Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
155th street, New York, they were also on 159th
street—both miles from the publishing center.
Still another number reported was 11G1 Broad-
way, but, on inquiry by The Review, no one knew
them there. The evident concealment of their
whereabouts hardly comports with the following
extract from a crudely written letter sent the
trade, under date of February 27, likely their
second appeal: "Henceforth no department or
ten-cent store or any jobber whatsoever can buy
music at wholesale at any cheaper rate than we
can supply the numbers of our Music Exchange."
These be brave words, but, according to au-
thoritative sources of information, only wind. In
other words, they can't deliver the goods. Mon-
day the inspector's department of the New York
post office stated no complaint had been filed
against Falter Bros, for misusing the mails.
The National Copyright Association held its
last regular conference and luncheon Tuesday
week at the Hotel Navarre. Possibly the attend-
ants may resolve themselves into a local music
board of trade, and take up other matters than
the copyright bill. It is expected the heavy work
on the bill will be postponed until the fall, when
the association will resume their weekly meet-
ings.
N. Flagler, for five or six years with the John
Church Co., traveling out of Cincinnati, O., has
severed his connection with that house and
joined the forces of G. Schirmer, New York. He
will probably cover his old territory.
After a trip of two months, Geo. W. Furniss,
with department A of the Oliver Ditson Co.,
Boston, Mass., reached home last week. He vis-
ited the principal cities of the West, Northwest,
and oil the Pacific coast, coming back by way of
Southern California, Texas and the South. Mr.
Furniss this time beat all his previous records
on sales, reporting a splendid condition of trade,
both as to feeling and prices, in the Far West.
The Witmark house, noted for its novel songs
and successes, have recently published a rollick-
ing jolly song, which did not have to wait to be-
come popular. It "took" the first time it was
heard, and it looks as if it would be the greatest
of all summer songs. "Roll Along" is the great
skating song, catchy enough to start an audience
singing it after once hearing it. The composers
of "Roll Along" are men well known to the
musical world, Harry B. Smith as a writer of
some of the greatest comic opera successes that
any librettist has attained, and Max Hoffman,
who has won such great success in "The Parisian
Model."
FOOLING THE PUBLIC.
People Are Led to Believe There Is a Gold Mine
in
Song
Writing—How the Scheme Is
Worked Described Interestingly by a Writer
in the Herald.
Several times in the recent past The Review
has taken occasion to comment upon the meth-
ods of the kind of "publishers" who advertise in
the magazines, in this wise: "Write the words
for a song and we will write the music and pre-
sent to big New York publishers. Your poem
may be worth thousands; we pay royalty, pub-
lish and popularize; a 'hit' will make you rich,"
etc. The foregoing is a fair sample of what con-
cerns in the same line are doing, people who are
unknown to the recognized publishing houses of
the country, and flourishing principally in Chi-
cago and New York.
Of this "game" the New York Herald of Sun-
day has the following to say, under the caption
of "The Wiles of the Mail Order Man," viz.:
"In these days of 'bunko' and 'graft' a man
should look before he buys. That he does not is
clearly shown by the thousands of fakes which
we hear of and read of daily. The cleverness of
the mail order man is wonderful. There is al-
ways a way to avoid the law. As soon as one
fake is exposed and a law made to cover it fifty
fakes suggested by that law spring up.
"Recently the law became aware of the fact
that there were hundreds of small music publish-
ing companies doing business entirely on their
nerve. Their method was to advertise for song
poems, showing the enormous profits made from
popular songs. As the song manuscripts flowed
in they either had music written for them or
'borrowed' music already written, and sent a
letter of acceptance to the person who had sent
in the song poem. The letter stated that a pre-
liminary cost of from $10 to $30 would be neces-
sary for making the plates. In most instances
the money was sent. The plates were made
cheaply, the publishing house sent a professional
copy to the author and there the matter dropped.
No effort at marketing the production was made.
The law is gradually getting after these pub-
lishers, but there are many of these wildcat in-
stitutions still flourishing."
For Introduction
TO THE TRADE
Rollinson's
Modern School Violin.
This Method presents more
varied and valuable features
than any other in general
groundwork.
Retail price
$1.00.
Introduction Price until June 1st, 35 Cents.
Rollinson's
Modern School Flute.
This work is available for
either the Boehm or ordinary
Systems, and like the Violin
Method mentioned above, is
progressive and systematic,
and includes Orchestral Stud-
ies. Both works present many
pleasing studies in duet form,
for Teacher and Pupil. Retail
price $1.00.
Introduction Price until June 1st, 35 Cents.
Sunday School Hymn Book.
New and Revised Edition with Pianoforte
Accompaniment.
By Sisters of Notre Dame.with
Imprimatur of the Arch-
bishop of Boston. The book
is handsomely bound in
Cloth. Retail price 75 Cents.
For Introduction until July 1st, 85 Cents.
A New Number of the
Famous Half Dollar Series.
Favorite Reels, Jigs, Horn-
pipes, &c, for Violin and
Piano. This Collection con-
tains sixty-one of the best
dances, many of which are
harmonized for the first time.
Retail price 50 Cents.
For Introduction until Junt 1st, 20 Cents.
Charles I. Davis, Cleveland, O., has just opened
a new music department in the emporium of
the Williams & Rodgers Co., of that city. All his
music departments are doing very well, and his
publications are meeting with a large demand, a
few of which are "Western Life," "Dream Time"
and "Sam's Laugh."
At the recent sale of rare books and manu-
scripts in London B. F. Stevens, an American,
bought a number of very valuable volumes, in-
cluding an autograph manuscript of Burn's
"Scots, Wha Hae," said to be an original copy,
for which he paid $1,775.
45
HENRY BLOSSOM.
Henry Blossom is one of the favored authors
who has the pleasure of seeing each new work
a greater success than his last, if that were pos-
sible. In "The Red Mill" New York never wit-
A STAR MUSICAL SUCCESS.
nessed a greater triumph than this musical play
Strange and De Koven's new fantastic musical has achieved. The cast of "The Red Mill" may
play, "The Snowman," is quite the biggest suc- well congratulate themselves that they are pro-
cess that the composer and his publishers have vided with such a musical hit. They have the
ever produced, according to the critical who have certain knowledge that never yet has an audience
witnessed the performance. The gem of the been dissatisfied with what it has received, but
show is "I Want You for My All-Time Girl," that only high praise is given.
sung by Harry Farleigh, while "Love On a Sum-
Mr. Blossom's latest song, "If I Only Knew You
mer's Day," is quite the daintiest, prettiest, Loved Me," has proved a pleasurable addition to
catchiest little ballad "written in many a day. the performance, and that it was duly appre-
The finale of the first and second acts is perhaps ciated, was made manifest at its first rendition.
the most effective bit of writing, from a musical M. Witmark & Sons are the publishers of all of
standpoint. All the principal numbers are. pub- Mr. Blossom's musical productions.
lished, and a beautiful score is now in work and
promised by Jos. W. Stern & Co. in about a fort-
Scott J. Appleton has opened a new music store
night.
in Winchendon, Mass.
Commonplaces of Vocal Art.
By Louis Arthur Russell. A
valuable little volume which
treats of the philosophy of the
voice and of voice use, and
offers suggestions as to the
best method of practice for
the development of the speak-
ing voice and the voice in
singing. Retail price $ 1.00.
For Introduction until June 1st, 40 Cents.
Every progressive and up-to-date Music Store
should have these books in stock.
They will be extensively advertised and will
have large sales.
Don'l fall to take advantage ol this Introduction Offer. Re-
member, transportation is free on all Introduction orders
OLIVER DITSON CO., Boston.
INTRODUCTION OFFER COUPON.
Oliver Ditson Company, Boston, Mass.
Gentlemen:
Please send at introduction prices:
. . . . Rollinson's Modern School Violin, at 35c.
"
"
"
Flute, at 35c.
. . . . Sunday School Hymn Book, Piano Accom-
paniment, at 35c.
. . . . Commonplaces of Vocal Art (Louis Arthur
Russell), at 40c.
. . . . Favorite Reels, Jigs & Hornpipes, &c, Violin
and Piano, at 20c.
Name
Street
Town
State
(Music Trade Review.)