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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
'JR modern form of advertising is entertaining and interesting,
but the old forms were unique and clever as well.
In the olden times the Greek merchant was accompanied on his
rounds by musicians who assisted him in chanting the virtues of his
wares.
In the ruins of ancient Egypt there was found written on papyrus
an advertisement for a runaway slave. This advertisement is pre-
sumably over three thousand years old. So our present form is
only an evolution from the cruder systems of the past and the busi-
ness man, be he piano merchant or manufacturer, should not over-
look the advantages of systematic and intelligent advertising, par-
ticularly this year when business will require extra emphasis in
order to bring it up to a satisfactory point.
O
O
NE reason, perhaps, why The Review has earned a reputation
for reliability is due to the fact that we have never believed
in exploiting rumors.
In a publication devoted to the interests of business men it is
ample to announce the consummation of a deal when it has actually
occurred; but sometimes much harm is done, credits are injured and
deals are broken off by too previous announcements in the columns
of trade journals which exhibit enterprise in the dissemination of
rumors.
It is generally conceded that The Review news service is prompt
and efficient, but more—is always reliable—at least every possible
care is taken to investigate the truth of a report before it is presented
to our readers.
OW, while for weeks rumors have persistently circulated re-
garding a well known concern in St. Louis, The Review has
refrained from referring to the matter in any way because there has
been absolutely no change in the local situation. Our correspondent
at that point, and our representatives in the important cities through-
out the land keep the main office in close touch with what is going
on in their particular locations. That does not mean, however, that
we should present all of the rumors drifting about in various sections
of the country.
N
I
T is such methods that cause every now and then some one to rise
up and say that newspapers are not to be believed, that they deal
only in rumors, and much of their news is manufactured out of
whole cloth.
Now this might apply with truth to the yellow type of journals,
but there is no reason why a trade newspaper catering to the inter-
ests of business men should fall a victim to the rumor habit. We can
well leave all of that reputation to the yellow journals.
ONIZETTI once wrote to his brother-in-law this beautiful
tribute with regard to a piano he was about to send him—
Donizetti's own instrument: "Do not sell it—no, at any price. It
holds my whole artistic life from 1822. I hear whisper from it Anne
Boleyn, Maria Stuart, Lucia, Belisar, Marino, Falerio, Kenilworth
and all the others. Let it live as long as I live! It was my friend
in the time of my hope, in the happiness of my marriage—in soli-
tude. It was the witness of my joys, my tears, my ecstasy. It shared
my confidences and my toil. With it dwelt my genius. Every part
of it is alive with my life. It has been to me a companion—may it
be such to thy daughter with its dowry of a thousand thoughts."
D
I N these days when agitators are endeavoring to create a wide
* between the employer and employe, it is refreshing to note in-
stances where there is a genuine spirit of admiration and apprecia-
tion between the administrative head and the men who follow out his
directions in the various departments of business. It is that spirit of
respectful consideration of the rights of each which promote the
advance of a business enterprise, and it is well to encourage those
relations.
It was but recently that we recorded the presentation of a mag-
nificent loving cup by the Steinway Hall attaches to the head
of the great corporation, Chas. H. Steinway.
The men who are brought the closest to Mr. Steinway admire
him the most. They appreciate the efficiency which he possesses
when he is called to face any emergency, and that he brings to bear
in the furtherance of the great enterprise over which he presides an
earnestness of purpose, a mental grasp of the situation which has
won for him the admiration of all.
UT the men who are brought close to him each day realize best
his manifest desire to cultivate a cordial feeling towards all
men. An illustration showing Mr. Steinway's generosity and appre-
ciation of loyalty:—Last Tuesday morning some forty Steinway Hall
attaches found upon their desks a miniature reproduction, in solid
silver, of the loving cup which they had presented to Mr. Steinway.
Upon each cup was engraved the name of the one to whom it was
presented.
Such an illustration shows more than could be told in volumes
of the real spirit of appreciation which exists between the head of
Steinway & Sons and the splendid coterie of men who surround him.
It is indeed worth the while, even in this busy commercial age, to
encourage such sentiments.
HAT prominent positions the young men are winning in this
industry! If we go back a few years we will find that the
business was almost entirely in the hands of men well past middle
age.
Now, to-day, we can name scores of institutions at the head of
which stand young, active, energetic men. We do not mean that the
younger element is crowding out the veterans, but they are assuming
full business responsibilities at an early age.
In the manufacturing and retail departments of the industry we
will find men young in years, who have already demonstrated their
right to a commanding position and their ability as well to carve out
successful enterprises in the piano and kindred lines.
W
HE World's Fair, which opens in St. Louis on May 1, is
destined to break all records as far as the preparedness of
buildings, grounds and exhibits is concerned. Not one of the great
expositions of the past will compare with it in this respect, unless
there is a complete falling off in enthusiasm between now and the
T
opening day.
During the last six weeks, almost one hundred thousand pack-
ages of exhibits were received at the World's Fair grounds, and it
is estimated that almost a thousand exhibitors are now on the
grounds installing their exhibits. This speaks for itself.
In order to expedite shipments of goods coming from foreign
countries and intended for exhibition, the Customs Officers have
been instructed by the Treasury Department to give preference wher-
ever it is possible to the despatch of these exhibits.
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