hearth
or in the schoolhouse, they are suddenly affrighted by
a mighty, rushing sound. The torrent, wide and deep,
is upon them. Trees and houses are torn from the
ground, and hurled with fearful speed adown the resist-
less current. Men, women and children are dashed
against stone bridges and other obstacles, many being
thereby killed, many more escaping but to occupy
watery graves. Shrieks of despair and piercing calls
for help rise above the flood. Stout hearts and strong
arms gallantly effect some rescues, but alas, when the
stupendous roar of the death-dealing waters subsides,
the all but utter powerlessness of man to stem the
horrid tide is understood.
Why does THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW briefly allude
to this visit of the Angel of Death, whose wings have
hardly ceased to beat over the valley of the Cone-
maugh ? Because the men and women identified with
the music trade of America have hearts that are alive
to suffering, and to the imperative demands of grief-
stricken, pain-stricken, hunger-stricken humanity. What
are these demands ? First, that those who have been
stripped of home, of raiment, and of all else, and who
now shiver by hundreds on the mountains at whose feet
lie ten thousand putrefying corpses, be succoured
and nourished, peradventure the hideous death-list be
fearfully elongated. Second, that aid be rendered in
the proper and safe disposal of the dead. The loss of
ten thousand human lives, the pain and peril of perhaps
twenty thousand more, and the destruction of forty
millions of dollars' worth of property are no light mat-
ters. They are not things to hesitate about. We must
act, and that instantly.
Brethren and sisters of the music trade, from Maine
to California, and from the Canadas to the Gulf, we
appeal to you for help for our bereaved and afflicted
countrymen and countrywomen in the stricken Cone-
maugh Valley. 'Tis not a question of business interest.
You have all read the thrilling recitals of the disaster.
Lamentation will avail nothing. Money is what is
needed. You contribute in no small degree, in the very
following of your calling, to the brighter joys of life;
bear now a part in mitigating the cruel woes of the
bereaved; in preventing further lengthening of the
sad schedule of broken hearts; and in giving some
measure of gladness and relief where tears and anguish
now prevail.
Whatever donations are entrusted to us will be
promptly forwarded to the proper authorities. We
appeal to our friends in all confidence, and anticipate a
quick and generous response.
CONTRIBUTIONS.
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, -
$35.00
Keep the ball rolling !
THE SATURDAY HALF-HOLIDAY.
IN another, column of this issue of THE MUSIC
TRADE REVIEW will be found the names of the piano
manufacturers and dealers of New York City who have,
at our solicitation, agreed to close their business estab-
lishments Saturday afternoons during the months of
June, July, and August of the present year. A perusal
of this list will demonstrate the complete success of our
efforts to procure the adhesion of the prominent piano
men of this city to this humane movement. It will
also show that this Saturday afternoon closure, so far
as the piano trade is concerned, will be practically gen-
eral throughout our city.
THE REMEDY.
" Money makes the mare to go," runs the old pro-
verb. At the present time, alas, the pace of the mare
is very dilatory and shambling.
The music trade forms no exception to the general
rule. Money is scarce, payments are slow, renewals
are applied for with galling frequency.
What is to be done ?
We have, with faithful and almost wearying iteration,
for months and months pointed to an effectual remedy.
The ruthless competition between dealers, with its
attendant and ruinous cutting of manufacturers' prices,
must be checked.
The storm of failures to meet obligations must be
stemmed.
The actions of irresponsible and unscrupulous dealers
must be controled.
Unlimited credits must be abolished.
The movements of the phalanxes of labor must be
watched, and unfair encroachments by organized bodies
of workmen must be firmly, though by honorable means
opposed.
The steed is becoming restive. Is it not high time
to construct a lock for the stable door ?
Will not the music trade leap out from this state of
murkiness into a condition of enlightment ? Where
music is, there should be light, and hope, and good
cheer.
We must say it again.
IN UNION IS STRENGTH.
In
the multitude of the counselors there is wisdom.
With an abundant sense of the responsibility which
rests upon us as the exponents of the intelligent portion
of the trade, we have time after time advocated the for-
mation of a Piano and Organ Makers' Protective Union,
with head-quarters in the city of New York, and under
whose auspices all matters affecting the welfare of the
trade might be candidly and fairly discussed.
Our columns, as ever, are open for the ventilation of
this important, this vital question.
Let arrangements for the first meeting in connection
with the forthcoming Piano and Organ Makers' Pro-
tective Union be perfected without delay.
THE PARIS EXPOSITION. '
WE had hoped ere now to have presented our readers
with their first glimpse of the musical department of
the great world's fair now being held in the French
capital, to which our able correspondent Miss Lilian
Anita King was some time ago dispatched. We are
now, however, in receipt of a communication from that
lady in which the reason for delay is satisfactory ex-
plained. Writing from Paris under date 21st May ult.,
Miss King informs us that although fifteen days had
then elapsed since the official opening of the Exposi-
tion, very much remained to be done before the vari-
ious departments would be in order for inspection by
the public, or would admit of reasonably sequential
description. Our correspondent seems to have been
much struck with the backward and incomplete state
of things which prevailed. On the 6th May, the day of
opening, the American divison of the Exposition was
not even half finished, nor was it expected to be in pro-
per shape until June nth. The beautiful hall of musi-
cal instruments was also in a state of chaos, out of
which it may by this time have emerged. No particu- 1