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concerns fail? If he is still in the flesh, let
him blush for himself, for, according to
Bradstreet's, a bigger "whopper" was
never told. It is practically impossible
to record the average period of existence
of business concerns, but it is known that
the annual "commercial death rate" is
about i.20 per cent., and estimating the
"commercial lifetime" as twenty-five years,
it would appear that the proportion of fail-
ures during that period would be about 30
per cent, of the total number in business,
or 30 in 100 of those having an estab-
lished place in business. Thus it seems
that the originator of the 95 in 100 myth
did not make even a tolerable guess at the
truth.
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The latest attachment for the piano, and
patented in this country last week by
Marion Chappel of London, is an ornamen-
tal extension built out from the back of
the piano, the outline of which when
viewed in elevation forms an ornamental
case or cabinet having a number of com-
partments, the whole falling within the
outlines of the instrument. Now that
furniture makers are utilizing the piano,
why not a folding bed attachment?
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The gallant and popular Seventh Regi-
ment, among whom there is a goodly smat-
tering of music trade men, have been do-
ing duty at the State Camp in Peekskill all
the week, winning compliments right along
the line from officials and visitors. Among
the members of the trade in camp were
Albert T. and Wnx. E. Strauch of Strauch
Bros., Geo. N. Grass of Geo. Steck & Co.,
"Arthur Wessell, son of Com. Otto Wessell
and others.
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*
In a musical instrument store on Wash-
ington street, Boston, there is a "grand-
father's clock," on the glass front of which
is inscribed the motto, "Time waits for no
man." A customer, observing last Wed-
nesday that the clock was at a standstill,
mute and motionless, naturally inferred,
on reading the motto, that, though time
waits for no man, it was in that instance
waiting for some woman.
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An energetic concern, the Staib Action
Co., and I notice in my travels, too, that
the Staib action is constantly moving
ahead in trade esteem. The members of
the firm are practical, conscientious, pains-
taking men, and it is their earnest desire to
produce up-to-date piano actions in every
respect. That they are succeeding is best
evidenced by the constant expansion of
their trade.
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Sentiment is growing in favor of a new
Federal department of commerce and in-
dustry, and the latest advices from Wash-
ington indicate an early consideration by
the administration. Now that farmers
have thetr Cabinet officer, why not the
merchants?
# . #
*
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It was the fashion of all the early makers
to decorate the harpsichord and clavichord
cases exquisitely. It is told of Salvator
Rosa that a Florentine friend said to him
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
one day, "Why do you keep that old clav-
ichord? It isn't worth ascudo! " "Say you
anything you like," returned Salvator;"it'll
be worth a thousand before you see it
again." Upon the friend's next visit Rosa
had painted the case with mythological
scenes in his best style, making it worth
several thousand scudi.
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The present bedraggled condition of Fifth
avenue is a source of annoyance to all doing
business on that avenue. The foul odors
from the torn up roadway not only keep
intending purchasers off the avenue but
compel piano men to spend their surplus
cash with the druggists and doctors. The
avenue has been in its present unsightly
condition for a month and at the time of
writing there are little prospects of the
workmen being through for many weeks.
The delay in this matter is a disgrace to
the city.
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After the outline of the Senate tariff
bill was published, proposing a duty of 45
per cent, on musical instruments, The Re-
view felt it a duty to protest against this ex-
cessive and unnecessary increase of ten per
cent, over the house bill, on the grounds that
instead of being a benefit it would work an
injury to our manufacturers. A memorial
addressed to the finance committee from
the jobbers and manufacturers was advised
setting forth at length their objections
to the increase. I am glad to notice that
the suggestion has been adopted. A peti-
tion has been circulated and extensively
signed. Judging from the present humor
of the Senate, it is [hardly likely, how-
ever, that it will be effective in changing
the proposed duty.
*
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The Dean of the French musical instru-
ment manufacturers is M. Gehrling, of
Paris, who was eighty-seven years old on
June 2d. He is enjoying splendid health.
M. Cavaille-Coll, the eminent organ manu-
facturer, is next in line, having reached his
eighty-sixth year the second of last Feb-
ruary.
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The immigration authorities were last
week convinced by the Musical Mutual
Protective Union of this city that four
musicians who arrived on the new Ham-
burg steamer Patria, should be sent back
to their fatherland, because they came here
under contract. Perhaps it is not generally
known that certain persons, or certain
classes of people, are not admitted into
this land of the free, if they come here
after having entered into an agreement of
that nature. Musicians, or others, who
take up a residence in this country are sup-
posed to do so without having made a
prior arrangement which explicitly and
intelligently specifies what they are to do
here. This, however, does not apply to
artists, many of whom are so called on
account of the fabulous salaries they are to
receive under contract. The artist is too
often distinguished by the size of the con-
tract and for that reason the immigration
authorities, it would seem, ought to be
careful not to discriminate unwisely.
Sohmer & Co.
Although this is recognized as the "dull
season" by the several branches of the
music trades, there are few complaints.
In a number of instances wholesale and
retail business is reported as fairly active.
This is the case at the Sohmer warerooms.
In truth, if such a report were never made
in that quarter, there is always plain evi-
dence of the fact in sight. Quietly and
unostentatiously, an immense volume, of
business is transacted in the Sohmer
warerooms, on Fourteenth street and Third
avenue. When this is supplemented by
factory transactions, the whole represents-
a condition of prosperity only possible
when conservative and at the same time
progressive methods are used in the con-
duct of all departments.
Add a New Department.
LSpecial to The Review.]
Chattanooga, Tenn, June 19, 1897.
About next Saturday the Jno. Church-
Co. will open a new department for sheet
music and small musical instruments, in
their piano warerooms on Market street.
Handsome oak fixtures are now being put
in place for this department, and it is pro-
posed that it shall contain by far the larg-
est stock of sheet music, violins,mandolins,
guitars, etc., ever carried in Chattanooga.
Mr. E. A. Marshall, who has made such
a conspicuous success with his school of
mandolin and guitar during the past three
years, has accepted the position of manager
of this new department. His experience
and popularity fit him well for the place,
and the only regret of his friends is that he
must give up his school in order to take
the position.
Stole from Benedict Bros.
Charles Hatterman, 247 West Thirty-first
street, was arraigned before Judge Fitz-
gerald in General Sessions Wednesday on
a charge of grand larceny in the second
degree. He was committed to the Tombs.
Detective Sergeant Farley of the District
Attorney's office brought the prisoner from
Jersey City on requisition papers, he hav-
ing been held there since May 20.
Hatterman was employed as a porter by
Benedict Bros., piano manufacturers, No.
515 East One Hundred and Thirty-seventh
street, and is charged with having collected
$85 and fled with it.
Parsons on the 5ea.
Charles H. Parsons, president of the
Needham Piano & Organ Co., sailed for
Europe by the "St. Louis" on Wednesday.
Mr. Parson's trip is as usual a business one.
He will return about Aug. 1st. During
his absence, Mr. Edward J. Hartman,
manager, will have charge.
Schedules of J. Stein & Co., manu-
facturers of music cabinets and furniture
at 151 to 157 Lewis street, whose failure
was reported last week, show liabilities-
$6,021; nominal
a s s e t s , $1,1 22.
assets, $6,447;
actual