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THE:
MUSIC
TRADE! REIVIE1W
pian'os are being moved from the vario'us warerooms and that after
all is where the improvement should begin. It is not the time for
large or speculative buying or for the laying aside of conservatism
in the conduct of business. It is the time for each merchant to get
his establishment into shape so' as to be ready to take care of the
demands which, under existing conditions, it is reasonable for him
to expect will be made upon him. Special attention should be given
to collections and to credits. The conditions are such as to justify
a vigorous and energetic prosecution of business so as to keep the
volume of sales up to a satisfactory point.
I
N many of our colleges and universities business science is
taught as they teach law, medicine and engineering. This
innovation has not been popular with some of the old time college
presidents. Whether opposed or not, commercial teaching in our
colleges has come to stay, and its entrance into the field of business
is not a stooping to commercialism on the part of institutions of
learning. The universities which have established schools of com-
merce and business are simply recognizing the fact that as most
college graduates have to enter not the so-called learned profes-
sions, but the newly recognized profession of business, it is in-
cumbent upon the universities to prepare them in a scientific way
for their careers.
But can business be treated as a science? That is a question
that many practical business men ask. Many persons of experience
express a doubt as to whether commercial life with its innumerable
technical details is a fair subject for the school room and lecture
hall, and whether the underlying necessities that make for or
against business prosperity can be profitably studied or determined.
The experience of the so-called schools of commerce would seem
to prove that these are matters to be taught.
The modern university school of commerce does not rely
wholly upon men who are simply professors, but calls to its faculty
men fresh from the world of commerce who have gone through the
business mill and won their way to positions of authority, and
these men supplement the work of professors of business theory
by giving the students the practical, concrete details that make up
business success.
The early attempts of the universities to train men for business
were not alcng such practical lines, but now commercialism—by
that we 'mean a business education—has taken deep root in many
of the principal colleges and institutions of higher education
throughout the land. It would be difficult to figure out just what
the result of such teaching would have upon the business men of
the future. Unquestionably it would cause men to think along
commercial lines regarding the development of business and at the
same time it would instill into the minds of the young men a re-
spect for business as a profession. It's a move, to our minds, in
the right direction, and because it is right it has come to stay.
A
READER asks: "Do you not think that eventually the small
piano man will be ground out of existence by reason-of his
inability to meet the competition of the big city department stores
and great music trade institutions ?"
r
We think many small dealers through their inability to meet
competition in an up-to-date manner will be forced to succumb just
as some merchants in the greater cities will fail to grasp present
opportunities and will gradually lose prestige and standing. Every
business man is in just so much danger of extinction as he exposes
himself to it.
Now, if the smaller merchant continues to do his business
along ancient and antiquated lines and if he will not keep abreast
of the times by reading good trade papers; if he will not use modern
business methods in the conduct of his affairs, then he is doomed
ultimately to extinction. No doubt of it, but the small merchant
who is strictly up to modern conditions is in close touch with the
manufacturers, and by close perusal of leading trade papers he is
well informed as to general trade conditions. Perhaps he gives
more time to the study of trade journals than some of his com-
petitors located in large cities. Hacking this information with
judicious advertising wherein he may appeal to home pride and
the necessity of patronizing home enterprises, the smaller merchant
is fairly well entrenched from any assault by his larger competitors,
be it department stores, mail order houses or exclusive music trade
competitors. He must be up-to-date. He cannot cling to ancient
ideas and expect to succeed in 1908 and succeeding years.
Plan your work and then work your plan.
Confidence of the purchaser is the first requisite of a piano sale.
A good business man realizes that the world is large.
mands.
So are its de-
Did it ever strike you that a strong man is never heard exaggerating
his difficulties.
The man who lives a clean, well regulated life is not the one who is •
oflenest afflicted with pessimism.
*
Keep hard at work. The days of your fitness to hustle to increase
your bank account will not last always.
Never pay the slightest attention to the knocker. The man who hits
at other pianos is not one whose utterances should receive serious con-
sideration.
BRIDAL FORETHOUGHT.—Groom—I hate to tell you, dearest, but
that palmist says I have a very short life line.
Bride—Oh, George! Do take out some more insurance.
NATURAL ABILITY.—At a party recently they were playing a game
which consisted in everybody in the room making a face, and the one
who made the worst face was awarded a prize. They all did their level
best and then a gentleman went up to one of the ladies and said:
"Well, madam, I think you have won the prize."
"Oh," she said, "I wasn't playing."—Philadelphia Ledger.
A SPIRITUALISTIC MESALLIANCE.—A spiritualist medium came
to a house and claimed to be able to locate lost friends. The residents had
an old horse which they had sold years before and the old lady of the
house wanted to know where he was. She began:
"We had a very good friend who always did all our work. He passed
from us several years ago and the las-t we heard of him was that he was
in Los Angeles." The medium made a few mysterious motions, knocked
on the table and then said:
"Your friend is in Los Angeles and is married to a rich young
woman."
THE RIGHT CAR.—A traction company in a Tennessee town is still
using the cars bought for their line when it was constructed—rorae fifteen
yejirs ago. Naturally the shaky eld cars cause much disgust to those
who have to ride in them.
A merchant of the town was particularly vexed recently when the
motorman ran his car half a block past him before stopping. As he ran
to catch it he yelled out:
"Can't you even stop your blooming old freight train on the corner?"
"This is no freight train," replied the conductor; "it's a catt'e car.
Aboard!"
LESSON IN PROFIT AND LOSS.—"I have often wondered," re-
marked Greenleigh, dropping a penny in the slot, "where the profit on
those machines"
Here he grasped the handle.
"Where the profit of these machines"
Here he shook the machine.
"I have often wondered, I say, where the profit"
Here he shook the machine again.
"Where the.profit comes in. Hang the thing. It seems to be clogged
this time. Nothing happens!"
"Well," said Brooks, "do you begin to see where the profit comes in?"
A COURTEOUS REPULSE.—There was an ignorant man who once
applied to President Lincoln for the post of doorkeeper to the House.
This man had no right to ask Lincoln for anything. It was necessary
to repulse him. But Lincoln repulsed him gently and whimsically, with-
out hurting his feelings, in this way:
"So you want to be doorkeeper to the House, eh?"
"Yes, Mr. President."
"Well, have you ever been a doorkeeper? Have you ever had any
experience of *doorkeeping?"
"Well, no—no actual experience, sir."
"Any theoretical experience? Any instructions in the duties and
ethics of dooikeeping?"
"Urn—no."
"Have you ever attended lectuies on doorkeepihg?"
"No, sir."
"Have you ever read any exl-liooks on the subject?"
"No."
"Have you conversed •witfc any cue who has read such a book?"
"No, sir; I'm afraid not, ; ir.'
"Well, then, my friend, doa'l ;JMU see that you haven't a single qual-
ification for this important P Mf!" said Lincoln, in a reproachful tone.
"Yes, I do," s^Jtt.tho u. T >p"' i , and he took leave humbly, almost *