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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
years until many began to see through the
haze which surrounded the schemes, the
plots, the plans and the intrigues of the
wily manipulator, but so tightly were his
tentacles cast upon them, so much did
they fear his abuse, that the)4 were unable
to free themselves from the throttling
clutch of this journalistic assassin. He
grew rich, insolent, and intolerantly abu-
sive. However, wrong could not forever
triumph over right. The sunlight of in-
dependence in the form of clean journalism
was lightening the trade horizon. The
thug saw it, and endeavored in every way
to defeat plans and prospects which led to
the unshackling of the bonds which had so
long held men subject to his base domina-
tion.
Tricky and cowardly at heart, like all
men of his peculiar calibre, he endeavored
by every cunning act to thwart the growth
of independence, because he knew full
well that the moment fear regarding his
strength once dissolved, his power was
forevermore gone.
There were elements, however, which
were difficult for him to combat, chief
among which was the element of clean,
independent journalism. Week by week
he tried every possible means to effectually
up-root the growth of influential papers.
He tried from its very inception to nip the
Association bud, but it was destined to
grow. At every step, and by every machi-
nation known to his low intrigue he at-
tempted to kill it, to turn men from join-
ing, to ridicule its possibilities, its needs,
its objects.
Think of it for one moment, an institu-
tion inaugurated with one definite purpose
in view, that of the augmentation of trade
interests and the obliteration of trade evil,
to be ridiculed, to be thwarted by an insti-
tution which sucked the very vitals of the
trade.
We may as well strip off the mask en-
tirely and view the situation, divest it of
all superfluous coverings, and when we
consider that the entire life of this indi-
vidual has been one of prostitution of
fairly good intellectual qualifications for
the lowest possible gain, we can but
wonder that this industry has tolerated
so long the existence of such a cur within
its midst.
Is it astonishing that he has poured
out his filthy vials of wrath upon every
journalistic institution which stood in his
path ?
Is it surprising that he has attempted to
subsidize the entire line of papers which
were opposed to him ?
H.js every ^ has been a violation of the
laws of journalistic decency, even to the
extent of attempting to ruin opposition
papers by the purchase and publication of
confidential matter relating to the work-
ings of those institutions.
He has even bought the fluttering honor
of attaches of opposition papers.
From a thug and a man of vulgar in-
trigue you may reasonably expect almost
anything.
We shall continue the fight against un- SOME POINTS OF T R A D E INTEREST PICKED UP
IN ENGLAND'S C A P I T A L — B U S I N E S S O U T -
clean journalism until the industry has
LOOK EXCELLENT A VISIT TO THE
been fairly purged of it.
LONDON FACTORIES—THE STEN-
CIL QUESTION THE MATTER
Come to think of it, is it surprising that
OF PITCH—BROADWOOD
he should hate the Association and hate The
CRITICISED.
Review with all the concentrated essence
London, England, Aug. 10, 1899.
of bitter hate capable of being stored in his Dear Review:—
vulgar little body?
Trade in London during July has been
decidedly dull. It usually is that way
here during the heated period, therefore
A " P i a n o " in Demand.
manufacturers are not disappointed.
Probably by the end of the month a
THE DEALERS ALL WISH IT, AND THERE IS
material change will have occurred, for
NO RESTRICTED TERRITORY.
the fall promises fair things.
Orders still continue to come in for that
I understand that the English manufac-
popular work, " The Piano." Here are a turers are feeling more interested than ever
'few taken from Tuesday's mail:
in American competition, and I firmly
F. C. Olsen, San Francisco, Cal. : " I believe that when manufacturers on the
have heard favorable criticisms of your other side get right down and build pianos
book, 'The Piano.' I am learning to specially for this market they will make the
tune, and feel that a copy will assist me. English manufacturers feel strongly the
I enclose you one dollar."
effects of their competition.
Irving Camp, St. Paul, Minn.: " A local
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music dealer recommends me to purchase
I have hardly gotten accustomed to the
your book. I want to learn about tuning peculiar conditions existing in the trade
and get all the information I can about here, after my extended acquaintance with
pianos generally. Enclosed find postal or- the American way of conducting things. I
der for one dollar."
think I prefer the American system in
James Henry, Boston: "From what I everything. It all seems so slow to me
have heard of ' The Piano' it is the work here. The first call upon a business man
I need. I send one dollar, which I under- is only the inceptive move to a long series
stand to be the price."
of visits before you get en rapport with
Perry Bros., Wilkesbarre, Pa.: "Send him and get your argument boiled down to
us one copy of ' The Piano.' "
a concise business proposition. There is
" T h e Piano," without question, is the none of that high-jinks American element
popular technical work of the day. Tuners about it—rush in, give a fellow a cigar, a
continue to purchase it in greater quanti- hearty handshake, thump him on the back
ties than the first year of its publication, and say, "How are you, old man? Family
and like good wine it continues to improve well? Business good? Orders to-day?
with age. Salesmen, too, have found it a Surely you're not going to let me leave
most valuable work, because they have without something? I'll just enter you for
been enabled through it to gain much four. Must catch the train, leave town
technical information which assists them in two hours. Good-bye, see you next
in piano talk. It is quite as necessary that September."
a good salesman be posted on the technical
That sort of thing doesn't graft here in a
parts of the instrument as it is to speak satisfactory way, and I my add that it
eulogistically of the exterior.
never will. People in this country have
Mailed from The Review offices to any become thoroughly used to the way of do-
address upon receipt of one dollar.
ing things which may I call old fogeyism?
I presume the Chicago man would, but
when
you are doing business here you
The members of the Kansas City music
must
accommodate
yourself to the existing
trade who have already applied for space
conditions
which
may
not be always pleas-
at the Kansas City Fair are the J. W.
ing
from
the
American
standpoint. They
Jenkins Music Co. and the Kansas City
may
buy
American
goods,
but they never
Music Co.
will accept American methods. I think
The annual picnic of the employees of you may write that plainly in your hat and
the Shaw Piano Co. was held last Saturday. leave it there. It's all right.
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The program was entertaining, and a num-
ber of prizes were offered. The Shaw
I suppose eve r ^ American who is famil-
Pja,no Co, donated a go-cart as a prize,
iar with music trade a,ffajrs ;j; America h.a,§