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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
tion of musical instruments at retail, and
this, too, in spite of the most discouraging
conditions at times. But Chicago men dis-
play the possession of will power and am-
bition of such a character that it has suc-
cessfully carried them over all sorts of de-
pressions and has placed that city in a proud
position as a musico-industrial centre.
Chicago is all right.
purchase their furniture at the establish-
ment.
The minister is to be of any creed pre-
ferred, and the wedding feast is to be laid
for ten persons, if required, but without
liquid refreshments. The full benefits of
this twentieth century offer are to be ob-
tained by those who require the furnish-
ing of seven rooms; the six-room couples
get the same except the trip; five-room
couples will be entitled to the marriage
feast only, and those who cannot afford to
furnish more than four rooms will only get
the free services of the parson, but all will
receive a silver mug or a high chair for
every child born within five years after
the marriage.
And to the parents of every child receiv-
ing by orthodox baptism the name of the
firm a $5 gold piece will be given. Ten
dollars will be allowed for every additional
child baptized with the name of the fur-
nishing house.
Can it be that Joseph Modern Mann has
bought an interest in a furniture establish-
ment?
That advertising surely has a Mannish
rin^-. How is this, Joe?
pying the best positions in our insurance,
banking, manufacturing and transporta-
tion institutions. Never before was the
call for liberally educated men and women
so great as to-day and the market for
brains and education is constantly widen-
ing.
To say that there is no future for the
young man in this industry is to state an
absurdity. In piano traveling alone there
is a splendid field. There must be abil-
ity, and it is no longer a question of how
many cigars per diem the traveler may
smoke, or what his capacity for imbibing;
the days of wining and dining are past.
They were finished some time before the
century was closed.
But there is a demand for clean-cut, ac-
tive men who can present logical and force-
ful arguments in a convincing way. We
can't have too many such men. They
can't travel with a retinue of servants, and
an extra car for their baggage; they must
be hustlers, and there is plenty of chance
for them in this good old trade of ours.
A MATTER OF JUSTICE.
IT is manifestly unfair and opposed to
the interests of justice to classify Jacob
Bros., Mathushek & Son, and James &
Holmstrom as one organization, and at the
same time by inference seek to color each
organization with a monotone tint of cheap-
ness.
As a matter of plain justice to Jacob
Bros, we believe that it is only right to
emphasize their position.
They are among the most successful pi-
ano manufacturers of the younger genera-
tion and to-day are controlling and oper-
ating four factories in New York and one
in Leominster, as well as nearly a score of
THE CRITIC CRITICIZED.
retail branch houses. Jacob Bros, pianos
E
•
\
A
/
clip the following from the Evening
are manufactured in the huge Thirty-ninth
VV
Post:
street factory. Mathushek & Son pianos
THE DEMAND FOR GOOD MEN.
"The importation of foreign pianists
are manufactured in the large and commo-
continues with a zeal worthy of a better
\A7E
have
heard
the
statement
made
that
dious structure, corner of Forty-seventh
cause. A few of them are good, but most
the piano industry affords but little of them are below mediocrity and as ephem-
street, while the James & Holmstrom in-
eral as comets. A prominent musician
stitution is located at the old stand in hope for the traveler of the future. The said the other day that they reminded him
East Twenty-first street. Each factory is combinations which are steadily going on of potted geraniums—they have their day
operated under a distinct organization will render the traveler's position less and till they are replaced by others, exactly
like them, and are heard of no more. The
of its own, and the pianos made in less one of necessity to the business in- cause of the pianistic invasion is, as every-
body knows, the rivalry of piano manufac-
the separate factories have distinctive terests.
turers. The public takes little interest in
We
consider
this
the
purest
of
tommy-
features, the statement made that they
the thing, while the critics are overbur-
"are all Jacob Bros, pianos" is diametrical- rot. In the first place, admitting for the dened and have their temper sorely tried.
ly opposed to truth. That Jacob Bros., sake of argument that combinations are In the meantime New York harbors two of
the greatest living pianists—Joseffy and
who are business men of eminent capabili- irresistibly going on which are not even MacDowell—whom no one gets an oppor-
ties, continue to make large investments heralded before the piano world, yet the turnity to hear. Why not? This is not a
healthy condition of affairs."
in the piano industry should stimulate the larger the combinations, the greater the
Pray when was the "cause of the pi-
confidence of others, but to say all the necessity for talent of a high order in
anistic
invasion" not due to the enterprise
every
department
of
the
business.
And
pianos in which they are interested are
practically of the same kind is a gross combinations pay more generously for or "rivalry of piano manufacturers?" It
libel. One with equal justice might claim talent, than men of the jackknife calibre. is easier apparently to slur the members of
because Mr. Whitney owns a lew shares The largest salaries that are paid to- our industry, than to recount the debt
in the New York Central road that it is day in this industry are paid by the which this country owes them for musical
part and parcel of his surface line monop- great institutions. They want good men, enlightenment. Of the musical advance
oly. A man may be interested in many and they can afford to pay a good made by the United States during the
combinations, but it does not necessarily salary for their services. Never before, closing years of the nineteenth century
follow that they are all of the same com- not only in this industry, but in every the impartial historian of the nation's art
other, was the demand for efficient men so development (he will not be an "overbur-
plexion.
clearly emphasized as at the present time. dened" critic) will gladly concede that the
NOVEL ADVERTISING.
They are in demand everywhere, not only liberal patronage and support vouchsafed
HTALK about novel methods of advertis- in the professions, but also in the business pianists at home and abroad by piano
ing! Here is the latest, from Provi- houses, manufacturing establishments, and manufacturers in the past were potential
dence, R. I. :
even on the farms they are in great de- factors in disseminating a high apprecia-
A large furniture firm in that city, to mand. The farmer who understands chem- tion of music in its broadest aspects.
"stimulate trade, promote human happi- istry, who is able to analyze the affairs of
As it was in the past so it is today. It
ness and benefit the community," will be- nature, to mix brains with his soil, will be is quite the thing to question the motives
gin the new year by providing the marriage the great farmer of the future. There is of our manufacturers who interest them-
feast, the minister and a three-day honey- an increased demand everywhere for col- selves in the exploitation of great pianists.
moon trip to all marrying couples who will lege educated men. We find them occu- What matters it if these objects are com-