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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
IN a chat a few days ago with a promin-
* ent music teacher of this city, whose son
is occupying a Government position in
Havana he said that in some recent letters
his son spoke at considerable length of the
need for one or two good piano tuners in
that city. In Havana and adjacent local-
ity there are in the houses of almost every
family of means pianos which need tuning
and repairing badly. These instruments
are almost exclusively of European man-
ufacture and of course in poor condition.
It is understood a tuner of ability can
make a nice thing of it, if he has the en-
terprise to visit Cuba's capital. He can
virtually make his own prices.
Another point emphasized by our friend
in Havana was the need of an up-to-date
piano store conducted on the American
plan, and selling American wares. In fact
the outlook is so bright in this connection
that this young man, who is a musician of
ability, is contemplating giving up his
position and going into the piano business.
What is true of Havana is true of many
of the larger cities in Cuba. There is cer-
tain to be an era of peace and prosperity in
that country, which will lead to a larger
demand than ever before for luxuries, par-
ticularly musical instruments, all over the
island. There is no reason why American
capital and American enterprise should
not make themselves felt in the music
business in Cuba.
#
*
*
As was anticipated, there will be a very
sparse exhibit of British pianofortes at the
Paris Exposition next year, says our es-
teemed contemporary Music, of London.
But Messrs. John Broadwood and Sons and
Messrs. J. & J. Hopkinson, Lim., will be
represented. Messrs. Besson, Lim., and
Messrs. Boosey and Co. (band instruments
and music) will have displays, and Messrs.
Lachenal will show specimens of the
" Edeophone," and other types of English
concertinas. We hope all these firms will
benefit by their enterprise. But, as we
have often remarked in these columns, we
believe that participation in the minor ex-
hibitions held periodically in our Colonies,
is a much surer method of increasing trade
than sending exhibits to any International
show in a European city.
*
*
*
" Why don't you trade with me ? " said
a close-fisted merchant to a dealer the
other day. " Because," replied the dealer,
"you have never asked me. I have looked
through all the papers for an invitation in
the shape of an advertisement, but in vain.
I never go where I am not wanted." The
time to put forth special efforts is the time
when people will not buy unless specially
urged to do so, very correctly says Class
Advertising. It is a mistaken idea to sit
still in dull seasons; the time to push busi-
ness is when business needs pushing. It
stands to reason that when things are
lively people are going to buy anyway,
and it takes less efforts to secure patron-
age, but the merchant who hesitates to put
forth advertising expenditures in dull sea-
sons is only adding to his burden, for in-
stead of judiciously expending money in
advertising to induce people to buy, he
sits idle, letting regular expenses run on
and hoping when the busy season does
come along to catch up the loss.
*
*
*
J. T. Bowers, the Pacific Coast dealer of
23-5 Fifth street, San Francisco, paid The
Review a visit this week. Mr. Bowers
gave me an interesting talk on his early
experiences in California. Said he:
"I left Massachusetts in 1848 with five
hundred dollars in my pocket. I said that
I would be back inside of two years and
clear up all of my obligations. I ran a
little over this date owing to the long time
necessary to make the trip from San Fran-
cisco East in those days. When I reached
Albany I was accompanied by my two
brothers, who were engaged in a business
enterprise at that point. They sold out
when they learned that I was on my way
to California, and joined me. We, with
others, chartered a steamer from Cincin-
nati to St. Louis, and then another boat
to St. Joe. Then came the long trip
across the continent. I was three months
going from Massachusetts to California.
' 'Yes, I was successful and made a great
deal of money, and I may add, I have lost
a great deal as well. I drifted into the
music business and am running a paying
establishment in San Francisco. We buy
for cash. I handle the Lindeman piano as
my leader and like it very much, and I
think also a great deal of Mr. Norris, the
president of the concern. I am looking
for a magnificent trade in California this
year. I expect to do double the business
from August to December this year that I
did during the same months of '98. My
son has charge of the business during my
absence. He is a good salesman and man-
ager, and I feel perfectly satisfied to en-
joy myself a while in the East."
*
*
*
The end of a fiscal year is always a time
of interest. The showing of our foreign
trade for 1899 commands more than ordi-
nary attention this year. The whole world
is now a liberal buyer from the United
States, though there must necessarily be
fluctuations. Only four countries in Eu-
rope—Great Britain, France, Belgium and
Spain—showed a falling off as compared
with 1898. But this was due mainly to
the large crops which lessened the de-
mand for American breadstuffs. Of man-
ufactures we are selling more than ever in
all parts of the globe.
*
*
*
W. P. Van Wickle was a visitor to the
city the early days of the week. He is
interested in two elaborate special grands
which are being made at the Bradbury
factory and during his stay he accompanied
Mr. Smith to Leominster. In the course
of a chat in The Review sanctum on Mon-
day he reported business as brisk in every
branch of Mr. F. G. Smith's enterprises.
Retail trade in Washington is most satis-
factory.
Mr. Van Wickle, as secretary of the com-
mittee appointed by the Commissioners of
the District of Columbia, to receive Ad-
miral Dewey when he arrives in Washing-
ton, has sent a letter to the Admiral,
apprising him of the plans relative to his
proposed reception. In this connection it
is proposed to escort the Admiral, after a
call upon the President and secretary of
the Navy, to the east front of the Capitol
where Secretary Long will present the
sword voted by Congress in recognition of
Dewey's distinguished services in Manila.
The plans of Mr. Van Wickle and his asso-
ciates have met with the full approval of
the President.
*
*
*
In a recent letter from London to Amer-
ican Trade the correspondent emphasizes
the fact that it is becoming more evident
every year that the sale of American goods
of various kinds is steadily increasing
throughout the United Kingdom. This is
notable in every department of trade. He
says, "If you visit a friend I venture to
say that some portion at least of his furni-
ture is American, and the 'rocker' into
which you throw yourself hails from a well-
known city in the United States. If the
musical instrument is an organ, ten to one
it is American made, for nearly all the
organs used in private houses here are
made in your country."
*
*
*
P. H. Powers, president of the Emerso^-
Co., will celebrate the fiftieth anniversary
of his wedding on September 18th of this
year. It is significant that Mr. Powers'
golden wedding occurs the same year as
the golden jubilee of the firm of which he
is the honored head. It was in 1849 that
the Emerson Co. was founded and Mr.
and Mrs. Powers were married in the same
year. This is certainly an occasion for
festivity and it looks now as if it will be hon-
ored right royally by one of the biggest
businesses in the history of the Emerson
Company.
*
*
*
Joseph W. Sturtevant, of Steinway Hall,
accompanied by Mrs. Sturtevant and his
friend Mr. Louis Peck, of the Continental
Insurance Co., enjoyed a pleasant wheel-
ing trip over the Fourth. From Rondout
they followed the tow path of the D. & H.
Canal to Port Jervis and Delaware River
valley to the Water Gap, thence to Easton,
Bethlehem, Philadelphia and Atlantic City.
*
*
*
The Review, in its travels day by day,
duly notes all evidences of progress—or
decay—in the factories and warerooms vis-
ited. In some, the signs of advancement
—in the right direction—are more notice-
able than in others. Beau Brummell, the
famous English dandy so realistically
brought to life by Richard Mansfield in
the comedy of that name, impresses on a
protege the necessity of gaining informa-
tion merely by a glance of the eye. He