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THE
6
show that The Review is nothing if not con-
sistent.
Leo Feist as a Benefactor.
The fact that in November last, Leo Feist, the
well-known music publisher, offered the sum of
$250 in cash prizes to music dealers throughout
the country for the best dressed window ex-
ploiting Abe Holtzman's now famous march,
"Old Faithful," is not on the face of it a very-
important matter. The casual observer will
shake his head knowingly, declare that Mr. Feist
is a clever advertiser and dismiss the subject
without further thought or consideration. The
thinking man—and, unfortunately, he is sadly in
the minority—will 'attach a far greater import-
ance to Mr. Feist's offer, than the fleeting thought
that the scheme was altogether an advertising
one. While this idea, of course, entered largely
into the competition, it must be remembered that
the one who can benefit others while benefiting
himself, is no less a benefactor, because forsooth
he shares in the results, and credit must there-
fore be given to Leo Feist for opening up a field
of opportunity which The Review earnestly hopes
will not be allowed to slumber now that its ad-
vantages have been demonstrated.
The Importance of Window
Dressing.
It may be said that in almost every retail trade
save that of sheet music, salesmen will vigor-
ously compete with each other in dressing their
store windows. Some unaccountable apathy, how-
ever, seems to have taken possession of the aver-
age sheet music dealer, who, generally speaking,
is content to dump some fifty title pages of
popular music into a window, put a phonograph
in the center, with a Victor plaster o t Paris dog,
(when obtainable) and then retire into his back
parlor to await results. And what if there are
no results? Well, then, everyone is to blame
save himself. "Competition is killing him," "cut
rates are putting him out of business," "ten cent
stores are getting all the trade." These and a
thousand other explanations will be given, when
one only is necessary, and that is, the responsi-
bility for bad business as directly traceable to his
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
own confounded laziness. Of course, ten cent
stores are getting ahead; of course, competition
is killing him, because his competitors have the
energy to show their wares to advantage by
dressing their windows attractively. The small
retailer can never hope to prosper on the sale of
music that is actually demanded of him. He
must create a demand himself by tact and good
salesmanship. But before he can demonstrate
his abilities as a salesman he must necessarily
attract his customers by his window displays.
That is the reason why Leo Feist is a benefactor
because he has endeavored to show the retailer
the possibilities that exist in inexpensive window
dressing. It must not be imagined for one mo-
ment that the prize money of $250 has been the
limit of Mr. Feist's expenditure. It is doubtful,
indeed, whether $1,000 would cover the expense
of his latest competition, and it is equally doubt-
ful whether the entire results will bring him a
return of one-fourth of this sum. Still if he
has created any enthusiasm among the retail
music trade to exploit their wares to better ad
vantage his good money is well spent, and besides
he has the consolation of knowing that where
he is the loser the trade has gained by his loss.
THE NEW ERNEST R. BALL CATALOG.
M. Witmark & Sons have recently issued a
little catalog devoted to the songs of Ernest R.
Ball, which is a veritable work of art. Printed
on delicate green-tinted paper are all the songs
of this versatile young composer, thematically
arranged.
The front cover bears the title, "Beautiful
Songs" by Ernest R. Ball, "the American Tosti,"
while within is an excellent likeness of the sub-
ject of the catalog. The list of songs contained
in the book is headed by "Love Me and the
World Is Mine." Speaking of this wonderfully
popular composition, the publishers say:
"This is the only song we know of requiring
not the slightest description. It would be use-
less as 'guilding gold.' The song seems to be
known by everybody. It marks an epoch in song
writing and is now being sung the world over.
No song published in late years has equaled it
in popularity, as well as in thorough worth."
A brief sketch of the composer and his work
is also given, which runs as follows:
Ernest R. Ball was born in Cleveland, O., in
1878, and very early gave evidence of a remark-
able aptitude and fondness for music. He laid
the foundation of his musical education at the
local conservatories and began giving piano les-
sons at the. age of thirteen, thus earning the
money to complete the study of his chosen art.
When fifteen he composed his first number, a
march, which met with pronounced favor.
The press has fitly christened him the "Ameri-
can Tosti," his work being versatile, his ballads,
particularly, appealing to the cultured musician,
as well as to the boy in the gallery. His melo-
dies are of the kind that reach the heart, having
"that intangible something" in them which im-
presses itself indelibly upon the memory of the
hearer.
His "Love Me and the World Is Mine" is
being sung from one end of the universe to the
other, in every conceivable language, and those
written since are following closely in its path.
A singer himself, as well as an excellent pianist,
he has besides these accomplishments, that great
power of melody to which he invariably adds one
of those exquisite accompaniments which cause
his works to be so thoroughly enjoyed.
Still a young man, should he continue as he
has begun, he will without doubt be enrolled
among the list of composers whose works are
destined never to be forgotten.
FRED DAY ON DECK AGAIN.
Fred Day, American representative of Francis
Day & Hunter, is the latest victim of the grippe,
and for a time he was in a very serious con-
dition. He was at his office for a short time on
Thursday, however.
Messrs. B. F. Wood & Co., of Boston, have
lately published some beautiful Easter numbers.
CHAPPELL & CO., Ltd., 37 W. 17th St., New York
L O NDON
N?IINB!>
MELBOURNE
MISS CARMEN.HILL.
N?l
IN
N?3.NE
B"
The Two Most Popular
Valses
"Sphinx ? Valse"
PERCY J . BARROW
FRANCIS POPY
DOROTHY FORSTER
PRICEH6N«T.CASM.
44
Music sy'
11
Whispers of Love Valse
ROBERT SONINGSBY SLARKE
By HARRY FRAGSON
Price 5Offr
CHAPPELL&O? LTD.
C H A P P E L L & C ? LTD.,
37
WEST SEVENTEENTH
N E W Y O R K.
.ONOON.
Messrs. CHAPPELL & CO., Ltd., have pleasure in announcing
that the above Ballads and Waltzes are the most popular that they
have issued in recent years. To any dealers who wish to examine them
they will be pleased to forward a sample copy of each key of the songs
and a copy each of the two waltzes for one dollar net, if ordered within
one month of date of this offer.
STREET,
MELBOURNE.
1908.
Messrs. CHAPPELL & CO., Ltd., 37 W. 17th St., N. Y.
Gentlemen: — Please send us one sample copy
of each key of "A Bowl of Roses," "Rose in the
Bud," and " S p h i n x " and "Whispers of Love"
Valses, at the special price of one uollar net.
Signed-
Per-