Music Trade Review

Issue: 1898 Vol. 27 N. 2

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
The Future of Dolgeville.
THE SALE OF THE FELT MILL, WHICH WILL TAKE
PLACE AUG. 3 , ANXIOUSLY AWAITED
SOME INDUSTRIES THAT ARE
PROSPEROUS.
Dolgeville, July i.
The residents of Dolgeville now await
anxiously the sale of the Dolge felt mill
which will take place on August 3. When
this is done, says the Utica Herald, it is
confidently expected that the property
holders and others of the village will be
able to judge more accurately as to what
the future of the metropolis of the
Adirondacks will be. Whether, as is
hoped, Mr. Dolge will bid in the property
himself, or whether it will fall into the
possession of outside capitalists, is a
question that can not now be answered.
Most of the Dolgeville people, however,
seem to prefer that Alfred Dolge himself
should regain complete control of the
property. In that case, affairs would
undoubtedly continue as before the
assignment, everybody would be prosper-
ous and Dolgeville would again proceed in
the path of advancement it has followed
for so many years. The fact that since
Mr. Dolge's assignment there has been but
one merchant to fail and that Norris W.
Burrows for whom E. H. White was made
assignee Wednesday, shows on how sound
a basis the business men of the village
have always conducted themselves.
Work in the shoe shop and felt factory
still continues but with the amount com-
paring unfavorably with what was being
done a year ago. Many employees of both
industries can be found on the streets or
at their homes with little or nothing to do.
Others, though busy at their different
positions, are by no means certain that
they will be able to hold them for a long
time. Those employed spend much of
their time in gardening, fishing, reading
war news, discussing national issues, play-
ing base ball, and so on. It speaks well
for the residents of the locality that, as too
often happens at such times, in no case
whatever have there been any deeds having
the least semblance of disorder. In fact,
arrests have been fewer since Mr. Dolge's
failure than for some months previous.
In the autoharp factory, very few hands
are employed and work continues uneven-
ly. The piano case factory is running in
about the same manner, and a voluntary
dissolution of the once prosperous com-
pany will probably soon occur. The fu-
ture existence of the American Glove Co.
is also at present very doubtful.
The
greatest signs of prosperity, on the other
hand, are shown in the operations of the
Auskerada Box and Lumber Co. and the
R. W. Tanner iron manufacturing firm.
The plant of the former, of which H. M.
Buch is the proprietor, is taxed to its ut-
most to supply outside demands and sev-
eral new hands have recently been en-
gaged. A. L. Ebbels, the efficient agent
of the Tanner company, has just returned
from a visit through the central states to
such cities as Chicago, Fort Wayne, Cleve-
land, etc., with a well filled order book.
A KRELL BLAZE.
THE KRELL PIANO FACTORY THE SCENE OF
ANOTHER FIRE.
[Special to The Review.]
Cincinnati, O., July 3, 1898.
A fire which threatened to assume seri-
ous proportions started in the boiler room
of the Krell Piano Manufacturing Co., a
few minutes before four o'clock yesterday
afternoon. An alarm was turned in from
Box 493, and a few minutes later a ten-
blow was sounded. .
The cause of the fire has not yet been
determined, but it was probably caused by
the spontaneous combustion of a bundle of
waste. The factory closed at noon yester-
day, and no one was in the building ex-
cept the watchman, Albert Wachs, who
was in one of the upper floors making his
rounds. The fire was discovered by two
boys, who notified the watchman.
The firemen went to work quickly, and
soon had the flames under control. Ad-
joining the boiler room was the varnish
and paint storeroom, separated by a tin
wall. It was a hard fight to keep the fire
from spreading to that room, and, had the
firemen not known the danger threaten-
ing, the entire building would undoubted-
ly have been destroyed. The damage is
estimated at about $2,000, nearly half of
which is on the building. The repair and
fitting rooms were inundated and several
valuable piano parts were water soaked.
Case Fell Through.
[Special to The Review.]
New Bedford, Mass., July 11, 1898.
The case of Albert W. Slocum, the
piano dealer of Middleboro, who is
charged with being an itinerant vender
and held in court a few weeks ago, came
up in the Superior Court Thursday. After
two witnesses had been heard, the case
fell through, as the government testimony
was so weak, that District Attorney Harris
for the prosecution did not care to ask for a
verdict. The jury were instructed to ren-
der a verdict without retiring, and it was
not guilty.
Will A. Watkin, the well known dealer
of Dallas, Tex., will visit New York the
last of the month.
John Summers, who has been doing ex-
cellent work for the Capen piano on the
road, was in town Thursday.
Geo. Nembach Grass, who has recently
undergone an operation for appendicitis
has gotten on splendidly. He left town
Thursday for further recuperation in the
mountains of New Hampshire.
The Krell stock of pianos at the Fifth
Avenue warerooms at this time, is a highly
representative one, including, in both
grands and uprights, some of the most
tasteful and elegantly finished instruments
to be found in New York City. The stock
is effectively arranged and faultlessly kept.
W. F. Boothe is spending his vacation
at Seabright, N. J.
Stultz & Bauer report retail business
active, and orders from out of town agents
frequent. Mr. Golden is expected home
to-day from his three months' tour.
The delegates to the Convention of the
Illinois Music Teachers' Association which
was held in Handel Hall were invited by
the W. W. Kimball Co. to visit their fac-
tory. An invitation was extended to a
luncheon on Friday afternoon at the Great
Northern Hotel.
Henry L. Mason, of Mason & Hamlin,
left the city yesterday for a four or five
weeks' vacation—the first vacation he has
taken in several years. Most of the time
will be spent at Falmouth, on the Massa-
chusetts coast.
A dispatch from Columbus, O., says
that parties from Indianapolis and Rich-
mond are looking for a location for a
piano factory, and that they will probably
locate in Columbus.
When The Review called at the Knabe
Ernest Knabe called on Mr. Mayer at the warerooms on Wednesday for news, there
were conspicuous indications of effective
Knabe warerooms yesterday.
There is great activity at the Behr fac- work on the part of Mr. Mayer. Two
tory. The coming fall will find Behr Bros, grands and three uprights were marked
well to the fore with attractive 1898 styles " sold " and were being prepared for ship-
in several woods. Present business condi- ment. With one exception, the sales were
for cash.
tions are reported as satisfactory.
Wilcox & White interests are developing
Mr. Rosenberg, of the Emerson ware-
rapidly. Factory advices show big organ rooms, after devoting many days and
shipments this week; one order, to a big hours to the renovating and re-decorating
dealer having several branches, aggre- of the main exhibit hall, has at last
gating 103 instruments.
achieved the success he contemplated.
Mason & Hamlin callers this week in-
By closely following the dictates of good
cluded James C. Lawrence, Sag Harbor, taste in the blending of colors and proper
N. Y. ; Peder Ohlsen, Perth Amboy, N. J., distribution of artistic auxiliaries, an
and William H. Pine, Asbury Park, N. J. extremely pleasing result is shown. To
Each left orders. The export shipments describe the transformation would require
of Mason & Hamlin this week include much space. Those who are interested in
organs and pianos to Sydney, N. S. W., the proper decoration of piano warerooms
Port Natal, Honolulu, U. S. A., and should pay Mr. Rosenberg's headquarters
Madras.
a visit.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
8
SUMMER DAYS.
Lazy, languid summer days,
Virile love with Flora plays,
Nature all is smiling;
Odors sweet the glad air fill,
Joyous sounds the being thrill,
All our cares beguiling.
v
<•
Field and copse and bowery glen
Clothe themselves with green, as when
Touched with magic finger;
Dewdrops kiss the buds and flowers,
Fairies hide in leafy bovvers,
Psyche in woodland lingers.
Droning, moaning bugs and bees,
In and out, among the trees,
With the blossoms dally;
Where the thirsty cattle quaff,
Purling rills and brooklets laugh,
Through'the mead and valley,
Now the vibrant, joyous air
Teems with music everywhere;
Saucy wild birds, singing,
Wake anew the love of life,
Ardent passion, feeling rife
Into being bringing.
Lazy, languid summer days,
Charming all our wayward ways,
Sins and ills abating,
Like an influence from above.
While all nature teaches love,
Why should man be hating?
J. W. Chapin, in The Progress.
*
*
*
*
T H E present war has brought forth in-
* numerable song writers. Hundreds
of ambitious writers have set thrilling
music to patriotic verse, hoping thereby
to win fame and incidentally fortune, but
thus far can we point to one single war
song which has created more than a ripple
upon the popular current?
It has been stated that out of this war
would come a new national melody, but
we rather incline to the belief that the old
songs will not be supplanted by the new.
There is down deep in the heart of every
American a love for '' The Star Spangled
Banner," which I believe will never be
supplanted by any of the modern produc-
tions. It is with us a childhood love, a
part of our very selves.
The present excitement has only, to
our minds, emphasized that " The
Star Spangled Banner" is the hymn
of the Nation. Visit any public place of
amusement when the National airs of all
nations are in the numbers, and see how
quickly the audience is swayed with un-
bounded enthusiasm when " T h e Star
Spangled Banner " is played.
A point which is somewhat peculiar in this
connection, is that the words are not famil-
iar to a majority of our citizens, and may
not be easily recalled, but the bold, in-
spiring melody creates a perfect whirlwind
of enthusiasm. Key wrote the verses the
morning after the defense of Ft. Henry
where he was an officer. The music was
adapted from an old English drinking song.
Key's immortal lyric will last as long as
the Nation. Public impulse finds it the
medium best suited to its expression.
Through the effort of patriotic citizens,
a monument will now be erected to the
memory of Francis Scott Key, the man to
whom America owes a lasting debt of
gratitude.
On June 14th in Mount Olivet Cemetery,
Frederick, Md., a cornerstone was laid of
the monument to Key. It will be built
over the plot of ground where rest the
remains of the great American. The un-
veiling will occur some time the latter part
of next month. It is proposed to make it
a notable event, and the President of the
United States has signified his willingness
to be present upon that occasion.
FRANCIS SCOTT KEY.
Perhaps McKinley, stirred by the place,
the surroundings, the memories, the
thrilling music, may deliver an oration
which will rank as a classic.
Certainly Lincoln at Gettysburg had no
more soul stirring environments than
McKinley will have when he stands on the
grassy knoll, overlooking the beautiful
Maryland hills, where in eternal slumber
lies the author of '' The Star Spangled
Banner."
*
*
*
*
O ^ O HAS seen the birth of a new
* ^ ^ ^
and vigorous claimant for pub-
lic patronage in the piano trade. I refer
to the Everett grand piano. Music trade
history does not afford a similar illustra-
tion whereby an instrument, upon its first
appearance, elicited such warm praise from
musicians and experts as has the Everett
grand. A noble instrument truly, and one
that will be in the thickest of the artistic
fights during the future seasons.
We may not wonder at the superb Ever-
ett creation when we know the intelligent
forces which were instrumental in creating
it. Brains, supplemented by ample capi-
tal, can accomplish a great deal in these
history-making days.
*
*
*
*
OOSENTHAL, the great pianist, who
*^ will tour the United States next fall,
when interviewed recently in London,
said:
'' Audiences in general are very much
inclined to regard a pianist's energy as
technic, rather than force of expression,
and mere cantilene for soul—in other
words, pianissimo for soul, and fortissimo
for technic—forgetting that he is not
always free in the matter of nuance.
There is a heroic way in music, as well as
a lyrical way. Technic in pianissimo is
difficult, but easier than a good sounding
fortissimo." In reference to Rubinstein
and Liszt, he said: " I was more impres-
sed with Rubinstein than Liszt, though
the latter was in some respects incompar-
able. Perhaps it was because the tempera-
ment of Rubinstein was more like my
own." As to his preference in the matter
of compositions, he has a fondness for
Schumann's concerto. "Liszt's concerto
in E flat is very dashing, but it is paradoxi-
cal, and I do not rank it very high. I
much prefer Chopin's in E minor, because
this composer, to my mind, has the max-
imum of energy compressed in a nut-shell.
In the highest sense he thought out and
made his form. I also admire his sonatas.
My estimate of Chopin increases year by
year. His gentler qualities caught me in
the first instance, but I have since com-
prehended his artistic power and intel-
lectuality. Chopin produced nothing that
was lacking in finish."
*
*
*
*
'"THE Sohmer piano was largely in evi-
* dence at the recent Music Teachers'
Convention at the Waldorf-Astoria.
"What a noble instrument! " remarked a
lady sitting near me while the Sohmer
piano was being played upon by one of the
artists. " Yes," her friend remarked, " I
think the Sohmer instrument is just love-
OPEAKING of trusts, The Journal, of
^
New York, had a big scare heading
last Tuesday, "Trusts May Shake Off
Comic Songs." Among other things it had
to say the following:
The Rialto is painfully excited over the
intelligence that a ' popular song trust' has
been organized by the leading publish-
ers of this class of music throughout the
country, and that henceforth any actor
daring to sing any songs issuing from any
houses but those in the trust will be im-
mediately blacklisted and forced to go out
of business.
The same fate is in store for any com-
poser who has the nerve to publish through
any but trust houses. If he dares to pat-
ronize one of the smaller publishers he
also will be put on the black list, and all
his future endeavors to gain name and
fame frustrated.
It is said that the publishing houses
already in the trust are Howley, Haviland
& Co., Stern & Co., Witmark & Co., of
West Twenty-eighth street; F. A. Mills
and T. B. Harms. Others, it is asserted,
will soon follow, and the smaller publisher
will be pushed to the wall.
There have been mutterings of this
storm for some time past, but these only
assumed ominous proportions yesterday.
"Do I believe there's a trust of this

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