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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
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RUDOLF DOLQJTS ADMISSION TO THElflRM OF
[,GE CELEBRATED IN
FITTING MANNER.
[NySaturday, the 17th inst., a banquet
/ given to the employees of the New York"
house of Alfred Dolge, at T^uchow's, on 14th
street. This banquet was given in honor of the
admission of Rudolf Dolge, eldest son of Alfred
Dolge, as a member of the firm, which event
will occur January 1st. About sixty people
were present, among whom were : Alfred Dolge,
Rudolf Dolge, Karl Fink, Iy. Cavalli, E. R.
Wanckel, C. F. Koester, Rob. Widenmann,
James Pearson, C. Siedentopf, W. J. Weirsbach,
E. Weiss, W. Kleeberg, M. Wolf, A. Tiemann,
Frk. Kirchner, A. L. Ebbels, C. Blob, J. Strobel,
Otto Recht, J. Fahrenbach, H. Wagner, A. Stiel,
J. Faistl, Paul Jahn, C. Standenmeyer, A.
Plischke, A. Theobald, F. Gent, F. Zeeck, H.
Leonard, Theo. Roth, B. Bliithner, O. Jessnitzer,
A. Wiehe, R. D. Gloeckner, F. W. Kirschner,
F. Steinbrenner, Nils Rosen, F. Natra, Geo.
Dusterdieck, Joe Gasser, G. Hoffman, C. Mtihl-
hausen, C. Kohtz, W. Klein, Hy. Gent, F. Hunt,
E. Modick, C. Giersberg, C. Gremple, A. Her-
berts, Fred Zausch, M. Geyer and John C.
Freund.
After the assembled guests had done justice
to an elaborate menu Mr. Cavalli acted as toast
master. Mr. Alfred Dolge, who was called upon
to make a few remarks regarding the admission
of his son, said :
When such a large number of men as are as-
sembled at this board work together for a
common cause, with one purpose, great results
can rightfully be expected, providing everyone
is actuated by a spirit of mutuality.
I have always believed that sociability should
be nursed, especially by those whose daily work
brings them together. [Applause.]
Sociability brings men nearer to each other.
In business life the lines are sharply drawn.
The question of authority springs up almost
hourly, and, whatever there is of weakness or
smallness in human nature, finds many oppor-
tunities for unpleasant exposition.
The drudgery of every day work hardly ever
permits the exercise of the noble impulses of
mankind. The blue pencil alone is enough to
spoil one's humor for the day, if its marks are
found too often on the morning's mail.
[Laughter and applause.]
And yet this should not be* so ; all ought to
remember that we have our faults, and should
therefore be willing to overlook, or excuse, the
shortcomings of others as far as our sense of
duty will permit.
Sociability, after the day's work is done, has
often been the means of a better understanding
and proper appreciation of the nobler qualities
which each man possesses.
I think I am quite justified in saying that, for
many years, it would have been impossible to
find in all New York a house where there ex-
isted more harmony amongst the employees, and
between them and the employer, than in our
concern. [Great applause.]
As the business developed and assumed unex-
pected proportions, these close relations could
not be maintained ; the number of employees in-
creased so rapidly that many strange faces
moved about the building, and as a matter of
course the old time intimacy changed to an occa-
sional nod, or a single " Good morning " and
" Good night."
In a business of the magnitude of ours, every
individual has fixed duties which keep him busy
from morning till night (or certainly ought to),
without giving him even a chance to read the
newspapers.
Still, I would ask you to do your best, and cul-
tivate that feeling of comradeship and mutuality
of interest, without which work really becomes
a drudgery.
I have asked you to dine with me to-night
because I am desirous of introducing the young
. member of the firm in what I believe the most
proper way, socially.
am desirous that you should know him, first
as X man, and then as one whose orders must be
obey fed. [Cheers.]
Rudolf Dolge has had an education which
ought to fit him particularly for the duties which
he is shortly to assume.
After attending good schools and a business
college, he worked for nearly three years at the
bench, learning the trade of piano making under
the special guidance of my respected friends, the
father of our Mr. Roth, and Mr. Fred Dietz, of
George Steck & Co.
He was for two years in the employ of that
typical Western house, Iyyon & Healy, com-
mencing with a very small salary and working
his way up to a respectable position. [Cheers. ]
He has now returned from an extended trip
through Europe, crowned with success as a sales-
man, having sent orders for our felt from Italy
as well as Denmark, from Germany and from
England.
Considering the varied experiences which it
has been his good fortune to make, I believe a
good foundation has been laid, that he may one
of these days step into my shoes and direct the
future of the business, which enjoys to-day an
enviable reputation all over the world, where-
ever pianos are made. [Applause.]
Having been successful to a high degree I am
not, and never have been, unmindful of the fact
that this success was not solely the result of my
own exertions, but that, on the contrary, it was
only possible through the faithful assistance
of my friends who stood by me and worked en-
thusiastically with me. [Applause.] I have
been so fortunate as to get friends around me
who have been devoted to me, and to my inter-
ests. And if I have a wish for my son, it is
that he may be as fortunate in associating with
him such staunch, faithful friends as I have
been. [Loud Applause.]
It is difficult to find them, it is easy to keep
them when a sense of justice predominates in
the character of him who is to be the leader.
[Applause.]
Those who have been my friends for these
many years will, I know, be the friends of my
son, for he is pre-eminently of a kind and just
disposition. Those of you who are young in
years and young in business, I hope will develop
into becoming the true friends of their employer.
The time will come, and I believe it is not far
off, when all the older heads will retire and
leave it to the younger element to maintain the
high position which we have secured for the
firm, by industry, thrift and honesty, and which
is second to none in the world in our particular
line of business. [Loud cheers.]
It was no easy task to get there ; only a few
can have a conception of the many difficulties
and obstacles which had to be overcome, nor is
it an easy matter to steer the big ship now.-
Everyone of you will notice it when I happen to
be five or ten minutes late in the morning, but
none of you know of the work that is done after
you all have left your desks in the evening.
[Great applause.]
I therefore ask of you, do not criticise him
who has all the burden of grave responsibilities
upon himself, by the standard of him who only
does his every-day routine work.
Believe me that the happiest days of my life
•were those years which I spent as a journeyman
in a piano factory. I had no cares, troubles or
anxieties. When Saturday evening came I went
home with my wages in my pocket, entirely
indifferent as to what would become of the
pianos which I had helped to build.
While many of you will envy the young man
at my right, try to think of the responsibilities
which are put upon that young man "s shoulders,
and, if you can, help him in a manly way to
carry the load for your, as well as for his benefit.
[Applause.]
Gentlemen, with the pardonable pride of a
father, who has faith in his boy, I ask you to
drink the health of Rudolph Dolge, on whose
account the firm of Alfred Dolge will be changed
on January 1, 1893, to "Alfred Dolge & Son."
[Prolonged applause.]
Mr. Dolge's remarks elicited warm expres-
sions of approbation from the assemblage.
Young Rudolph Dolge responded in a modest
manner as follows:
I am, indeed, sensible of the confidence my
father has shown me by making me a member
of the firm, as I am also most sensible of the
good will which you have displayed towards me
this evening. [Applause.]
I can assure you that when my father an-
nounced to me last Tuesday night, when a few
friends had assembled with the family, to cele-
brate my birthday, that the firm would in future
be Alfred Dolge & Son, I did not know what to
say, it was so entirely unexpected.
I am aware of my many shortcomings, and
how much I must rely in the future on the for-
bearance you have always shown to me in the
past, to enable me to successfully undertake the
grave responsibility which my father's trust
and affection have now permitted me to share.
[Applause.]
I know I shall have the loyal assistance of all
the old friends of the house, and I bespeak the
support of the younger ones for, after all, I am
of them. I call on them now !
Let us all work together with mutual confi-
dence, with enthusiasm, so that, great as has
been the success of our house in the past, we can
say that in the next ten years we have surpassed
it. [Applause.]
I thank you one and all, most deeply, for the
generous way in which you have received my
entrance into the firm as partner, and assure
you that I shall work, to the utmost of my
strength and ability, to sustain the credit and
honor of the house. [Loud cheers.]
Mr. John C. Freund was next called upon and •
delivered the following witty speech :
Contrary to the advice of my doctor (Laughter)
I have risen from a sick bed ; it was a temptation
I could not resist to be present at the celebration
of Rudolf Dolge's entry as a partner into the
Dolge firm. [Applause.]
I can make you no prepared speech. In truth,
carefully set and rounded phrases would ill ac-
cord with the regard I have for the house and
the affection I bear the family of Dolge, (Ap-
plause,) so I must trust to the inspiration of the
moment and of Host laichow's red and white
wine, to say something appropriate to this most
happy occasion !
I come from Dolgeville, that little place up in
the backwoods, where we work 26 hours out of
the 24 to maintain you people here in ease and
luxury. [Cries of oh ! oh ! and laughter.]
On us Dolgevillians you depend for all the
glories and successes of which you are so proud.
When you need strength you take it from
Dolgeville. The bravest and best among you
have come from Dolgeville, for we have always
surrendered to you the flower of our flock, but
when you took our last Rosen of summer (laugh-
(Continued on page 433.)