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THE 7VTUSIO TRKDE
REVIEW
Carnegie will leave a name which will en- conditions, there have been comparatively
Trade Journalism
dure through the centuries and more peo- few failures within the past two or three
was complimented by the jury of
awards at the PAN-AMERICAN
ple will bless his name every year in days years. Business is run on a sounder basis.
exposition, by the awarding of
to come, but, best of all, his life will have Of course, there are sporadic cases of fail-
a diploma to
furnished an inspiration to other rich men ure here and there, but piano manufacturers
THE REVIEW
exercise greater care in the granting of cred-
to do something to elevate mankind.
in the latter place, and then they will have
It was in Boston recently that an old blind its than heretofore.
a keener realization of the methods applied
piano tuner died and disposed of his fru- The trusting of musical merchandise
by these merchants who preside over what
gal savings of a lifetime, so that thousands to-day is handled along much more conserv-
we term in the vernacular, a department
of school children will be benefited by the ative lines than formerly.
store, but what is in reality a colossal organ-
The question has been asked, Why will
few dollars which he had saved. There was
ization of a series of stores under one man-
a man trust another for a larger sum in mer-
no selfishness in the heart of such a man.
agement, where correct business methods and
Recently a very wealthy manufactur- chandise than he would be willing to loan principles are applied to each department,
er died, and it was stated some time pre- in money.
and the environments are made as attractive
The reason seems to be that in trusting and interesting as human ingenuity can de-
vious to his death that he would found a
library, provide for its maintenance and out his merchandise the creditor views his vise for patrons of the stores.
make a number of other public bequests debtor as a sort of trustee—an agent in a
The subjoined comes from a dealer who is
which would benefit the town in which he certain sense—in this particular, however,
typical of the class who have not yet com-
had won a million and a half of money. that the debtor has title to the goods instead
prehended the methods which some of the
When his will was filed it was shown that of holding them in trust, and from which,
mercantile chiefs have applied to the exploi-
not only did he forget to do this, but there through careful, judicious handling on the
tation of pianos:
was not the slightest reference made in his part of the agent, the chances for larger
Pomfret, Conn., Nov. 15, 1901.
will to his trusted aides and business asso- business and future profitable transactions Editor, The Review:
ciates who for twenty years had stood improve with a liberal extension of credit;
It seems to me that the piano business is
shoulder to shoulder with him, bearing the while in lending money itself a new element going to pieces and those fellows who run
department stores and sell pianos with
brunt of the battle, helping him to win a of risk enters into the transaction—that of ploughs, washing machines, corsets and gar-
vast sum of money. These men were all the borrower's ability to judiciously and prof- den seeds are contributing to the general
forgotten, and as far as the closing chap- itably re-convert the medium of exchange ruin. People talk about "handling" pianos;
those fellows do "handle" pianos like they
ters of the life of this man are concerned, into that which will realize a profit necessary do a lot of sheep shears. Who ever heard
there is nothing particularly inspiring to to pay a risk equivalent for the use of the of a merchant speaking of "handling" a
picture of one of the great masters? I, for
the youth or to anyone who does not admire money and a profit to the user besides.
one, think the piano business has reached a
selfishness.
A dealer may be able to put out pianos at most deplorable condition when it is "han-
dled" by such a class of merchants. This
How different the will of that great piano a good profit, but the same man could not placing pianos alongside of a new-fangled
maker, Theodore Steinway, whose estate invest dollars that would pay a fair per cent. washing machine seems to me a little less
than sacrilegious, because I was taught to
was valued at something less than a mil-
A COMPETITION NOTUNDERSTOOD. believe it an art industry.
lion. To the corporation of Steinway &
Yours truly,
Jacob Bowles.
G R E A T many
Some piano men do
Sons he left his letters patent, his draw-
Could our friend have been this week at
not appreciate depart-
p i a n o merchants
ment store competi-
ings and scales. All of his family were gen-
A m e r i c a a musicale given by John Wanamaker in
tion—A visit to the throughout
erously remembered, but more than that,
great trade
marts
have
a
wholly
incorrect his art gallery, which, by the way, adjoins
would prove a revela-
there were substantial sums to museums, to
tion.
idea as to what depart- the piano rooms, he would have been vastly
different societies, to churches, and a large
ment store competition really is, and the entertained by a musical treat of sufficient
sum to the poor of his native city. Even
sooner the atmosphere becomes clarified for importance to attract leading people of New
his old servant received several thousand
them, the better it will be, for they are labor- York, who crowded the art gallery. Could
dollars.
ing under misapprehensions which should he, after the close of the entertainment, have
It is said that the real monument which be removed. They associate the modern de- sauntered through the magnificent series of
a man leaves is the memory of him which partment store with an environment of cheap- rooms in which a superb and well-assorted
survives in the shape of noble deeds, but ness in everything.
stock of pianos were exhibited and environed
when rich men die and leave no recognition
The particular class to which we allude in the most aesthetic taste and coloring, stock
behind of those who have been faithful to
seem to cherish the belief that pianos and which begins with Chickering and tapers off
them in sunshine and shadow, no recogni-
musical instruments are bunched together at the Campbell, he would have been amazed.
tion of a duty to humanity, there is not very
in a sort of an incoherent mass and ticketed Just about that time he would have been will-
much to cause one to cherish the memory
with four-eleven-forty-four figures and that ing to have admitted that pianos are "han-
of such men.
immature clerks point to them with exceeding dled" in pretty good form in John Wana-
indifference, and that there is a sort of a go- maker's establishment. Could he have talked
BUSINESS CONDITIONS CHEERY.
[\1EVER since the pi- as-you-please manner about the whole show. with the talented chief of the department
Satisfactory condi-
tions in both depart-
ano industry took They seem to think that the inside of pianos and the members of his well-organized staff,
ments of the industry
—Business on a sound
distinct rank has it been are used as storage reservoirs for boots and he would have concluded about that time that
basis—Difference be-
tween loaning cash
as at the present time. shoes or bric-a-brac, or any old thing that they weren't "pins and needles" fellows after
a n d merchandise—
Prospects excellent.
in as good condition may be convenient to store away for future all. And just here he would gaze around
with wonder to see where the ploughs and
Both the manufacturing and retail depart- use.
stoves
and other things come in.
To such men we should say, visit such es-
ments of the business are in healthful state.
In other words, just about this time he
Men have been more careful in the grant- tablishments as John Wanamaker's in New
would
be willing to admit that his fine-spun
York
and
Philadelphia,
and
GimbeJ
Bros,
ing of credits, and as a result of the general
A