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A NOVEL exhibition of physical endur-
**' ance and mental musical power will
be a "pendant" to the six-day bicycle race
which closed in this city a couple of
weeks since.
Henry Berg, who arrived last week from
Europe and immediately made his appear-
ance in the Hungaro-Bohemian colony on
Second avenue and there introduced him-
self as the "Iron Pianist," proposes to
play on a piano for thirty consecutive
hours, and to continue this recital every
week for six weeks, increasing the length
of the recital one hour every week.
To a reporter Mr. Berg told how he be-
came an endurance player. He was prac-
tising in Breslau, when a neighbor rushed
in, demanding that he should stop. Mr.
Berg refused, whereupon a hot argument
ensued which culminated in Mr. Berg's
promise to play all night without stopping.
The neighbor offered a bet of ioo marks
that Mr. Berg would not be able to do that,
and Mr. Berg played all night and won the
money.
"After this," continued Mr. Berg, "I
got the idea that there might be money in
such performances. Long after, at Carls-
bad, I played twenty-four hours and cre-
ated a sensation. I increased that to
thirty hours, and at the Royal Aquarium,
in London, went as high as thirty-six
hours.
"As for food, I play with one hand and
with the other convey bouillon or sand-
wiches to my mouth."
success of the "Iron Pianist" in
this city must already be assured, as
a lively competitor has now placed himself
in evidence under the professional title of
" Iron Pianist, No. 2." This latest arrival,
dating from a fashionable hotel on the
classic Bowery, has addressed certain
piano manufacturers in this wise:
"Allow me to introduce myself as the
'Iron Pianist (No. 2),' should you want
to engage me to give an exhibition of long,
constant, hard playing for thirty-eight
hours, no stop whatever, no fake, for this
Christmas week.
" If this would increase the sale of your
Piano by such an Adv., I am ready to ac-
complish my hard task. Hoping to hear
from you at an early date,
I remain, etc."
(Pianist)
" No. 2" calculates to last one-third of a
day longer than his opponent in this partic-
ular field of mental and physical gymnas-
tics. A six-day piano playing contest will
probably be undertaken in the near future
by some enterprising genius.- This might
easily be followed by a week's continuous
performance on a bassoon, which would in-
deed be a real test of endurance.
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
" C H E P H E R D S " is the title of a very
^
beautiful Christmas song which has
just reached us from the Wonder Music
Co., 23 E. 14th street. The words and
music are by Wm. Paris Chambers. It is
written in a key suitable for baritone or
contralto. The composition opens with a
very dainty and cleverly arranged intro-
ductory for organ or orchestra. The
words which tell the familiar story of
Bethlehem are set to a captivating and
most appropriate melody which varies in
tempo in sympathy with the words. In
this work Mr. Chambers gives further
proof of his talents as a composer.
The Review visited the Connor ware-
rooms on Thursday and noted that this
season's Connor styles are exceedingly at-
tractive. In the course of a brief business
talk, Francis Connor said that the pros-
pects for the coming year are decidedly
encouraging for the Connor products.
The Ann Arbor Organ Co. received this
week a big order from Sydney, Australia.
The factory is running to its fullest cap-
acity and working overtime. The output
of the company this year will be double that
of any previous year.
The building in which is located M. P.
Moller's music store, at Hagerstown, Md.,
was damaged by fire a few days ago. Mr.
Moller's loss is not large and was caused
largely by water.
The Fischer concert grand piano was
played by Miss Alice Ferguson at an im-
portant recital given at the Will A. Wat-
kin music warerooms, Dallas, Tex., on
Dec. 15th. Her principal number was
Chopin's Nocturne, op. 48.
Joseph Shoninger reports wholesale and
retail trade satisfactory. "This has been
a great year for the Shoninger products,"
said he to The Review during a recent talk.
"Our record is away ahead of previous
years, and the chances are greatly in favor
of a still further advance in 1899. Merit
tells every time."
Gen. James A. Guest, of Burlington, la.,
is displaying a magnificent assortment of
Chickering pianos for the Christmas holi-
days. They have not only been admired,
but many important sales have been ef-
fected.
George Bothner says he would like to
visit every one of his many well-wishers,
to extend to them the compliments of the
season, but as that is well-nigh impossible,
they must take the will tor the deed. He
will start the new year under most favor-
able auspices. .
The Everett grand piano has been used
at a number of important concerts in this
city and locality recently. It is needless
to say that the musical qualities of this
magnificent instrument delighted all who
had the pleasure of hearing it.
J. H. (rill, who had charge of the Cable
Piano Co.'s branch in Logan, Utah, has
been arrested. It is alleged that there is a
shortage of $700 in the accounts.
Geo. Steck & Co. are receiving their
share of the Holiday trade. Their whole-
sale business is rushing.
Mr. Young, head of the business depart-
ment at Chickering Hall, has been laid up
with the grip all the week; in fact several
members of the Chickering staff have been
under the weather from the same cause.
At the Paur Symphony concerts to take
place at Carnegie Hall on January 6th and
7th, Wm. H. Sherwood will be the piano
soloist. He will play Schumann's A Minor
Concerto.
John Weser and his associates in the
Weser Co. are among the happiest men in
New York. They do not have to seek
business. It comes to them, with the
result that the factory is practically open
night and day. Why shouldn't they enjoy
a "Merry Christmas."
One of the most attractively decorated
warerooms on Piano Row is that of the
Needham Piano and Organ Co. The col-
umns in the windows have been suitably
decorated with holly while the display of
plants and pianos makes a very artistic en-
semble.
In a chat with Ferdinand Mayer at the
Knabc warerooms on Wednesday he re-
ported an unusually big Christmas trade.
All records of previous years have been ex-
celled.
The Dearborn Piano Co. of Philadelphia
have recently been placed under new man-
agement, Mr. J. Mack, for many years
with George R. Fleming & Co., having as-
sumed management.
Among the new piano stores recently
opened up are the Lancaster Music Co.,
Lancaster, Pa.; J. A. Hcrcey, Ashtabula,
O. ; Chas. A. Rose, Carthage, Mo. ; Geo.
H. Ritter, Poughkeepsie, N. Y.
The F. W. Baumer Co., of Wheeling,
W. Va., have opened a temporary branch
during the holidays in the Williams Block,
Parkersburg, W. Ya.
"Our full force is kept hard at work
filling orders, so that the condition of trade
with us is entirely satisfactory," is the re-
port this week at the Jacobs factory.
The Milton Piano Co. is doing well.
There is a steady growth of business that
speaks volumes for the firm's enterprise
and satisfactory work.
The Emerson Piano Co. of this city are
advertising a removal sale.
Behr Bros. & Co.
"We are getting our full share of busi-
ness this month," said Henry Behr to The
Review on Tuesday, "and, with the excep-
tion of the usual lull at holiday time, there
is every prospect of its steady continuance.
Shipments are important and frequent from
the factory. There is a good showing of
orders on the books."
Strich & Zeidler.
Strich & Zeidler make a good report this
week. The new Style H, with bas-relief
panel, as shown in the last issue of The
Review, has proved to be attractive to pur-
chasers of handsome holiday presents. A
number of the Strich & Zeidler Baby
Grands have also been secured for gift
purposes.