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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
The proposed Exposition in Mexico
should afford an excellent opportunity for
manufacturers of musical instruments in
this country to bring their wares to the no-
tice of our Southern neighbors. THK MUSIC
TRADE RKVIKW of last week did its share in
this connection—it helped to bring to the
attention of the Latin-American people the
extent and importance of the music trade
industry of this country.
KNABE TONb.
I
T is strange, indeed, what conditions the
whirligig of time brings forth.
Now
we see a number of self-constituted critics
condemning the tone of the Knabe piano.
There is real humor in this.
ting
that
they
as
Even admit-
individuals
are
not
charmed with the quality of tone emanating
from the Knabe instruments, should they
act as dictators for the rest of mankind—
including the music trade -as to what tone
they should select?
In this Knabe contest,
entirely on one side—a contest of words
against time for that
matter—we
have
failed to note one single point made or ad-
vanced by the self-constituted critics, be-
yond the fact that they were not pleased
with the Knabe tone.
History proves that
thousands upon thousands of purchasers
have been highly pleased with the tone of
tiiese instruments.
Also the records show
that some of the greatest
musicians of
the age have likewise placed themselves
on record as indorsing the Knabe tone.
Now we have here a small coterie of men
who say they do not like the Knabe tone,
setting themselves up against the entire
world—the musical world—and condemning
the tone of these instruments.
Mind you,
they use no sort of argument; if they did
they would only show the weakness of their
case.
They cannot point, neither can any
one, to the slightest atom in the make-up
of the Knabe instruments, which savors of
cheapness.
Take the instruments through-
out; veneers, case work, felts
and
ham-
mers—in fact, every part which enters into
the construction of the Knabe instruments,
is unqualifiedly of the highest grade, and
yet there are some men who are so egotis-
tical—their motives we should not ques-
tion— who say that they are not pleased
with the Knabe tone.
In this they
are
largely in the minority with the rest of
mankind.
Their opinions should best be
relegated to the rear, because they must
surely understand that every instrument of
note has a tone individuality.
The indi-
viduality of the Knabe piano has given it^a
prominent place in America's musico-in-
dustrial products. Now that tone is alleged
A
CURIOUS story of a violin and its
vicissitudes is told by Will R. Dick-
erson, of 738 E. Franklin avenue, says the
Minneapolis Tribune. About ten years ago,
when the Dickerson company occupied a
store room on Washington avenue S., be-
tween Nicollet and First avenue S., they
had a 99-cent sale.
Dickerson, who was a
young fellow at the time, with a penchant
for music and a turn for tinkering, bought
at the sale a violin, which he took home with
him.
Together with his chum he went to work
on the instrument, took it to pieces, and
after giving it a thorough overhauling he
scraped his initials, "W. R. D.," on the in-
side of the back and put it together. A good
job was done, for in a short time the newly
put together violin was sold for $10.
A second time the violin was taken to
pieces by the second purchaser and put to-
gether, a new coat of varnish being added.
Still another advance in price was effected
when the instrument was sold again, and
went into a lumber camp up North.
Here
all trace of it was lost for some time, but
one day, while passing a pawn shop, Mr.
Dickerson beheld a violin in the window
which he thought he recognized. He went
into the shop and asked to see it. It proved
to be the old 99-cent violin, and there on
the back were the initals which he had
scratched there two or three years before.
The pawndealer told him that it had been
brought into the shop by a man who had
evidently come from the woods, and who,
after a protracted stay in the city, had be-
come completely strapped. He had advanc-
ed $2.50 on the violin, and it had never
been called for.
The instrument has passed through a
number of hands since then, and is now said
to belong to one of the principal members
of the Danz orchestra, who values it so
highly that he has refused an offer of $250
for it.
to be displeasing to a few newspaper men
-.
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whose opinion is asserted in some quar-
ters to be largely influenced by monetary
considerations.
And still the world swings
on apace.
Herr Humperdinck, according to the
I'Vankfurter Zeitung, has refused $5,000 for
two years' royalties on Hansel and Gretel
for Vienna alone. By the end of this year
he will have made $50,000 out of the opera.
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It is gratifying to know that the name of
a living Gilmore is not to be permanently
lost to New York's musical circles.
John
Gilmore, a nephew of the late lamented
bandmaster, Patrick S. Gilmore, is one of
the city's most promising young violinists.
He is a lad yet in his early teens, but has a
touch with his bow that brings out finely
the beautiful tones of the exceptionally good
instrument which he possesses.
He has
been heard at a number of amateur con-
certs.
It is pleasing to note the increase in wages
reported in many industries during the past
week.
More money in the hands of the
wage-earners makes it better for the piano
business as well as for other industries.
* *
I enjoyed reading * Mark Twain's charac
teristic story, "Pudd'nhead Wilson," at the
time of its publication in the Century.
The story has been dramatized by Frank
Mayo, and is having a big run at the Her-
ald Square Theatre. This week I had the
pleasure of witnessing the play.
Mr.
Mayo acts the part of "Pudd'nhead Wilson"
to perfection. He has changed the story
somewhat, but has added to it in dramatic
force, and there can be no question but that
"Pudd'nhead Wilson" has come to stay on
the American stage. It is a relief to wit-
ness a play of this character, which is semi-
historical, entertaining and forceful to the
end, and yet devoid of that peculiar ele-
ment of sensationalism which forms such
a strong part in latter day plays. By all
means see "Pudd'nhead Wilson," and you
will say that it is an evening well spent.
*
It is curious how the credit system differs
in various parts of the world; and as an
enumeration of the various international
customs may assist business, here are some
details. The system is very prevalent in
Germany, where it is usual to defer pay-
ments much longer than is the case in
France or England. In France payment is
generally made by acceptance at three
months. In Italy but little credit is given,
and a guarantee is then required. In Spain
four-fifths of the business is done against
cash, whereas in Portugal a rather long
credit is generally allowed. It is impossi-
ble to do business in Austria without grant-
ing a long credit, generally six months. In
Turkey even daily necessaries are sold on
credit, and there, as in Russia, it is gen-
erally extended to twelve months.
In
Mexico the large firms, which generally
have large establishments, willingly give six
or eight months'credit,and even in the retail
trade a long time is conceded for the settle-
ment of accounts. At Costa Rica the pay-
ment of an invoice is not expected before
six to twelve months, if it is for goods im-
ported from Europe, but this system of
credit has often involved heavy losses. In
the Island of Cuba goods are generally paid
for four to five months after delivery. At
Rio Janeiro, as well as at Buenos Ayres, the
shortest credit is six months, whereas at
Bermuda accounts are only settled once a
year, generally on June 30th, and in Asia
Minor the credit seldom exceeds two o
three weeks.