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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
papers are winning a fair support. The
smaller ones would win a better patronage
if their conductors would abandon the men-
dicant system, sihow progressiveness, and get
down to a question of straight business jour-
nalism on business principles.
Now that the blackmailer lias become in-
nocuous, manufacturers are realizing more
than ever the advantage and benefit of pat-
ronizing influential business journals. Not
because they are afraid the papers will in-
dulge in the little roasting process, or because
their patronage would stop the editors from
criticism of their methods, but for the best
reason in the world—because it pays their
business interests to be talked about and to
have them presented in a fair and in an in-
telligent way.
THE TRADE IN MINNEAPOLIS, MINN.
[Special to The Review.]
Minneapolis, Oct. 16, 1901.
Announcement was made yesterday that
the purchasers of the stock of the T. M.
Roberts Supply House, which went into
bankruptcy recently, would resume the busi-
ness as soon as the inventory which is now
being taken is completed. This came as a
shock of disappointment to the trade. For
a long time this concern, probably the larg-
est catalogue house west of Chicago, has
been a source of irritation to the musical
trades of the Northwest, and it had been
hoped that this thorn in their flesh had been
removed. The stock was purchased by S.
L. Ingerman and John R. Mann, presumably
in the interest of the creditors. It is quite
probable that T. M. Roberts will be asso-
ciated with the new management.
Foster & Waldo have just made a pur-
chase of 200 pianos of Geo. P. Bent, of
Chicago.
During the past week the Metropolitan
Music Co. had a supposed automaton operat-
ing a pianola, attached to a grand piano, in
their show window. This exhibition cre-
ated a great deal of interest and much dis-
cussion as to whether the figure was me-
chanical or not. Howard Hill, of New York,
impersonated the automaton. This week he
poses as a model in a clothing house in St.
Paul.
The representative of the Poole Piano Co.
was here last week and placed the agency
with Foster & Waldo, selling them twenty
instruments.
Emil Foster has made a new record for
outside sales, and one that will be hard to
beat. Last week he sold eleven pianos in
two days. In recognition of his hustling,
the firm allowed him to take four days off
for a hunting trip.
The National Piano Co. have taken the
name of the Hackley and Chase pianos off
their windows. It is not known whom they
contemplate advertising in this manner in
the future.
Howard, Farwell & Co. are doing some
extensive advertising on the billboards. They
offer a well-known piano (name not men-
tioned) for $150.
MEHLIN CONDITIONS PROSPEROUS.
OUR TRADE WITH THE PHILIPPINES.
Paul G. Mehlin, when paid a brief visit
at the Mehlin factory headquarters by The
Review on Tuesday, was in excellent health
and spirits. He chatted on current topics
with all the alertness of a man who keeps
himself well posted on affairs of the day,
both domestic and foreign. In all matters
pertaining to the piano trade Mr. Mehlin is
greatly interested. He talked on "dull" fin-
ish, modern methods in general, and trade
conditions.
On this latter point he is highly pleased
at conditions as they now are and as they
promise to be for some months to come.
The Mehlin products are, as they have a
right to be, in greater favor than ever with
dealers. The call for the small Mehlin grand
is increasing, and there is a steady sale "for
each of the latest styles in Mehlin uprights.
[Special to The Review.]
Washington, D. C, Oct. 16, 1901.
A recent visitor to Washington was Capt.
Chas. D. Palmer, of Manila. To a group
of newspaper men who interviewed him at
his hotel, Capt. Palmer declared that the
Filipinos were the finest musicians he has
ever known. "I have listened to some very
excellent orchestral music," said he, "but
I want to say I have never heard anything
so magnificent as the playing of those na-
tives. Nothing • in this countr-y, certainly,
can touch them. They have all the instru-
ments known to our people, but they play
them much better. Strange to say, too, they
play nothing but the most beautiful classi-
cal music. Naturally, the Filipinos are a
very bright, apt, and intelligent people."
The statement of Capt. Palmer lends par-
ticular interest to some figures just prepared
INCORPORATES BECHT PIANO CO. by the War Department, showing the im-
[Special to The Review.]
ports of musical instruments into the Phil-
Atlanta, Ga., Oct. 14, 1901.
ippine Islands during the nine months end-
Among the petitions for charters filed this ing March, 1901, as compared with the im-
week with Deputy Clerk Harrison in the ports for the same period of last year. The
office of the Clerk of the Superior Court, was total value for the first mentioned period
that of the Becht Piano Co. The incorpor- was $32,169 as against a value of $7,695
ators are R. P. Becht, E. G. Becht, Charles for the nine months of last year.
Becht and M. A. Shackelford. The capital
Not a single organ was imported into the
stock is placed at $50,000 and the privilege Philippines during the nine months of last
is asked to increase it to an amount not ex- year. Ten were imported this year, valued
ceeding $100,000.
at $47r, France contributing six, valued at
DR. WILLIAM MASON'S "MEMORIES." $400; the United States two, valued at $36,
and Hongkong and Japan each one, valued
The Century Co., of this city, have just respectively at $18 and $17.
issued Dr. William Mason's contribution to
The imports of pianofortes increased from
contemporary literature, "Memories of a Mu- $2,996 in 1900 to $9,275 this year. In the
sical Life," in which he reviews the devel- list of nations exporting pianos to the Phil-
opment of music in Europe and America ippines, Spain heads the list with $3,633,
during the second half of the nineteenth France being second with $3,194, Germany
century. Though he writes very frankly, third with $1,632, Hongkong fourth with
there is no suggestion of professional bias $358, while the United Kingdom furnished
in his words. He has numbered among his
$3°5 worth and the British East Indies $153
friends a long line of celebrities, extending
worth. Not a single piano was imported
from Meyerbeer, Schumann, Moscheles,
directly from the United States. It is pre-
Wagner and Liszt (with whom Mr. Mason
sumed, however, that some of the imports
studied), through Rubinstein, Von Biilow,
accredited to other countries really came
Joachim, Paderewski, Josef Hofmann and
from
this country, being transhipped.
Dohnanyi.
In the matter of all other musical instru-
In the matter of make-up this book is-as ments and parts thereof, the imports in-
exquisite as anything in its line produced creased from a value of $4,699 in 1900 to
by any press. The illustrations are remark-
$22,423 during the nine months ending with
ably interesting, being "tipped in" on differ-
March this year. France stands at the head
ent paper from the text, and printed often-
with a total of $8,823, followed by Germany
times in the faded color of the original man-
with $5,01 r, and the United States with
uscript. They include not only portraits,
$4,028.-
but also a large number of reproductions
The following is a list of the other
of autographs from Dr. Mason's valuable
exporting
countries in the order of the value
musical album, including manuscript music
of
their
exports
of this class of manufac-
written by Wagner, Joachim, Berlioz, Rubin-
tures:
Hongkong,
$1,184; China, $946;
stein, Grieg, Schumann, and many others.
No music-lover's library will be complete United Kingdom, $869; Switzerland, $692 ;
without "Memories of a Musical Life." It Spain, $506; Belgium, $212; British East
is a book which, once taken up, can hardly Indies, $147; Japan, $5.
be laid down until it is finished, so full is
BEAUTIFUL BUSINESS SIGNS.
it of entertainment and reminiscences of a
close acquaintance with some of the greatest
The New York Municipal Art Society has
lights in the world of music.
for one of its objects the construction of bus-
HERRICK OUT OF BUSINESS.
iness signs that shall be as beautiful as they
are useful. The Nation says that "a volun-
[Special to The Review.]
tary society in Brussels has actually done
Grand Rapids, Mich., Oct. 15, 1901.
Prof. Geo. D. Herrick has closed his piano this" with the enthusiastic co-operation of
and organ business on South -Divisionstreet— the merchants there. An.cL.wliy not have a
and has accepted the position as special sales- sign artistic as well as to dress a window
with inviting attractions?
man for the Kimball Piano Co.