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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
On the Road
With Ben Janssen.
I witnessed to-day a little, pathetic incident,
full of sentiment, a little page from life seen as
a rule only in the play.
Our train had stopped at a small station in
Illinois, at the same time a railroad junction. I
sat in the "smoker," and happening to look
out saw one of those queer-looking farm wagons
so plentiful in this country. It had just arrived
at the station, and evidently the whole family,
for the wagon was loaded, had come down to see
some one of the group off. They all jumped out
without any assistance, all except an old lady,
the mother it proved to be. She was assisted
by a big, raw-boned lad of about twenty years.
An old-fashioned trunk handed out by one of
the younger members was soon checked, and
amid much excitement the leave-taking began.
They all entered the car ; the lad made himself
at home in the seat ahead of mine. "Good-
bye, Web," cheerily cried the youngest: "send
me somethin', will you? Here's a kiss for it."
1
' I will, Ernestine, dear, very soon,'' answered
Web.
"Me too, eh, Web: some matches,"
spoke another. "Yes, Harold, a whole pack-
age, " as he kissed the bright child. '' Good-
bye, Web ; write me a long letter,'' his sister of
fourteen, said, kissing him adieu. He took both
hands in his, and said : '' Elsa, every week you
shall hear from me. Look out for mother and
father, and see that you learn something."
" Good-bye, ' Grit.' Good luck," came from
his brother, in a husky voice; "if you need
anything, no matter what, write." " I will,
Jack; look out for the folks." Then came the
father. "Webster, son," kissing the lad and
putting one hand on the shoulder while the
other grasped his boy's hand. '' Yer leavin'
home ter go out in the world. Here's yer home
as long as ma and I live, open for you when you
want it. Good-bye, yer father's blessing and
well wishes are always with you." " I know,
father, I know, you've both been so good ;" his
voice was choked and the eyes that looked into
his father's showed that tears were ready to
flow.
All in the car were deeply interested, not a
smile on a single face. We all knew the story
that we saw enacted before us. " Web, my boy,
my son, your mother's every blessing is yours,
to-day, my child, and always. All my prayers
will be for your welfare. I know you'll get on.
Good men all do. Be honest, be truthful. Fear
God, and if you are tempted, ask yourself,
'what would mother s a y . ' " "All aboard,"
cries the conductor. '' The next stop, Chicago,''
yells the brakeman. "All out what ain't
goin'! "
"Good-bye, mother, dear, darling mother,
good-bye," and the tears were flooding Web's
eyes, as he walked to the car door. " All I am,
all I ever will be, I owe to you and to you all.
I '11 write, I '11 write." "All aboard—right here.''
Ding-dong. Web rushes to the window, his
• father reaches up to shake hands, and, when
through, a bill is in Web's hand. "Don't let
mother know, " I hear the father say. " Good-
bye," cries Web, again, and waves his vari-
colored handkerchief.
" Don't forget those
matches." " Write,'' we heard from the platform
as the train moved away. Web looked back as
long as he could, waving all the time.
"Tickets, please," from the conductor, made
him turn away, and, after much fumbling, he
found the long piece of card board. " Tasso,
Washington Territory, quite a ride ; change at
Chicago, " said the conductor, handing back the
ticket.
Web's eyes were red when he turned around to
my inquiry of "where he was going." "To
Tasso, Washington Ter—a new country, about
190 miles east of Tacoma. I am going out to
see what I can do for myself. No, I don't know
anybody there. Do I think I'll succeed. No, I
don't think, sir. I know I will if hard work,
economy, and sticking to mother's teachings
will do it." I wonder if he will ? I hope so—
he should.
I stopped writing last week when the Colonel
called. Let me begin, "gentle reader," where I
left off.
CHICAGO.
Charles H. MacDonald,
viz. P. P. P., was feeling very well, indeed,
" thank you," and certainly looked it. When
he came into the store I thought it was that no-
torious friend of mine, Tom Reed, the Czar—
talk about a double. If I had Mac's face I'd
quit the piano business, write a speech, and
work the country by counties. Give him the
rear platform of a parlor car, and if he don't have
everything his own way I'll lose the dinner at
the Wellington. He's well satisfied, too, with
the condition of his trade. Told me he'd re-
ceived more money the day I was there than for
many months previous. I took his word for it,
and believed it too, because he lighted a cigarette
with a match struck on the mahogany table in-
stead of his pants as usual.
Chickering & Sons.
Here Mr. Ambuhl, the younger, was in
charge, and a right good fellow is he. Quick of
decision and incisive in speech, of elegant
address, he shows at once the stamp of the ideal
piano man. "Our location at present, Mr.
Janssen, " he said, " is not the right one for our
piano. We must be on the ground floor with a
wareroom as handsome as any in town. The
class of people that buy our piano will not come
up here. Trade is dull, very dull, but it looks
as though the future held better times in store
for us all.
R. W. Cross
told me he was doing a little, but it's only a
little, my boy. '' What do I think of the pros-
pects? Well, I dunno. Sometimes I think
we're going to have good times and then again
I don't. I have plenty of prospects, but that
is all."
Thompson Music Co.
Mr. Thompson was busy waiting on a
customer, but when he was through, he volun-
teered the information that he was satisfied with
the way things were moving. " Our trade is
fair," he said, " n o rush, but we always do a
little."
John Church Company.
This house is doing a phenomenal sheet music
business, and I was told had paid Sousa, the
March King, over $10,000 royalty on the
"Liberty Bell " and " Manhattan Beach."
Their piano trade is fairly good in the retail
line and like all the other stores they are none
too busy.
Lyon, Potter & Co.
Here I really found business good—in fact,
very big. This house has made wonderful
strides within the past twelve months, and now
easily does the largest retail trade in the city.
They let no opportunity pass to bring the name
before the public, and I only regret that Mr.
Lyon did not live long enough to witness the
success of his last venture.
I met an old friend, Stephen Brambach, on
Wabash avenue. He had just returned from a
very successful trip to California, and was in
high feather over the many orders and congra-
tulations he received because of the many im-
provements made In the piano to which he de-
votes so much patience, labor and time. The
company of which he is the superintendent is
very busy Indeed, and the piano they make is
4
' simply out of sight.'' I tried one, and for
purity of tone, evenness of scale, singing quality
—in fact, everything that goes to make a first-
class piano—know of none that is better.
ST. LOUIS.
Here is a city that is improving so fast that
you hardly recognize it between visits. With
the greatest depot in the world, and finest hotel
in the West, furthermore, the most hospitable
business men, I don't wonder that it is pro-
gressing.
Jesse French Co.
Mr. Field received me in his usual pleasant
way, and said, " Mr. Janssen, trade has been
quiet, but it's on the mend, and I look for a
good trade this Winter. Our various agencies
all report an increase in sales and better collec-
tions."
Drumheller-Thiebes flusic Co.
Jolly Chas. Drumheller met me half way
down the street, and hustled me in their fine
new store. This man's a wonder. When I
look back and see where he started, and where
he is to-day, it seems a dream, and all in a few
years. But Charles is a hustler, and his partner
Thiebes makes a fine running mate. '' Business
is only fair, Janssen," said Drumheller, "in the
piano line—only fair—but it's picking up. Our
music trade is immense,'' and he showed me the
morning mail, which contained a whole lot of
orders. Their exhibit at the Exposition is one
of the finest there, and they both were working
like beavers the night I called. I wish them
the very best kind of luck, and I know all the
trade does too. Drumheller is one of the best
known composers in the country, and some of
his new compositions are very fine indeed, and
sure of a large sale.
And talking about composers, Edward M.
Read, the popular and shrewd manager of Estey
& Camp, in St. Louis, is writing some very ex-
cellent music. I heard him play his " Cloister
Bells," and was delighted with it. He's now at
work on a set of teaching pieces that the John
Church Company have bought from him. He
told me business was very good indeed. They
had all they could handle, and their numerous
agencies were flourishing.
Kieselhorst
was very, very busy, he said, and had been all
Summer, and expecting an immense trade this
Winter. He said it as if he meant it—so I took
his woid for it.
Bollman Bros. Co.
- r
Here I met Herman Bollman, and his greeting
was as cordial as usual. He felt very much en-
couraged with the trade they had had up to date,
and believed the future was as rosy as a sunset
in August. That man is full of business—in
fact, the whole concern is.
Bobbitt
was out, but his salesman said things were a
movin', you know, and they were satisfied with
the share of trade they were getting.
THE next banquet of the Music Trades Asso-
ciation of Chicago, will take place at the Hotel
Richelieu, the latter part of next month.
IT is said that Mr. Hugo Worch, Washington,
D. C, has engaged in the manufacture of pianos.
He intends turning out a cheap grade instru-
ment.