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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
From the Pacific Slope.
THE CURTAZ HOUSF. FIGURING ON A RECORD—KEEP A SELECT STOCK OF MASCOTS ON HAND.
HYRON MAUZY AND THE SOHMER—THE ZENO MAUVA1S CO. MAKING A HIT AS
PUBLISHERS
SHERMAN CLAY & CO. TO MEET THIS WEEK.
FIRE IN LA GRANDE, ORE.
SAN FRANCISCO, July 31,
1896.
"THE firm of Curtaz seems to be doing an
1
export business. Within the past
sixty days they have shipped pianos to
New York, Honolulu, Central America and
Russian wSiberia. The Honolulu shipment
is the fifth Sterling they have sent to the
Islands in the last two years. On July 30
the Brothers Curtaz were figuring on
breaking the record. They had made 30 re-
tail sales during the month and wanted to
sell one more to fill out the average for 31
days. It is to be presumed that this vol-
ume of business in dull times is the result
of the legacy of an established reputation
left to his sons by Benjamin Curtaz, yet
it is said the house keeps the select stock
of mascots on hand for emergencies. A
pup of doubtful pedigree is always seen on
their wagon, and a horseshoe from the
aristocratic hoof of the departed "Elec-
tioneer" is placed beneath a piano with the
surety of bringing a customer. One day a
strange cat wanderedjnto their San Jose
house and perched upon a piano. The
instrument was sold the same day, and the
cat was given a permanent home. How-
ever, one fatal night the feline was killed,
and unlike the cat of song fame, it did not
came back. Whether the piano trade was
visibly affected thereby deponent sayeth
not. It is reported that Ben Curtaz carries
a little blue book of daily prayers to which
he refers for prophecies. On April 24, he
went to Napa, to set up a Chickering
grand, but was in doubt as to being paid
for the piano. The book put his mind at
ease. The verse for the day said, "And
the Lord giveth that what they expect to
those who believe in him." Sure enough,
the farmer drew the check for the amount of
the Curtaz bill.
Byron Mauzy will commence his concerts
in August 20th. The first will be given by
Prof. James Hamilton Howe, director of
the San Francisco Oratorio Society and
the Symphony Orchestra, who will give an
evening musicale of his own compositions
both vocal and instrumental. This is Mr.
Mauzy's tenth year and his complimentary
musical evenings at his warerooms have
become a feature of our musical events.
The concerts will continue through the fall
and winter and each evening will be under
the direction of some prominent musician.
The Sohmer pianos are used in all of these
concerts.
Since the publication of "Ma Angeline,"
which Carroll Johnson started on the quick
road to popularity, the Zeno Mauvais Music
Company have achieved prominence as
music publishers. They are making a spe-
ciality of California compositions and their
title pages are models of originality and
attractiveness. Each piece is embellished
with an engraved likeness of the singer
>
who first sang the song in public, and the
accompanying lettering is highly artistic.
Among the titles of their recent successful
publications are "The Frawley Waltz," ded-
icated to the popular impresario, T. Dan-
iel Frawley; "Parson Johnson's Chicken
Brigade;" "A Convict's Hope;" "She Can't
Be Beat;" "Mary Loves Her Harry;" " I s
That Love;" "Dat Cross-Eyed Hoo-Doo
Coon." Don M. Cann, the California con-
tralto, made a hit with a "Frisco Girl" and
the New Yorkers will have a chance to hear
her sing it. After negotiating for a month
Koster & Bial have succeeded in getting
an engagement with her. She is a local
favorite, handsome and talented, and with
her Californian appearance and repertoire,
should make a success in the metropolis.
Sherman Clay & Co. completed their
semi-annual inventory on the last day of
the month, and a meeting of the stock-
holders and directors will be held on the
second Monday in August. Major Clay
has returned from his Fresno ranch.
The Huntington building at La Grande,
Ore., was destroyed by fire on July 23, and
G. H. Richey, one of the occupants, lost a
stock of musical merchandise valued at $2,-
000, and insured for $1,000.
H. Sinsheimer has instituted proceed-
ings in the State Circuit Court at Portland,
Ore., against M. J. Reeves to recover $2,-
000 and $200 attorney's fees, and to fore-
close a mortgage on certain real estate in
East Portland.
The Brockport Piano Co.
T
HE able management of the affairs of
the Brockport Piano Co., Brockport,
N. Y., by Mr. R. C. Hull, has been stimu-
lating in a large degree to the business of
that concern. The latest
styles of
"Capen" pianos are highly appreciated by
dealers, and we are not surprised to learn
that some very important additions have re-
cently been made to the agents of this
house. It is the aim of the Brockport Pi-
ano Co. to turn out one of the best pianos
at its price on the market, and on these
lines they are going to build up a big trade
the coming fall.
Traveling flen for McKinley.
r
p H E commercial travelers of the country
I
are going to wage war against free
silver. There are 120,000 of them in the
United .States, and of this number go per
cent, are said to be champions of McKin-
ley and sound money.
These men, who are continually on the
flight and whose vocation gives them the
very best opportunity of observing the ef-
fect of monetary disturbances on the busi-
ness pulse, have already had practical de-
monstration that the fear of free silver is
injuring trade. As the drummer is a
wage earner and is looking to individual
interest, he is going to take part in the
campaign of education. The organization
through which he will work is known as
the National Executive Committee of Com-
mercial Travelers of the United States.
The headquarters are in Chicago, ;ind G.
J. Corey, president of the well-known Re-
view Club, is chairman of the committee,
as well as president of the first Commeicial
McKinley Club. From the work mapped
out, it is evidently the intention of the
"ambassadors of commerce" to spread the
true light among the benighted from now
till election day. Recruits in all parts of
the country will be welcomed.
Pianos Again in Demand.
T
HE Schimmel-Nelson piano factory,
Faribault, Minn., has started up
again, with six months' work ahead, under
the management of Receiver H. C. Theo-
pold, who wil close up the business.
Fight Over Copyright.
A
BOSTON company is trying to stop
John W. Cavanaghfrom selling "De
New Bully," claiming that it is an infringe-
ment of copyright.
Cavanagh's counsel
says that it is an attempt to destroy his
business, and that he will sue them for dam-
ages when the application is disposed of.
The application is made by the White-
Smith Music Publishing Company to have
the Essex Music Publishing Company show
cause why it should not be restrained from
publishing and selling this song, and it is
to be heard in the United States Circuit
Court Sept. 3. This is May Irwin's song
from "Widow Jones," and the title page
says the words are by Will C. Carleton
and the music by John W. Cavanagh.
The Boston people have "May Irwin's
Bully Song," from "Widow Jones," "words
and music by Charles E. Trevathan, of
Boston," upon which they say Cavanagh's
song infringes. — "Advertiser," Newark,
N. J.
Recent Treasury Decision.
T
HE appeal of Otto Gerdau against th e
decision of the Collector of Customs
of this city, who assessed a duty of 35 per
cent, ad valorem on ivory slabs designed
as veneering for piano keys, and which he
claimed were entitled to free entry under
paragraph 519 of the Act of '94, was not
sustained by the United States appraisers
according to their recent decision. The
paragraph under which the appellant
claimed exemption allows free of duty
"Ivory, sawed or cut into logs, but not
otherwise manufactured, and vegetable
ivory." The appraisers decided that the
ivory in question was not "sawed or cut
into logs," hence overruled the protest.