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THE
MU3IC
TRADE
REVIEW
SIXTY-SIXTH KNABE ANNIVERSARY
Celebrated in Accordance With the Time Honored Custom by a Huge Picnic—Games and Feasting—Beau-
tiful Custom of Decorating Graves of Departed Knabes With Flowers—Address by Chairman H t shew
—Wm. Knabe Greeted With Cheers.
[Special to The Review.]
Baltimore, Md., Aug. 10, 1903.
Last Saturday, in accordance with their es-
tablished custom, the employes of Wm.
Knabe & Co. held their annual picnic at
West End Park. This park is located at the
end of Baltimore street car line, and was easy
of access to the great throng who witnessed
and took part in the games and races.
This was the sixty-ninth time the em-
ployes of Wm. Knabe & Co. have met for
such purposes, and following their annual
custom a committee went in the morning to
Loudon cemetery to decorate with flowers
the graves of the members of the Knabe fam-
ily. Mr. Hiteshew, chairman of the picnic
committee, made the following remarks at
the cemetery:
"My Dear People:—
"It is with profound pleasure that we, the
representatives of the firm's employes, per-
form this labor of love. The beauty and sanc-
tity of decorating increases rather than de-
creases as the years pass. The older graves
lose none of their hallowed glory and new
ones add to the wealth of flowers and affec-
tion.
, "What has prompted this feeling of grati-
tude among the employes? We delight to
honor good and useful men. We need not
do this to remind you that these people
were once one of us, as their name is far
famed the world over. None in the musical
or mechanical world stood on a higher plane
than those whose mounds are covered with
these beautiful flowers.
"It was not my good fortune to be one of
the firm's employes in those years, but I
have heard so many good and noble things
said of these citizens that I cannot refrain
from adding my voice in praise of their ster-
ling qualities as (German-American) citizens.
"It is a matter of great regret that almost
in the prime of life they were called away, as
in those few years allotted to them they be-
came famous far and wide and idolized at
home by employes as well as sharing the
highest niche in the musical and business cir-
cles.
"While we are not here assembled bestow-
ing the beauties of nature for praise, we art 1
glad to think that they are not unmindful of
our efforts to do them honor.
" 'Keep ye their memories green as the trees
That are growing around the graves;
Fresh as the verdure that springtime's soft
breeze
In tremulous motion waves.
" 'Strew then your roses—remembering still
In the heart should be found the flowers;
Love for each other, a generous good-will
To gladden life's fleeting hours.' "
Wm. Knabe replied feelingly to the senti-
ments expressed by Mr. Hiteshew.
An interesting feature of the park gather-
ing was the presence of a number of old em-
ployes, who have worked in the Knabe fac-
tory for a generation or more.
Some of
these ancient pianomakers were Messrs.
Charles Herbold, William Schmidt, F. H.
Curtis, Edward WfiJldenheimer, John Mix,
Lewis Buhl, John Jaeckel, Edward Schmindt,
John Rothman and Charles Baacher.
A generous half-holiday was given to the
employes. The factory closed its doors at
11.45 o'clock and by 1 o'clock the general
festivity and activity of the occasion began in
real earnest. After luncheon candy, peanuts
and soft drinks were given the young folks
and the ladies. For the men there were free
cigars and countless kegs on tap at the sum-
mer house in the center of the grove. This
proved to be as popular a resort for the male
picnickers as any part of the grounds. After
the speeches at 3 o'clock the games, shooting
contests, bowling matches, etc., began in
earnest. At the bowling contest, after a close
match, Mr. Rahlman took the first prize,
while the second and third prizes were taken
by Messrs. William Knabe and William
Doe ring.
In the afternoon Mr. Hiteshew delivered
the following address to the gathering at the
park, which numbered about fifteen hundred
persons:
"To-day marks another cycle in the history
of the firm of Wm. Knabe & Co. It is fitting
that we look briefly at the growth that has
been steadily making its way into the annals
of the musical, financial and mechanical life
of Baltimore for nearly three-quarters of a
century, until to-day, the sixty-sixth anniver-
sary of the inception of the firm, it stands
second to none. It started with a few skilled
mechanics, but has now on its pay roll more
than 500 men. You see the numerical growth,
which, however, may not tell of the power it
is in the musical world. Ah, but it does my
friends. There is not a factory in the world
that ships nearly the number of high grade
instruments that this firm does. There are
factories that turn out more instruments of
cheap workmanship and marked 'guaran-
teed.' The very name of 'Knabe' is a guar-
antee for your work. It stands on its own
merits. It is this that tells the tale.
"Fine workmanship with mechanical and
musical genius gives us hold on the public
heart and head. These instruments at the
touch of skilled fingers can sweep the sou!
with rapture. The effect of simultaneous and
consecutive cordial melody we have all felt,
and you stand here to-day, by the help of the
great workman and founder, Wm. Knabe I.,
the creator of a piano that has no peer.
"What has made the piano what it is? The
underlying principle is : the best material and
mechanical skill, a superintendent who is
capable of carrying out the wishes of his su-
periors, and a body of skilled workmen who
can, to the minutest detail, form and convert
the different parts into a perfect piano.
li
"Even the name of the great Wall street
king is hushed in comparison to the me-
chanics before me, for your fame reaches
world wide, and the Knabe goes everywhere
and brings blessings from and to the music
lover.
"What does this yearly gathering mean ? I
w< .Id I could give you the full conception of
it. The day of hearty good will and friendly
greeting does much in developing the idea of
a workman. It is here employer and employe
grasp hands and each knows the other for a
brother. If misunderstandings have arisen,
it is here forgotten, and we reach out for
help. Through all runs the chord of sym-
pathy. We learn that the instruments we
manufacture are but the symbols of the
sweetness of great human hearts. We go
back to the factory better workmen and bet-
ter men, proving the old adage, 'All work
and no play makes Jack a dull boy.'
"And now let me welcome you, ladies,
wives, mothers and sweethearts, in the name
of this firm, who have so generously pro-
vided for your comfort and pleasure. Wel-
come you who have all been wooed and won
by the sweet music of the Knabe; you know
its merits; you have rocked the cradle to the
tunes of the Knabe. Thrice welcome, little
ones; and for our sturdy workmen, the grand
bread-winners and great mechanical forces
in this musical center, welcome, most wel-
come.
"To the firm let me say, simply, we thank
you. My observations tell me you have innate
generosity and goodness of heart. The
founder of this firm, William Knabe, was one
of the acquisitions of this city. He was a
power in the musical and business life of Bal-
timore ; to you has come a trust, not only to
develop and perpetuate the business skill and
financial success of your founder, but, as al-
ways, to stand the autocrat in the musical
world.
"Three cheers for Wm. Knabe & Co.! May
this be the beginning of many more anniver-
saries.
"Three cheers, three cheers for Wm.
Knabe & Co!"
After the chairman had concluded, Wm.
Knabe responded fittingly and was heartily
cheered by the employes of the house of
Knabe, who have always manifested a pro-
found respect and admiration for their em-
ployers.
At about 6 o'clock a substantial supper was
served, and after this dancing in the pavilion
was enjoyed till a late hour. Nearly all of
the 475 employes of the factory were present
at the merrymaking, and, including their
friends and relatives, the number present ex-
ceeded 1,500 persons.
These annual Knabe picnics have come to
be a feature in this city, and the one of 1903
was most interesting in every way, the day
being an ideal one.
BEHR BROS. & CO.
PIANOS,
29th Street and 11th Av©., NEW YORK.
HIGHEST STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE.