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THE: MUSIC TRADE
methods can win in any industry to any appreciable extent. The
holdup methods are no longer in vogue and the man who resorts to
such tactics is despised, as he should be, for he has disgraced an
honorable profession.
r
P R A D E during the past week has brightened up materially, but
•L buying is still irregular in all lines and in our belief this con-
dition will exist during a large portion of the year. Some manu-
facturers tell us that one week they have plenty of orders and the
next week the demands from dealers are not forthcoming. It
would seem that that condition is likely to prevail not only in the
piano trade, but in all other lines. Dealers are inclined to order
only as they need the merchandise.
Of course, all this makes it difficult for the piano manufacturer
because he has to carry a reserve stock in anticipation of the de-
mand which may come, and the men who have the most complete
lines to draw upon and who can fill orders with the greatest
promptness are the ones likely to secure the largest share of trade.
Dealers show a decided unwillingness to place orders with
freedom. Their requisitions upon the manufacturers show that
they are buying to supply present needs only. Carload orders are
a rarity indeed, but, of course, there are some men who will always
purchase in large lots. However, they are extremely few in num-
ber at the present time.
T
H E R E is no concern so large or so prosperous that it does not
require constant watchfulness to prevent retrogression of
some kind. No business man can say truthfully that he occupies
an impregnable position and can rest securely upon his laurels be-
cause he will find shortly if he slackens his energies that his strong
position has become weakened through encroachments made steadily
upon him. There is no such thing as standing still. We must
either go forward or we are bound to go backward. Many men
have deluded themselves with the idea that their position was abso-
lutely impregnable to assault and yet we can name some individuals
who have been driven out of their stronghold and have practically
surrendered to defeat. It pays pretty well to watch carefully every
means of advance and not think that because a position is once
honorably won it can be forever retained without exercising strong
defensive powers.
T
H E power of advertising was well illustrated in the Thomas
Lawson flotation of Yukon mining stock. Mr. Lawson com-
menced his campaign on a Wednesday and announced that on the
Saturday following he would offer for sale, through brokers, a cer-
tain valuable stock, the name of which he withheld. Thursday
another strong Lawsonian ad was presented and on Friday nearly
an entire page was used in the principal newspapers of the United
States. As a result of this remarkable advertising nearly 700,000
shares of Yukon were sold during the two hours of trade on Satur-
day, and so great was the rush of people clamoring for Yukon
stock that the police had to be called out in order to keep the crowd
orderly. This condition, in spite of the fact that regular brokers
were opposed to Lawson, and Yukon was sold as a curb stock.
Great indeed is the power of advertising with Lawson behind it.
I
N truth the eighty-eight note player seems to be occupying the
attention of many inventive minds at the present time and this
week in the news department of this paper the announcement is
made that the Cable Company of Chicago have placed upon the
market a new eighty-eight note player. One thing is certain—if
the player is to develop the full resources of the piano the eighty-
eight note compass must be used. But if this is to at once supplant
the sixty-five note player a vast amount of music must become obso-
lete. In this new Inner Player of the Cable Company the standard
music, as well as the eighty-eight note music, can be used at the
will of the player. It should be known further that the Cable Com-
pany have been withholding an announcement of their eighty-eight
note player until their creative department was organized to supply
all demands for this new product. This is indeed interesting trade
news.
N
OTWITHSTANDING the much discussed "financial flurry"
which prevailed the past six months, the great artists, both
vocal and instrumental, are returning to Europe after one of the
most successful musical seasons, in the history of New York, at
least.
REIVIEIW
There is no money in being a "quitter."
If you can't be absolutely original, be careful whom you copy.
If you can't do a thing well, don't do it at all. There is no success
without thoroughness.
Some how or other the impression is g!owing that cheap help is
the most expensive kind.
Lack of courtesy is a fault which cannot be excused. Customers will
not excuse it, and. proprietors should not.
Loyalty is a cardinal virtue in an employe, and much can be for-
given the man who is always true to the establishment and to his em-
ployer.
There is no permanent advantage in inducing a man to buy beyond
his judgment in purchasing, for the purchaser's regret is destined to
react upon the seller.
The salesman who has a practical knowledge of the instiuments
which he is offering is in a better position to convince the customer than
one who has given the subject of piano construction no study.
Editor—I am obliged to decline your poem with thanks. I am very
sorry, but
Poet—But what?
Editor—The management insists upon my declining all poems politely,
you know.
Office Boy—The editor says he's much obliged to you for allowing
him to see your drawings, but much regrets he is unable to use them.
Fair Artist (eagerly)—Did he say that?
Office Boy (truthfully)—Well, not exactly. He just said, "Take 'em
away, Pimple; they make me sick."
They were about to entertain a few friends, and her husband sud-
denly busied himself with the umbrellas, carrying them upstairs. When
he had taken up the last one she said to him, somewhat amazed:
"Why, dear, why do you hide the umbrellas like that? Are you afraid
our friends will steal them?"
"No," said he; "I am afraid they will recognize them!"
If an editor makes a mistake he has to apologize for it, but if a
doctor makes a mistake he buries it. If an editor makes one there is a
lawsuit, swearing and the smell of sulphur, but if a doctor makes one
there is a funeral, cut flowers and a smell of varnish.
A doctor can use a word a yard long without knowing what it means,
but if an editor uses it he has to spell it. Any old college can make a
doctor. You can't make an editor: he has to be born.
The late Theodore Thomas was rehearsing the Chicago Orchestra o
the stage of the Auditorium Theatre. He was disturbed by the whistling
of Albert Burridge, the well-known scene painter, who was at work in the
loft above the stage. A few minutes later Mr. Thomas' librarian appeared
on the "bridge" where Mr. Burridge, merrily whistling, was at work. "Mr.
Thomas' compliments," said the librarian, "and he requests me to state
that if Mr. Burridge wishes to whistle he will be glad to discontinue his
rehearsal." To which Mr. Burridge replied, suavely: "Mr. Burridge's
compliments to Mr. Thomas; and please inform Mr. Thomas that, if Mr.
Burridge cannot whistle with the orchestra, he won't whistle at all."
Two brothers were being entertained by one who was anxious to
avail himself of their financial acumen. But, as ill luck would have It,
the talk veered to other things.
"Do you like Omar Khayyam?" thoughtlessly asked the host, trying
to make conversation.
It was the elder brother who plunged heroically into the breach.
"Pretty well,'" he said, "but I prefer Chianti."
Nothing more was said until the Ecksteins were on their way home.
"Jimmy," said Abe, bitterly, breaking a painful silence, "why can't
yer leave thingth ath yer don't underthtanth to me? Omar Khayyam
ain't a wine, yer cuckoo; it's a cheese!"
"What, Massa Bones," asked Silly Sambo, after the opening chorus
had been trolled to an ear-splitting accompaniment of banjos—what am
de difference between an ol' maid an' a married woman?"
What am de difference between an ol' maid an' a married woman?"
repeated Massa Bones, in the approved negroid fashion.
There was a pause. Then:
"I done give it up," said Massa Bones.
"Why," explained Sambo, "de oV maid am lookin' for a husban' every
day, an' de married woman am lookin' for 'im ebery night!"
There might have been more hearty laughter from the audience than
was the case after the speech.
Several white-haired gentlemen were seen to rise hurriedly anfl hasten
homeward.