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THE MUSIC TRADE
42
REVIEW
store in Washington street if a reduction would
be made in the price. "Fifteen cents is what we
are asking," answered the cheery young sales-
woman, "for one or one hundred copies. We are
instructed not to sell any sheet music for less."
A visit to the retail stores of the Krey Music
Co. and Jerome H. Remick revealed the same
EDWARD LYMAN BILL - Editor and Proprietor conditions. Mr. Marshall, the manager of the
latter store, informed the writer that his in-
J. B. SPILLANE, Managing Editor
structions were so definite that they could admit
of no misunderstanding. He was to obtain 15
J . HAYDEN-CLARENDON, E d i t o r
cents a copy for all music, no matter in what
Published Every Saturday at 1 Madison Avenue, New York
quantity purchased.
SUBSCRIPTION, (including postage), United States and
Mexico, $2.00 per year; Canada, $3.50; all other coun-
Henry Krey's Just Complaint.
tries, $4.00.
"I am by no means a pessimist," said Henry
Telephones—Numbers 4677 and 4678 Gramercy
Krey, of the Krey Music Co., in answer to a
Connecting all Departments
query as to trade conditions. "At the present
NEW YORK, JULY 25, 1908
moment things are going along smoothly enough,
thanks to A. H. Goetting, but it is only of late
that a fixed retail rate has been established here.
How long these conditions will last is hard to
say. For myself I am thankful that the 10-cent
stores have been forced into line to sell music at
15 cents. Indeed, I cannot see why this class
of store which only buys 'hits' or other music
It is difficult for the comparative stranger to which has an immediate sale, should get an ad-
analyze the peculiar fascination which Boston vantage over the legitimate retail dealer who
exercises over those who are not entirely strang- takes the good with the bad for the purpose of
Only recently F. A.
ers within its gates. Maybe it is that "the Hub" carrying a varied stock.
1
is entirely different from every other American Mills was asking 12 / 4 cents a copy wholesale
city. Maybe it is that its people have a charm for 'Red Wing,' while near-by 10-cent stores
and cordiality which, although by no means were offering this number at 10 cents a copy,
superficial, exists to an extent unknown to all retail. What was the consequence? We retail-
save those who have had the privilege of living ers used the 10-cent store as our jobbing house
in their midst. To the writer a trip to Boston and were able to secure all the copies we desired
in these days means little but hard and untiring at 10 cents each, or 2y 2 cents lower than the
work, and yet no holiday could be so exhilarat- wholesale price demanded by the publisher. Of
ing, no vacation so restful, as a few days spent course, 'Red Wing' was an enormous seller, and
as such it was absolutely necessary to keep it
in the Massachusetts capital.
in stock to supply our customers, many of whom
Conditions in Boston.
have no dealings with 10-cent stores.
Mind
Were conditions throughout the country as
you," continued Mr. Krey, "I am not caviling
bright as they are at the present time in Bos-
with Fred Mills or his business methods. He is
ton the sheet music trade would have little to
a splendid fellow, and of course is at liberty to
complain of. To A. H. Goetting, as well as to
sell his music in any quantities and any price
the much-abused Jerome H. Remick, can be
he sees fit. Still, it seems to me a somewhat
traced a state of affairs which is altogether
shortsighted policy to sell a huge success like
gratifying when compared to the conditions ex-
'Red Wing' at a cut-rate when every retailer in
isting both in this city and in ottfer sheet music
town is willing and anxious to pay full price for
plague spots throughout the country. It is a
it. As for the general public and my own ex-
fact that "popular" music cannot be bought re-
perience has been both considerable and varied,
tail at the present time in Boston for under 15
I am absolutely convinced that it does not grudge
cents a copy. In vain did the writer offer to
paying a fair price for its music. After all,
purchase some twenty popular numbers at a
COMMENTS B Y - „
sheet music is a luxury, and those who can afford
it can afford to pay sufficient for it to give the
retailer a fair and living profit." Mr. Krey's re-
marks, which are much to the point, are com-
mended to both the publisher and retailer alike.
The Editor of "The Cadenza."
There is a peculiar reticence about Walter
Jacobs, head of the well-known Tremont street
publishing house bearing his name, which is
often taken by those who do not know him for
indifference. Those who are successful in pene-
trating this mask, however, strike a substrata
of geniality and fellowship which to his numer-
ous-friends is an altogether lovable quality. In
spite of the fact that he was a really sick man,
due, no doubt, to the untiring labor which he
has put into his new acquisition, "The Cadenza,"
Mr. Jacobs insisted that the writer take lunch
with him, and during the meal page by page of
the rejuvenated paper was carefully scrutinized.
Elsewhere in this issue the writer gives an ex-
tended review of "The Cadenza," but it is not
out of place to add a word of welcome in this
column to one of the brightest and best edited
trade periodicals which it has ever been the
writer's privilege to see.
In the Publishers' Realm.
As Arthur P. Schmidt is in Europe, little
definite news could be gathered regarding the
next season's offerings of this important pub-
lishing house. Banks M. Davison, of the White-
Smith Co., however, was at his post of duty,
with his usual kindly welcome to the writer, and
his usual kindly word for everybody else. Mr.
Davison has lately made a musical "discovery"
in Elsie G. Phelan, a little Boston-Irish lady
whose "What Makes the Thunder Sound" is a
veritable triumph in juvenile songs. Naturally
Mr. Davison is proud of his "find," as, indeed,
he has every reason to be, as some half-dozen
of her works have met with decided public ap-
proval. B. F. Wood but lately returned from
Europe, and looking the picture of health, spoke
only too briefly on conditions abroad. "My Lon-
don branch," said Mr. Wood, "is doing exceed-
ingly well, but I have little news on any subject
to give you, owing to my sudden return." At the
Oliver Ditson Co., Mr. Bobzin was away, but
C. A. Woodman gave a few moments of his valu-
able time to a chat, in spite of the fact that he
had an accumulation of work on his hands. "I
think the sheet music trade is going to have a
most remarkable Fall," remarked Mr. Woodman,
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