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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
a more hopeful condition than has been
known in many months.
The business of the country is in a coi -
valescent state, so to speak, and it requires
careful nursing to bring about perfect health;
but with the currency and tariff out of the
reach of tinkering, for a year or two at least,
stability and progress is assured.
There is
no reason why the close of the second quar-
ter of 1895 should not find us in possession
of our old time prosperity.
If business
men will look on the bright side of things
instead of revelling in peFsimit-m, they will
help immeasurably to this end. Everything
leads us to believe that old-time prosperity
will reach us ere long. It is coming, slowly
it is true, but to use the colloquial phrase, it
will "get there."
At least, let us hope so.
PIANOS AND LIFE INSURANCE.
A
WRITER in a London paper calls at-
tention to a practice in vogue in
Provincial towns in England of
offering
life insurance premiums as an inducement
to rent pianos.
It seems this deal is effect-
ed through special arrangement with the
insurance companies.
The dealer issues a
policy for a stipulated sum with the lease
of each piano, which is payable in case of
death or total disablement.
The writer
claims that this piano insurance practice,
from an advertising standpoint, is "repre-
hensible and unhealthy."
The editor of
the paper, however, does not share in this
opinion.
He says that this matter is a very
venial offense compared with the other ills
which the trade is heir to, with which we
agree.
' t This insttrance
scheme, in
connection
with the renting of pianos, is, as far as we
know, something new-on this side of the
water, and has not as yet been tried by
dealers.
Several newspapers adopted the
plan for a time, and it seemed to have been
very successful in pushing their circulation
and making the papers better known.
It
is an open question, however, whether such
a method of advertising a dignified busi-
ness, such as that of musical instruments,
is a wise one.
tions.
Such
It is open to many objec-
fin-di-sicclc
advertising
methods can be looked for should the da-
partment stores ever get actively interested
in the piano business.
It is right in their
line.
S. S. STEWART'S Banjo and (iuitar Jour-
nal for April and May, which has just come
to hand, is, as usual, interesting to lovers
of these instruments. This number con-
tains five pieces of music carefully ar-
ranged.
A general feeling of regret was expressed
by the members present at the trade dinner
Thursday night of last week, that ex-Gov-
ernor Fuller was not down for a speech.
He is not only a graceful speaker but a
philosopher as well, and then, better than
all, he is an active member of the music
trade industry. Such men as ex-Governor
Fuller, Alfred Dolge, Wm. Stein way, and
many others who "hide their light under a
bushel "—we suppose through modesty—
are the glory of the music trade. They
should be heard more frequently.
* *
*
A recent writer in an Italian paper gives
some interesting details concerning famous
musical instruments. According to him,
the Ruggieri 'cello, upon which Signor
Piatti, the celebrated Italian 'cellist, plays,
is valued at $20,000. Signor Piatti is said
to have inherited it from Gen. Oliver, in
England, eighteen years ago.
Eugene
Ysaye's Guardagui violin is said to be worth
$1,500. Master Jean Gerardy's Guarnerius
is valued at $4,000, and Lady Halle pos-
sesses a Stradivarius said to be worth $10,-
000.
It formerly belonged to Ernst. Senor
Sarasate plays upon two very valuable in-
struments, one of which is lent to him by
the Royal Museum of Madrid. Dr. Joa-
chim's collection of fine instruments is
valued at $100,000. Franz Kneisel, of the
Boston Symphony Orchestra, plays on a
Stradivarius for which he paid $5,000, and
the four instruments of the Kneisel Quar-
tette are said to be worth $14,000.
* *
*
There is a rumor, which has apparently
a good foundation, that the Supreme Court
has decided to declare the income tax law
unconstitutional.
If so, this] will mean
either a special session of Congress, or a
new issue of bonds, to make up the income
expected from the income tax.
* *
*
One is certainly forced to hear some
amusing things in the cross-seats of the
' L " train. It was on an uptown trip a few
evenings ago. The young man would be
taken as a poet or musician at the first
glance. His hair was long and flowing, and
a subtle study would confirm the opinion
that he was without doubt a musician.
Somehow the air is more distinctly defined
in music than it is in poetry anyhow.
The young woman in the case was clearly
literary. Her hair was in a slump and her
cuffs looked as if they ought to have the
hose turned on them.
"Have you," she asked after they had
been talking some time, "have you read
•Trilby? 1 "
"I beg your pardon!" he replied, start-
ing as if the name were not entirely unfa-
miliar.
" I said," she repeated, "have you read
'Trilby?' "
"Oh, ah, h'm," he hesitated, "well, no,
I. haven't. You see, I have been so busy
learning 'Sweet Marie' for my approaching
recital that really I have not had time to
read much recently. "
And the conversation happily drifted
into other channels.
Trilby.
If Trilby, idol of the hour,
Could make the soul rejoice,
And sway hearts with the magic power
And beauty of her voice,
She might have charmed both, don't you see
(Let critics sneer and carp),
Ten thousand times as quick if she
Had used the Autoharp.
Prince <& Son.
P
RINCE & SON have purchased the
scale, plant and entire fixtures of the
late Clafllin Piano Co., and intend placing
some of the Claflin styles on the market
before many weeks.
They will make a
special point of the four foot six inch piano,
which was one of the great successes of the
Claflin house.
Henceforth they will be
located at 156-8 F. 105th street, where,
with increased facilities, they will be able
to supply the demand for their instruments.
John W. Reed.
T
HAT brainy executive of the Chicago
Music Trade Association, John W.
Reed, has been enjoying our big city and
visiting a number of friends for the past
week. We were pleased to greet him in our
sanctum last Thursday.
Mr. Reed will
have one of his latest style of upright
pianos, containing many original features,
on exhibition at James & Holstrom's fac-
tory, 231-3 E. 21st street, probably on
Monday.
An International Postage Stamp.
A
N excellent scheme for an international
postage stamp is shortly to be sub-
mitted to the various governments ot Eu-
rope by the German authorities. The ex-
ceeding inconvenience now existing in the
case of those who wish to inclose stamps
for reply in a letter addressed to a foreign
country will be wiped out, and a stamp
bearing the names of all the countries in
which its value as postage is recognized,
together with a table giving its value in the
coin of each of these countries, will become
universal if the scheme is adopted.