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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
that there is a great saving by abolishing
our varnish system and using the French
polish instead. They don't need our var-
nish and the only man I saw in Germany
to whom I thought it would be beneficial
was the Kaiser Wilhelm. If he would
only use a little on his mustache he could
then hold it up in shape clear up to the top
of his ears. I was going to propose this
to him, but I could not find the proper man
to introduce me. Should I succeed in
this later, I shall charge the varnish man
a round commission, on a contract for ten
years.
*
*
* *
There is nothing surreptitious about my
moves, but I am very careful to obscure
most of my transactions, unless as in the
case of the department store, when I de-
manded a couple of thou' from one firm,
they wilted and the matter became public.
Little things, however, like that are only
incidents in my checkered career. But I
want to say that in Europe there is no
ethical force like my paper. In order to
purify the music trades of Europe they
need an ethical force such as I and my
paper constitute.
They don't care a rap about stencil pianos
in Europe. In fact about seven-tenths of
the business is carried on in stencil pianos.
There is no odium attached to stencilling
in Europe, nor will there be unless I can
succeed in roasting some European manu-
facturers. I gently suggested to one manu-
facturer the necessity of his doing about as
I said, and hinted at what I had done in
the States. He looked at me in supreme
amazement, and as he walked towards the
door I walked a trifle ahead of him, enough,
however, to escape his boot when I stepped
hurriedly over the threshold. If some
American manufacturers had tried this
upon me I assure you that they would have
seen such demonstrations of physical agil-
ity on my part as no one has ever dreamt of
my possessing. The only time that I have
been really scared was when Swick came
into my office and flourished a pistol. I
hid behind a desk and a couple of my men
quicker than Russell Sage did when Bomb-
thrower Norcross came into his premises.
*
*
* *
I tried to impress my importance upon
those in charge of the Paris Exposition,
but somehow they seemed to size me up
intuitively. What intuition some men
have! Without any desire to supererogate
I wish to say that I know intuitively when
Brooks' Suggestion [[Adopted.
a man intends to throw me out. It did not
Dr. Wilson, director general of the Na-
require many minutes on my part before I
tional
Export Exposition, Philadelphfa,
became convinced that those men did not
has
acted
favorably on the suggestion
desire any particular advice from me re-
made
by
A.
J. Brooks, of the Sterling Co.,
garding Exposition affairs. I was terribly
as
representing
his fellow piano exhibitors,
sorry to learn this, and when I left the
in
the
letter
herewith:
room my heart was thumping at such a
Dear Sir—Having had by my constant
rate that it threatened to break through,
attendance since the opening of our Ex-
and I had to go down and purchase a steel position opportunities for observing more
corset in order to hold it in place. I have or less closely the effects of certain of the
such a large, generous heart, you know, rules now in operation, it has occurred to
that it is mighty dangerous when it gets to me that in one respect a change might be
thumping, and if it should break through made which would be of benefit to exhibi-
tors, visitors and our great Exposition
and fall out on the street there is no telling generally. I have reference to the time
what might become of it.
allotted to the entertainments given in the
I have noticed that the
Director-General Peck knows what he is Auditorium.
about. I am afraid he is dead on to my greater number of our visitors arrive just
in time for entertainment, both after-
game, but before I finish with him he will noon and evening, go straight to the Audi-
learn that I have a card or two in reserve torium and there remain until its conclu-
sion, two hours later. It is then nearly
as yet.
time for most of them to return to town,
*
*
* *
Somehow I cannot enthuse so much over and if they view the exhibits at all
it is hurriedly and without much thought
Association affairs. They seem to be get- of their great significance. As I under-
ting along very comfortably without me, stand it, the entertainments are given for
and that fact alone is causing me infinite the purpose of attracting people to view
pain. How in the world any body of men the exhibits, and as such they seem to me
can exist without me is beyond my under- to fall short of their object. I would sug-
gest that the entertainments begin at the
standing, and I may affirm without super- usual hour, both afternoon and evening,
erogation that I can understand a powerful continue for one hour; then, instead of the
lot. No man understands better how to present ten minutes' intermission, have an
work this trade than I do. History proves intermission of one hour, then finish the
that, and, as I say, you can't go back on latter half of the program. It seems to
me this would give a much better oppor-
hi>tory.
tunity than at present exists for the people
I am of the impression that the export to become familiar with the exhibits, ex-
racket, as I propose to deal it out in allo- hibitors and, not least, the object for which
pathic doses, will be quite a thing for me we are striving.
Respectfully yours,
to work, for a while at least. I shall give
A. J. Brooks.
a partial plan in the paper. Any who
The
wisdom
of
Mr.
Brooks'
suggestion
desire a complete plan of the net which I
shall proceed to spread should call at my is already evident since the order was put
office and particulars will be given—for a into execution, for the different piano
booths have been crowded with visitors
price.
P. S. My hat is not a stencil hat. It is during the intermission. The direct results
the latest London style. A manufacturer's which must accrue from this investigation
of the instruments on exhibition is appar-
guarantee accompanied it.
ent.
C. A. Wessell.
Charles A. Wessell, the well-known
string-maker, who recently started as a
piano manufacturer under favorable au-
spices, with factory and offices in the old
Haines building, told The Review on Wed-
nesday that he expected to have all plans
worked out within two weeks for the pro-
duction, of high-grade pianos. He is now
busy with preliminary arrangements, in-
cluding fixing of new plant, etc.
Spies Co.'s Export Trade.
The Spies Piano Co., as a result of pa-
tient, well-directed effort extending over
a lengthy period, have built up an import-
ant export piano business and are rapidly
extending it in several directions. They
have found that foreign dealers are quick
to recognize merit and fair prices.. Such
a combination commands success at all
times.
Gain Knowledge
Of the "innards" of a piano by a little reading. Yon may hai«
been a dealer for many years, you may nave been a tuner for a
like period, you may have played a little—maybe more; bnt is
it not well to get a little more practical knowledge?
Some-
thing to bank on—an authority on all matters relating to tun-
ing, repairing, toning and regulating, scientific instructions—
everything? "Written by that eminent authority, Daniel Spillane.
The cost is only a trifle-a dollar.
The booli is illustrated,
cloth bound, over a hundred pages- It is called " The Piano."
LYMAN BILL, Publi5her, 3 East 14th Street, New York