Music Trade Review

Issue: 1906 Vol. 42 N. 3

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THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
one section. I was only born there, and that I Pius X. a man who is instilling into the hearts
of churchmen the principle that they must look
could not help.
"New Orleans shares the glories of the whole to musicians as their greatest friends in the up-
nation and the part which Boston took in the lifting of the race."
Fr. Gasson implored the men before him to
history of this country. The great ship 'Consti-
tution' is as dear to us as it is to you, and when regard their profession with seriousness and to
the suggestion was made that this good ship be realize what is meant by a life of intense integ-
destroyed every newspaper in New Orleans filed rity, and added "This is a point in which the
its protest against this sacrilege. Every country musician can help the mayor to make Boston
that deserves prosperity and desires to be great better, on account of its influence upon the way-
looks back upon the work of its glorious ances- ward life of Boston people."
So spontaneous was the feeling of pleasure
tors and those who made its greatness possible.
When Americans cannot look back upon these over the address of the reverend father that all
men, then the nation will begin to wane and its the members joined again in the stirring strains
of "Onward, Christian Soldiers," which pleased
sun to set.
"Your mayor has called upon you for assist- him immensely.
President Mehlin, of the National Association
ance in building up a greater Boston. I came
here to-night to ask you to help build up a greater of Manufacturers, was received with great eclat.
National Association of Piano Dealers. We are In fact, the entire body "rose to him," and for
in the midst of prosperity. The capital of the a moment he was embarrassed. When he recov-
country is being taxed to its utmost, but the ered his breath, he said:
H. PAUL MEHLIN'S SPEECH.
spending power of the dollar is becoming less and
"It affords me extreme pleasure to be with you
less as it. is made to go further and further. This
on this happy occasion and to participate in the
celebration of your tenth 'anniversary, also to
meet so many of my most highly esteemed per-
sonal friends.
"Allow me to tender the sincere congratulations
and best wishes of the National Piano Manufac-
turers' Association of America, which I have the
honor of representing here this evening, for your
continued advance and welfare. Our national
associations have always had the interests of
the local associations at heart, and we note with
pleasure the good work which has been done by
the Boston Music Trade Association for the gen-
eral advancement of the business conditions in
Ihis locality, and the inspiration which your ex-
ample affords to all other local associations
throughout the country.
"Great credit is due to your president and your
other officers, also the members of your various
committees, for the admirable manner in which
they have conducted your affairs; and I am frank
to say to you without disparaging the piano deal-
ers of any other locality, that the piano and
music business in the City of Boston is conducted
on the highest plane of commercial ethics, and
with a spirit of fairness in competition which is
most highly to be commended. This desirable
condition has largely been brought about by your
combined work, and therefore it is no wonder
I'HILir WERf-KIN.
your association should thrive and increase in
will come to an end some time, but now is the numbers, so that, as I now understand, it has a
time to make improvements that will not pass larger membership than ever before.
"These annual gatherings, especially when they
away with the prosperity, but will remain stable
take place at this time of the year, when the
and substantial.
"There is a time when every man in the busi- holiday spirit is still fresh in our minds and the
ness is prospering. Then he finds that he can usual felicitous expressions of good will for
devote some of his time to the public good. It the new year are yet in vogue, cause me to think,
is at these times that the National Association as no doubt you must also, that it is a time when
should be built up, and we must have your as- we should stop our busy careers for a moment
and look back to see what progress we have made
sistance and confidence."
Rev. Fr. Gasson, who was introduced as a man during the year just closed and in what way
who has sacrificed much in order to be able to we can benefit ourselves and the general condi-
instruct the world, was received with "Onward, tion of our trade interests for the ensuing year.
"In matrimonial parlance, a celebration of this
Christian Soldiers" by orchestra and members
kind I believe is called the 'tin wedding,' but
in a really good chorus.
just why the tenth anniversary should be con-
FATHER GASSON ON MUSIC.
Fr. Gasson referred to the fact that music is nected with tin I have been unable to under-
the most ancient of arts. "Long before the stand. I remember once having asked a learned
deluge," he said, "we read that Jubal was the professor of Harvard University to investigate
father of those who played upon the harp. You this for me. After considerable research he
have the boast of the greatest antiquity. Religion finally gave it up and facetiously informed me
and music have gone hand in hand in the devel- that the only explanation he could give of the
foundation for this term was that in olden times
opment of the world. Of all the arts, music is
our jovial and witty Irish friend Pat, while cele-
the highest feeling which responds to the emo-
brating such an occasion naturally enough, with
tion. Of the 38,000 men destined under the Old
his inherent brogue, named it the 'tinth.' The
Law to serve in the sanctuary, 4,000 were musi-
necessary liquid refreshments for the celebration
cians. In Jerusalem these 4,000 men bade fare-
were served in tin cups, and so the tenth anni-
well to the departing sun and welcomed the versary since that time had come to be associated
dawn. It is significant that the very foundation with tin. Now this, my friends, is simply a re-
stone of Christianity was laid to the accompani- cital of the research and deductions of a wise
ment of music. All through the Middle Ages the college professor, and I hope you will not think
missionary was> sent forth with the musician. I would inflict a pun upon you in such a learned
He was trained to be a musician. We had the assemblage as one always finds in the City of
same spirit in sight when wind instruments Boston. In New York City, where I come from,
were introduced into the Christian church. All we are not credited with having the extreme cul-
through the century two churchmen stand out, ture of our Boston brothers, and frequently with-
Ambrose and Gregory, who introduced music into out realizing it we adopt some expressions which,
our religious service. In the present we have in
Why don't you sell
talking machines?
There's money in it
and no other line fits
in better w i t h the
handling of pianos.
It is the best solution
of a problem that has
bothered piano dealers
all along—"What to
do when they weren't
selling pianos."
Victor
Talking Machines
and Records
just fill the bill. They
are a valuable adjunct
to the piano business
and profits are liberal.
Our advertising in
the leading magazines
reaches 4 6 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0
people every month
and makes selling easy
for the dealers.
Don't you want a
share of this business
that we are stirring up
in every part of the
country ? It means
many extra dollars for
you and is worth find-
ing out about. Write
to us to-day.
Victor Talking Machine
Company
Camden - - - N. J.
9
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10
THE
in your estimation, would probably be called
slang, and one of these is this very word 'tin,'
which is often used by us to express money or
wealth. So with your indulgence and kind per-
mission I shall now use this and earnestly hope
that every one of yon when you look back at
the work done during the past year and 'take
stock,' so to speak, of the progress made will
find that you have all had a most excellent year
and made lots of tin.
"The year just closed has perhaps been one of
the most eventful in the history of our beloved
country. The thanks of all mankind are due to
that great and noble statesman whose keen fore-
sight and plain but well chosen words, stripped
of all diplomatic verbiage, offering his services
in the interests of humanity to stop the slaughter
of thousands of men in the conflict which raged
between Japan and Russia during the past year,
and whose successful efforts in that direction
brought the United States of America into more
prominence in the eyes of the civilized world
than any other recent event.
"All honor to our worthy president, Theodore
11. I'AIJI, UKUIK.N.
Roosevelt, for this momentous stride in the peace-
ful settlement of hideous warfare and the prece-
dent thus established for the future. The eyes
of the whole world were then centered upon us
and the full share of glory again came to New
England when the Peace of Portsmouth was
flashed from it to every corner of the earth.
"In commercial affairs the past year has also
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
been a most eventful one. It is safe to say that
the volume of business done in our line during
the past twelve months was by far greater than
in any previous year of our history, and this
great product of our factories was marketed in
a more dignified manner and with less friction
or complaints of unfair methods of competition
than we have ever known. This certainly re-
flects the good work of all of our trade associa-
tions which most assuredly have wiped out what-
ever animosity of feeling may formerly have ex-
isted among us as competitors and brought us
all into more friendly relations with each other,
so that we who are conscientions members of our
respective associations look now upon ourselves
more as brothers in a great industry which we
are bound together to uplift, and make one of
the grandest trades this glorious country can
boast of.
"It is not my purpose this evening to allude
to any of our trade methods. I know, however,
that the pet subject of your most worthy presi-
dent, Mr. Miller, is the 'one price system,' on
which he has no doubt lectured you at all avail-
able occasions, and as ,it may please him, I shall
take the liberty of a little transgression in the
shape of a story exemplifying in a most solemn
manner the demoralizing effect of that other,
the 'get what you can system.'
"A certain wholesale clothing house engaged a
new traveling salesman and instructed him posi-
tively not to consider any orders for their goods
at less than the marked prices. He started out
on his trip West and made his first stop at Phila-
delphia. In his line was a particular garment
called Style 800 which appealed strongly to a
large customer there. The price marked on it
as indicated by the style number was $8.00. This
customer offered the salesman $7.50 for 500 of
these garments, but remembering his positive
instructions which had only been given him the
day previous not to consider any offers, he re
fused to do so. Finding he could not s^ll other-
wise he decided to wire the offer to his house at
any rate and take his chances on being repri-
manded. To his surprise back came a quick re-
sponse 'All right, close the deal,' which he did at
once.
"He then proceeded to Pittsburg, and a
shrewder merchant there offered him $7.00 for a
little larger quantity of the same style garment,
but again he refused to consider this, until there
was nothing further to be done but report this
offer by wire to his house as before. In a very
short time back came this reply 'All right, close
the deal; you are doing fine.' This they proba-
bly added for encouragement.
"On he went to Chicago, and true to the char-
acteristics of that great trade center where they
do everything on such a large scale, the leading
merchant there offered him $6.50 for a still larger
order of this same Style 800, which he at first
was positively instructed not to sell for less than
$8.00. With fear and trembling he reported this
to the house and nervously awaited the reply,
which to his utter astonishment again read:
'All right, go ahead; you ore doing splendidly.'
"He then proceeded to St. Paul, but unfortun-
ately his train was wrecked, and he was terribly
injured. His house was notified that he had only
a short time to live, and they at once replied to
do all that was possible to save him, as he was
a good man, and if his life could not be saved
to gratify his last request.
"When the doctors saw the end was coming
and asked the sufferer for his last request, he
did not call for a minister, as they expected, but
simply asked for a messenger boy and dictated
this last reguest in the form of a telegram to
his house:
" "Before going to the other world, please let me
know what is really the bottom price on Style
800.'
"And now, gentlemen, I trust you will pardon
this diversion, and in closing allow me once
more to extend to you my sincere and cordial
best wishes. May you all be blessed with a new
year full of all the good things of this life, with
the best of health, happiness and prosperity."
Lawyer L. C. Southard, who was introduced as
a "great friend of the association"—its legal coun-
sel—spoke at length upon the matter of railroad
accommodations for Boston, and said that the
poor service is the result of the fact that Boston
merchants will not do what they might in ob-
taining control of the roads which run here from
New York, and added: "This association has
done much to check the greed of those who have
not cared for the integrity of the business world."
.1. Fred Powers then made a motion that the
association go on record as favoring a repeal of
the excise laws as applied to Boston, and Edward
S. Payson read the following telegram from
Jonas M. Cleland, who said: "I regret my inabil-
ity to be piesent at the anniversary of your very
worthy and aggressive association.
I most
heartily congratulate your organization on iLs
notable achievements of the past and the rich
promises they give of signal usefulness in the
future to the music trade."
From W. L. Bush, who said: "May culture,
prosperity and beans ever reign supreme in Bos-
ton is my most earnest wish. My regret is that
I cannot be with you to-night."
And from B. H. Janssen, secretary of the New
York Manufacturers' Association, who tendered
the heartiest congratulations of the New York
trade on the tenth anniversary of the Boston As-
sociation.
Mr. Payson also spoke on the subject of the
railroad transportation, and said that it was
time for the piano men to get together in an
effort to have the rates changed.
The meeting then adjourned.
Still the brightest stars in the
realm of piano values:
Winter & Co. Pianos ^
Winter & Co. Player Pianos
(THE M A S T E R
PIANO)
W I N T E R
&
C O M P A N Y
IOI4-1020 Southern Boulevard, New York

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