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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
BETTERMENT CONTINUES
In All Branches of the Small Goods Field—The
Resumption ot Currency Payments Helps
Business—Holiday Business Is Now Appar-
ent, Although Not in as Large Volume as
Other Years—Importers Look for a Good
Steady Trade After the First of the Year.
Were the banks to resume currency payments
without reserve and cease to hoard their cash
resources it would remove the only clouds in the
sky of the small goods section of the trade.
Orders are not lacking, and buying is spirited,
but the confidence that should be felt in the
banking institutions in all parts of the country
is still sadly lacking. This feeling is slowly
dying out, but yet.it remains in such force and
effect as to chill business to some extent, disguise
it as one may. After this open confession, that
is evidently good for the soul for the pessimisti-
cally inclined, it must be said that the general
tenor of trade, barring collections, continues
excellent.
In fact even an improvement is noticeable; hol-
iday buying is in full swing, and while dealers
are acting cautiously—those who are as good as
wheat—with the financially weak brethren in-
clined to "get in on" the wholesalers and job-
bers clear to the hilt, if permitted, the volume
of business is up to expectations. Credits are
being watched closely, and hereafter the revision
will be doubly severe. There is no tendency,
however, in the procedure to hamper trade, but
the action of not a few music dealers, especially
during this monetary stress, who are in a posi-
tion to avoid sharp practice, has aroused the ire
of nearly every importer, wholesaler and gen-
eral distributer.
While the association for the exchange of cred-
it information among the small goods houses is
in a moribund condition, yet word is passed
along the line when these "smart Alecks" corn-
financial fluster as a background. Fortunately,
mence operations, trying to play one firm against
another, issuing checks of doubtful value, ignor-
ing the settlement of accounts by "four-flushing,"
and other questionable methods which are being
worked for all they are worth with the current
these exasperating guerillas represent but a
small portion of the trade, but such as
they are will be dealt with in the future as they
deserve. In other words they will get about
what is coming to them if this policy is con-
tinued.
With the direct importers it is Jbelieved trade
for the New Year will be late, unless' a sudden
upward turn eventuates, which is scarcely ex-
pected under the circumstances. After the holi-
day buying is over a falling off is anticipated,
but in no sense sharp. Commenting upon the
present and the possibilities of the future, one
of the cheerful wholesalers made the following
observations to The Review: "With the import-
er's business out of the way until after the first
of the year at least, the stock houses are now
in the limelight. Business with every one of
them of any note or standing is good, and were
the banks to cease hoarding cash and would act
half way decent in handling checks we would
be in splendid form. As it is buying is all that
could be desired, but some orders are being held
up until payment is assured. We are acting in
a very liberal way toward the trade in this re-
spect, but at the same time taking no chances
with the 'slick boys.' "
SMALL INSTRUMENTS POPULAR
With Our Wealthy Americans—J. D. Rocke-
feller, Havemeyer, Longworth, Whitney, and
Webb Play the Violin—Others Play the
Mandolin and Banjo.
It is interesting to note that the violin, harp,
mandolin, banjo and other musical instruments
popularly known as small goods are in great
vogue with our wealthy people. For instance,
when John D. Rockefeller left Wall street after
his historic entrance during the crisis of the re-
cent panic in the Street, carrying with him, it
may be believed, a lively realization of the mo-
mentous situation, the average person would
have pictured the money king as retiring to his
fireside and pacing the floor, if not in personal
anxiety, at least in perturbation over the troub-
lous, scenes he had just left behind him. But
Mr. Rockefeller did nothing of the sort. Instead,
he motored to his country home crowning the
Pocantico Hills, slipped on his housecoat, drew
his favorite violin from its case and fiddled away
dull care and all memories of Wall Street with
its struggling depositors and trust company prob-
lems.
Mr. Rockefeller's most absorbing indoor recrea-
tion is violin playing, and it is a question which
lies closer to his heart, his bow or his golf stick.
Not only has Mr. Rockefeller mastered the violin,
but he has studied the history of music and the
art of the concert master. In his home circle he
JOSEPH MOCK RETUENS FROM LAKEWOOD organized a small orchestra, in which his son,
John D. Rockefeller, Jr., played first violin. The
For two weeks Joseph Mock, secretary of the latter is even a better performer than his father,
Wm. G. Gratz Import Co., was at Lakewood, and in his college days was the star member of
N. J., the great and fashionable winter resort of the Brown College Glee Club. Both father and
the North. He had been run down by his close son are severe musical critics.
application to business, had become overworked;
The Rockefellers are only two of the growing
but a fortnight among the pines, with long multi-millionaire class who give the lie to the
walks, automobile rides and a wealth of general old belief that the clink of gold alone is music to
rest has brought the active secretary around to the money-maker's ear.
his usual good form.
In a home orchestra similar to that of the
Rockefellers, the late Cornelius Vanderbilt led
his little family, all accomplished musicians,
while his eldest son, the Cornelius of the present
MUSIC CABINETS
"Vernis Martin
IVooKwood
and Imitation
BOWS. STRINGS
AND
IN SINGLE AND DOUBLE DOORS
WITH PATENTED DOOR OPENERS
HIGH-CLASS TRIMMINGS
Blue Prints and Prices Cheerfully Furnished Upon Application
NEW YORK DESK AND DINING ROOM FURNM URE CO.
Warerooms, 254 Canal Street, New York
F. B. BURNS
& CO.
THE NEW NOVELTY LINE OF PIANO SCARFS
It will pay yon to write lor a line ol samples to be sent on approval.
9 1 N . J . R . R . A V B . , N E W A R K , N . «J.
The MORRIS DUET PIANO BENCH
Superior in Style, Strength and Finish
-
BDEfiELEISEN & JACOBSON
113-115 UNIVERSITY PLACE
One block west of Broadway
N E W YORK
Prof. Hup Heermann
The Eminent Violinist and
BLACK DIAMOND Strings
GENTLEMEN :—
L. D. MORRIS <& CO.
Room 616, IVo. 17 Van Buren Street
VIOLINS
Mahogany
CHICAGO
Eagle Brand Drum and Banjo Heads; 20th Century Drums,
Rex Banjos, Mandolins and Guitars.
FACTORS IN THE TRADE.
I am sailing to Australia next week, and shall
pass through New York between the 5th aud
8th of May ("Blucher," Ilamburg-Amerika Line).
Will you send enclosed order for Violin O
strings BLACK DIAMOND to address given be-
low, or do you hnve a Dealer's shop in New
York where I might find your strings'? If so,
please let me know at the same address.
The strings are most excellent.
Yours sincerely,
H. HERRMANN.
Frankfort o/M., April, 1905.
NATIONAL MUSICAL STRING COMPANY
New Brunswick, New Jersey