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THE
MU3IC TRADE
REVIEW
affected if the parcel post bill becomes a law, has taken no action
whatever in this matter. The time to act is before, not after, the
passage of this bill.
S
OME men are afraid of competition and they seem to think that
the only way to meet it successfully is by knocking, an absurd
as well as a false theory. Competition in general is very much over-
rated. It has been over-rated by all kinds of men ever since the
civilized world began.
No doubt the first man who began to print a newspaper in a
city trembled with fear when he heard that some one else was about
to publish another one. The other paper came along just the same.
Possibly it had a different aim. It appealed to a different class of
readers and, marvelous to relate, the progress of one did not inter-
fere with the progress of the other.
Now the world is fairly large, it requires quite a journal to
cover it, and its demands are quite varied, so much so that it takes
all kinds of factories to cater to all kinds of people and there is
absolutely no reason to fear competition, provided one is selling
reputable goods at reasonable prices. Competitors must make a
living and the prices quoted on reputable goods cannot be unrea-
sonably low. They must afford a profit to manufacturer and dealer,
else something is wrong, for no business can long continue without
making a fair profit.
H E R E is no reason in the world to fear competition so long as
A
that competition is a common sense proposition, and no firm
can exist very long unless it does conduct its business on a reason-
able basis. The so-called evils of competition arise from partici-
pation of inefficient men in business affairs and the very men who
create the evils are the greatest sufferers from them. We have al-
ways observed that the men who complain most bitterly about com-
petition are the ones who have failed to successfully meet it. The
man who cuts his own price is generally the one who shouts the
loudest about the evils of reckless price-cutting of some competitor.
The man who knows the art of asking a price does not suffer from
competition. Why? He has the splendid argument of quality to
fall back upon when the question of price-cutting comes up.
And, if instead of talking price, salesmen, both wholesale and
retail, would talk quality, they would hold a closer grip on the trade
situation than at the present time. It is idle to talk about cheapness,
a reduction of price and quality all in the same breath. Good mer-
chandise in every line of trade in the world is obviously worth its
cost. The man who regards a fair price as a stumbling block to
making a sale does not know his profession. He has got a power-
ful lot to learn. There are other things besides price in piano
selling, such as quality, style, general merit and instead of howling
about competition, if we would meet it broadly it would be better.
There is plenty of competition in all lines. There is competi-
tion among the music trade papers, but it is to be observed that the
papers which present undeniable value to advertisers and subscrib-
ers are the ones which are forging steadily ahead and holding their
clients in line. We never have felt it necessary to denounce a lot
of men simply because they were publishing papers in the same
line as ourselves. On the contrary, we have felt that they were
entitled to as much liberty and freedom in chasing the elusive dollar
as we claim under the flag. They may have been foolish, abusive
and non-progressive, but their actions haven't injured us, on the
contrary, they have brought out our work in sharper contrast.
We have never considered that our readers have cared a rap
what our opinion may be of a competitor. We have always felt,
however, that the trade has had a direct interest in what we pro-
duce for the money which they spend with us. We have concen-
trated our efforts upon the production of a useful, influential trade
newspaper and we have never minded much about our competitors.
Whenever real competition has appeared we have met it.
R
ECEIVERSHIPS are in truth costly, and by the time the re-
ceiver closes up the affairs of an individual or corporation,
the dividends paid creditors are invariably smaller than were antici-
pated at the time the appointment was made. There are usually
some very optimistic statements put forth when a concern fails, but
the receivers usually do not as a rule permit much to get by them to
the creditors. Exorbitant sums are charged for trivial services, and
the creditors pay the freight. What unjust laws to permit outsiders
to come in and scoop what should go to the creditors!
Some salesmen, like the ill-fated parrot, talk too much.
A good name is as much to be desired as credit at the grocer'B.
Extracting money from some people savors of a surgical operation.
Being happy is somewhat a matter of time, temperament and oppor-
tunity.
A good intention without proper backing is a deceptive thing and
liable to become inactive at any moment.
The man who hustles the hardest is not always the most liberally
rewarded. But think of the pleasure in hustling.
ABSENT TREATMENT.—"I hear a report that old Hunks and his
family are getting along peaceably now."
"The report is true. Old Hunks is away on his vacation."
CAUGHT ON THE REBOUND.—The Man—Do you consider the opal
unlucky?
The Maid—Well, if it's all the same to you, I would prefer a dia-
mond.
A SPECIALIST.—Mistress—Bridget, have you cemented the handle
on to the water-jug which you dropped yesterday?
Bridget—I started to, Mum, but most unfortunately I dropped the
cement bottle.—Punch.
LIFE IN NEW YORK.—"The Balldorf waiters have a new scheme.
The waiter pretends to find a dime that you may have dropped."
"What then?"
"He returns it, and then, of course, you have to hand him a thousand
dollars."
The battle of the ballots is rapidly approaching. In the meanwhile,
the hot air factories are extremely busy—in fact, they are working over-
time. The rumor factories, too, have been right busy with reports of
alleged combinations. Nothing like it before in the history of the piano
trade.
PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY.—The following answer, says the Youth's
Companion, was recently given in a geography examination, in reply to
the question, "From what direction do most of our rains come?"
"Most of our rains come straight down, but some of them come side-
ways."
HARD PUT TO IT.—Patron (who has bestowed one penny)—Now,
my good man, whatever you do, don't spend it in drink.
Grateful Recipient—Lor' bless yer, no, sir. I'd invest it, if I 'ad my
way, but wot with consols so low, and Americans all "iggledy-piggledy, a
man's 'ard put to it to know wot to do with a bit o' capital nowadays.—
Bystander.
STILL MORE REMARKABLE.—"It is remarkable that birds are so
intelligent, when they're so small, isn't it?" asked one member of the
Easy Information Club of her choicest friend, as they walked home to-
gether from a talk on "Our Home Birds."
"Yes, isn't it?" assented the friend, eagerly. "Why, just think even
how very clever the little cuckoos in cuckoo clocks are, and of course
they are only little wooden birds."
Two old friends on the street, looking arms, strolled slowly along,
discussing various topics. Personal ones were touched upon at last, and,
after exchanging family solicitudes for several moments, the Judge asked
the Major: "And dear old Mrs.
, your aunt? She must be rather
feeble now. Tell me, how is she?" "Buried her yesterday," said the
Major. "Buried her? Dear me, dear me! Is the good old lady dead?"
"Yes, that's why we buried her," said the Major.
THE FIXTURES.—A New York commercial traveler says that before
old Georgia "went dry" he was one day in a saloon in that State when a
man entered, nodded to the owner of the place, who was also the bartender,
seated himself, and meditated.
Presently he addressed the owner of the saloon.
"Reckon yo' wanter sell out, Bill?"
For some ten minutes Bill continued his occupation of filling pint
flasks from a jug. Then he looked up.
"Mout," he admitted.
"How much—cash?" the other Inquired.
Bill filled another dozen flasks.
"How much you give for the whole shebang—buildin', stock, good
will, an' all?" he inquired cautiously.
"What about the fixtures?" Bill was asked.
"Oh, they go along with the rest of the outfit," Bill assured him;
"fo'teen colonels, ten judges, nine majors, an' a right smart sprinklin' of
hoss doctors."—Harper's Weekly.