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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
other State, and if the Supreme Court de-
clare the law unconstitutional in its present
form, it will afford pronounced satisfaction.
* *
*
The poets tell us that music hath many
charms, but it is evident that the piano
playing of Mrs. Freidenberg, the next door
neighbor of Judge Martine, at 2017 Fifth
avenue, does not charm nor soothe in the
least. It seems the Judge has been seri-
ously ill, and his next door neighbor, who
is an enthusiastic student of Wagner, takes
special pleasure in playing fortissimo pas-
sages from his operas late into the night,
and varies the program by vocal selections
from the German master. Although re-
quested as a favor to refrain from playing
while the Judge was seriously ill, she ab-
solutely refused, and his family have applied
to the Board of Health for relief. Mrs.
Martine said to a reporter: "We wouldn't
mind if her playing was pleasant, but it is
not; it sounds more like the thumping of a
brick on a tin pan, and then again, she has
a voice like a bull. " This is not a flatter-
ing criticism of Wagner or a tribute to the
singer that will be appreciated. Back of all
this friction it seems that politics is playing
no small part. The interpreter of Wagner
and her husband are Republicans, and the
Judge is a well-known member of Tammany
Hall.
Putting aside the want of courtesy dis-
played by Mrs. Freidenberg, this contro-
versy gives rise to a very interesting ques-
tion as to the power of the Board of Health
to interfere with the rights of any party in
his or her own house. If it has the power
to prevent this woman from playing a
piano, it could also control her in other
respects—her right to indulge in dancing or
any other amusement. While Mrs. Freiden-
berg's action must be condemned, yet this
is a free country, and once in a while—par-
ticularly when the party interested is a man
of influence—the Board of Health or some
other board is very apt to over-step its
authority.
* *
*
Cats are in demand—not the prowlers who
serenade us with their entrancing music on
the back fences—but cats of the purest line-
age, with a genealogical tree as ancient, and
perhaps as good as boasted of by some of
our aristocratic bipeds. They are wanted
for a cat show which will take place at the
Madison Square Garden next May. It is
said that "Count" Cavalli, who has mani-
fested a marked affection for the feline
species, is displaying quite an interest in
this exhibition. The ancestors of his cele-
brated inaltese cats, we understand, came
over in the "Mayflower," and as such can
afford to look down upon their unfortunate
associates with contempt. "Count" Cavalli's
eats have had a select education, and their
unusual talents will be displayed to an ap-
preciative public at the show. In addition
to the amusing and interesting program
given at the reunion of the Dolge employees
in Uolgeville recently, we understand
"Count'" Cavalli is giving his feline pupils
special instructions in the terpsichorean art.
A skirt dance that will throw Cissy Fitz-
gerald or Loie Fuller in the shade, will be
a special feature. Friend Cavalli's famous
cats are not content with contributing their
fur to the production of an improved tone
in the piano, in the shape of "blue felt,"
but intend to reflect further credit on their
popular master. Blue blood will tell, or be
"felt"—even in maltese cats.
* *
AT the great meeting held in Cooper In-
stitute last Thursday night, to protest
against the Puritanical Sunday laws, a letter
was read from William Steinway, who was
to have presided, regretting his absence
owing to indisposition, and characterizing
the meeting as " a demonstration which has
my fullest sympathy."
THE entire stock of the Miles & Stiff Co.,
Atlanta, Ga., also the materials and un-
finished "Cooper pianos," have been pur-
chased by the Freyer & Bradley Music Co.,
of that city. It is said that Thos. F. Scan-
Ian, of the New England Piano Co., Boston,
will take the unfinished stock.
ALBERT STRAUCH, of
Otto Wissner, the popular Brooklyn man-
ufacturer, is receiving some excellent ad-
vertising through the so-called affidavit on
which the recent injunction against Stein-
way & Sons was granted. During the past
week he sent a card to the World repudiat-
ing certain statements which appeared
therein, particularly "that the Wissner
piano excelled the fabled notes of Orpheus'
lute," or "divided with the public the dis-
cussion and consideration of the income
tax and financial policy of Grover Cleve-
land." Mirabeau L. Towns, his lawyer,
who prepared the affidavit, states that the
typewritten page containing the paragraphs
quoted, must have become attached to the
affidavit he furnished the newspaper men,
through the mistake of a clerk. It matters
little, however, to Mr. Wissner, as long as
his pianos and himself have been so cleverly
kept before the public.
Busy at the Emerson Warerooms.
FRANCIS J. BIRD, manager of the Emer-
son warerooms, is one of those who believes
in "making" business when times are dull.
His up-to-date advertising in the daily
papers is bringing him in plenty of orders.
He reports a good business, and can prove
it by the number of sales made recently.
Mr. Bird is a tireless worker and deserves
success.
A MKKRII.L grand piano will be on the
market before manv "moons."
Bros.,
is
J. W. CHAMBERLAIN, who left the Water-
loo Organ Co. some years ago and assumed
the management of the Boston Piano Co.,
Wooster, O., will again be connected with
the Waterloo Organ Co. after April 1st.
CHAS.
BKCHT,
traveling
representative
for the Brambach Piano Co., visited head-
quarters at Dolgeville, last week.
SOHMER & Co. report improved business
—wholesale and retail—for the past week.
J. W. Guernsey, of Scranton, Pa., was in
town and left them a very substantial
order.
P.
H. POWERS,
of
the
Emerson
Piano
Co., Boston, left the early part of the week
for Pass Christian, Miss.
ONF.of the handsome plate glass windows
in Henry F. Miller & Sons' Co. 's ware-
rooms, Boston, was found broken Friday
morning of last week. How it occurred re-
mains a mystery. It is said that several
windows have been broken in that block
recently.
AT a meeting of the Business Men's As-
sociation, Davenport, la., a proposed piano
factory was discussed. The names of the
parties interested were not mentioned.
VERNON
F. A. CONZEI.MAN, music dealer at Port
Jervis, N. Y., was in town during the w r eek
making purchases for his house. Mr. Con-
zelman is a practical tuner, and the leading
dealer of that section of the country.
Strauch
making a Western trip, and is turning in
satisfactory re-ports to headquarters of a
marked improvement in business all along
the line.
BROS., agents for
the Chicago
Cottage Organ Co., at Salina, Kan., suf-
fered a loss of $3,000 through a big fire in
that city last Monday.
A BRANCH house of
the W. W. Kimball
Co., Chicago, has been started at Ashville.
It is in charge of Mr. Jellison, formerly of
Wabasha, Minn.
Established
THE
1840...
(Sranb
^Upright
J. & C. FISCHER,
THE ARTISTIC PIANO
OF AHERICA
HIGHEST STANDARD OF
GENERAL EXCELLENCE
110 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK