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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
W
HILE witnessing Wilton Lackaye's
splendid character acting as "Sven-
gali" in "Trilby," a few nights ago, I was
forcibly reminded of the strong resem-
blance the two leading characters in this
play bear to certain music trade editors and
the music trade at large—the former acting
the role of "Svengali," and the latter of
"Trilby." The subtle cunning and audaci-
ty, withal a certain oleaginous charm due
to racial and natural gifts, manifested in
Du Manner's creation, have their proto-
type in the music trade editors in mind,
and as far as "vSvengali's" power over
"Trilby" is concerned, it is nothing com-
pared to the way these individuals hypno-
tize the trade—the way they browbeat and
belittle manufacturers who dare be inde-
pendent and not contribute toward keeping
them in luxury; the way they injure and
malign the products of certain manufact-
urers; and, presto! the way they hypnotize
the very men they have persistently abused
and get them to support and contribute to
build up that system of which they, the
manufacturers, were victims.
Many of the readers and advertisers in
trade papers have commented on this
strange transformation, wondered why
sensible, honest and clear-headed men
should become so subservient to this mighty
power! It is well illustrated, however, in
the play, but the results are not near as
damaging to the character and reputation
of the real "Trilby" as the "Svengali"
editors' mystical influence over the music
trade "Trilby." This "Trilby" not only
sings to " Svengali V music, but plays the
piper, too—that is, financially.
The "Svengalis" in the music trade
have had their day, however. The subtle
force exercised by them, be it known as
hypnotism or blackmail, is fast losing its
suggestive power, and the music trade is
every day appreciating the value of clean,
honest and consistent journals possessing
backbone and principle.
It must be remembered, however, that
while the "Svengalis" have had their day,
they are still with us, and the trade should
always be on guard else there will be vic-
tims in the future as in the past.
"Trilby" is a fad, but it is a mighty use-
ful fad if it helps to make plain to certain
manufacturers how egregiously they have
been fooled and "bled."
Go and see "Trilby" b)^ all means. It
will force you into a special channel of
thought—a channel that will, perchance,
lead to some valuable conclusions.
The olden days may have been cheerful
and pleasant in their way, but certainly it
is true a man could not multiply himself
twenty years ago as he can now.
The
wonder is how the rich men of that day
made their money without the employment
of the telephone, the cable car, the elevated
road and the phonograph. Whether or not
our facilities for annihilating time and
space are quite to our advantage, is, per-
haps, an open question. The temptation
for a man to engage in all sorts of widely
divergent and complex activities cire mani-
fold, but often, as the saying is, "he bites
off more than he can chew."
Twenty
years ago one line of business was enough
for any one man, and he stuck to that and
was a success or a failure, as circumstances
permitted. Nowadays men are provoked
into new enterprises by a feeling that they
have the whole world at the tips of their
fingers or in the drum of their tympani-
ums. The result is overwork, nervous pros-
tration and general exhaustion, and on the
whole no more net gain at the end of the
year than if they had not tried to live quad-
ruple lives.
whether Mr. Treacy and his partner have
arranged the details of this plan, but when
they have concluded it you may rest assured
that it will work smoothly, just as every-
thing else to which the Treacyonian wand
is applied.
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A chat with President Whitney, of the
A. B. Chase Co., in our office this week,
elicited the information that Mr. Whitney
takes a very optimistic view of the business
outlook. Mr., Whitney is a man of keen
discernment—is a wide traveler, and a care-
ful student of the business situation in the
cities which he visits, therefore, his opin-
ion may be looked upon as carrying much
weight. ;
I may add that the A. B. Chase Co. have
not slackened their energy in pushing the
A. B. Chase pianos before the trade and
public. Their efforts have been crowned
with success.
Last Saturday I met D. W. Karn, the
piano and organ manufacturer of Wood-
stock, Ont., who, accompanied by his son,
had just arrived in New York from a two
Said Geo. C. Crane this week: "Yes, I months' trip ; through Europe. Mr. Karn
found that things had materially bright- is doing a very satisfactory business abroad.
ened throughout the West during my trip. Having branch establishments in London
Business is looking much better in Chi- and Hamburg, he has been able to extend
cago. By the way, what an enormous ag- his export business to a very satisfactory
gregation of piano concerns there are on degree. He informed me that the Karn
Wabash avenue; take it from the Clifton pianos wete received with great admiration
House to the Auditorium, and I think there- in Germany. He will make an exhibit at
are about forty firms who represent nearly the Exposition at Lubeck, a few miles from
all the first-class makes of pianos in this Hamburg.
country. If Chicago is not a piano town,
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where will you find one? Of course, retail
I ran across Harry G. Farnham at the
business with us in New York is quiet
now, and we expect it will be for two Union Square Hotel, who for many years
months; but judging from what I have has been advertising manager and confi-
seen on my trip and from the printed re- dential man as well, of the Blasius concern
ports, business will assume its old-time ac- of Philadelphia. He said to me: " I have re-
signed myposition as advertising manager,
tivity in the early fall."
and shall hereafter devote my entire time
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to other parts of the business." Mr. Farn-
It would indeed be difficult to locate a ham is one of the brightest and keenest ad-
more popular all-around man than Col. vertising men in this country, and during
Daniel F. Treacy, and it would indeed be his connection with the Blasius business
difficult to name a man who has a more in- has developed some very original ideas
timate knowledge of business conditions which entitled him to the degree of D. A.
and environments than has the genial Colo- —Doctor of Advertising.
nel.
He is a wide traveler, has the power
!
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of absorption and retaining what he sees,
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and whether it be politics, business, or a
That's a good story in connection with
good story (and he excels at that), Col. the Kiel festivities which appeared in the
Dan. is right in the front seat. I forgot cable dispatches last week. It seems that
one thing more, metallurgy. Col. Treacy when the American ship passed through
is an expert in the study of metals. I ques- the canal the military presented arms and
tion if there is any man in this country, the band tooted—not the "Star Spangled
surely not of the music trade, who has Banner," "Hail Columbia," "Yankee
made such a deep and thorough study of Doodle," or the various other airs which
metallurgy as has Col. Treacy.
are usually considered national anthems by
I recollect last year in a conversation he foreign countries. Oh, no! they played that
related to me, that he had in view in the inspiriting and enduring anthem entitled
near future a scheme in relation to his busi- "Climbing up the Golden Stairs." Shades
ness which would enable a number of his of Washington!
Has it really come to
trusted lieutenants to become stockholders this? An irreverent friend of mine claims
in the Davenport & Treacy Co., which busi- that the Teutons chose this new "national
ness will be enlarged so as to include the anthem" on account of its resemblance to
manufacture of all hardware used in the one of the Wagnerian motifs. Perish the
construction of pianos.
I can not say thought! Rosenfeld wouldn't steal.
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