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THE: MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
O
N general trade conditions the correspondents of the bank lay
stress on the fact that stocks of goods are now depleted from
top to bottom from the manufacturer to the last distributer, and this
condition they expect will bring in a rush of business when the crop
movement is in full swing and the farm is loaded up with cash.
On this point they say: "With the harvesting and movement of
the crops and the flow of money into the pockets of the farmers,
there must inevitably come general replenishment of stocks of mer-
chandise. The important question is whether the activity thus set
up will be maintained after the crop movement ceases. A large
majority of our correspondents believe that it will, and that the
year 1909 will be prosperous and active, though not on a 'boom'
scale. The signs decidedly favor the opinion that next year's trade
will be of satisfactory volume in all mercantile lines."
The weakest point in the general economic situation the bank's
commentator finds in the condition of the railroads, saying that
"if the railways to-day were spending as much money on an average
as they had spent during the past three years, business conditions
of the country over would be practically normal."
T
H E talking machine is destined to become one of the great
factors in the Presidential campaign soon to be inaugurated.
Both Mr. Taft and Mr. Bryan have made master records of short
speeches on leading issues of the day and the National Phonograph
Co. and the Victor Talking Machine Co. report a tremendous de-
mand for the Presidential records. As The Talking Machine
World said in the current issue: "These records have been dis-
tributed in all parts of the country, and the candidates will be heard
through the medium of the talking machine in every nook and
corner of the United States, as well as in its non-contiguous terri-
tory. The value of this kind of work as a vote-getting power
should not be ridiculed, because it is liable to be considerable, and
in states where the victory is decided by a very narrow margin it
may be that the talking- machine, through its power in influencing
votes, will decide the election. A case in point—recently a man
who had looked upon Bryan as an unsafe leader remarked to us
that he had changed his mind. He had visited a talking machine
store and heard a series of his speeches, and he said that a man who
could talk like that was all right and he should vote for him. This
is only a straw, but it certainly indicates the power of the talking
machine as a means of reaching voters. Therefore, if we figure
that these record speeches will be heard by millions of people who
otherwise would not have had the opportunity of listening to the
candidates' voices, we must also consider the favorable impression
made upon the voters and the possible result upon the election."
We understand that the National Committees of both Repub-
lican and Democratic parties are arranging to send out thousands
of the Presidential records as part of their campaign of education.
It is an excellent idea and a great tribute to the wonderful develop-
ment of the talking machine and the men who have labored so hard
to perfect its powers of reproduction.
I
N a recent issue, the Youth's Companion, in commenting upon
the passing of the square piano, said: "Piano dealers have
recently agreed no longer to accept square pianos in exchange for
new ones. The square instrument has not been manufactured for
several years, and it will soon be as completely obsolete as the high
bicycle. Some of the old 'square-grands' are fine instruments, and
continue to make music in many homes. They have an honorable
association, for many of the greatest composers lived when there
was no other kind."
Such comment in a paper which has an enormous circulation
in American homes is of value to the piano dealers, for it shows the
square has arrived at a position of desuetude and it is well to en-
courage that belief, although the much reviled square may figure
in piano sales for some time yet. Like the hold-up trade journalist,
it dies hard, but it keeps on dying, all the while getting nearer and
nearer to complete extinguishment.
T
HE coming season promises to be a record breaker in the mat-
ter of noted pianists who will be heard through the medium
of well-known American pianos. The roster includes artists emi-
nent throughout the world, and this despite the campaign of some
of our bilious contemporaries who may now realize how impotent
are the tirades against the policy of noted piano houses.
Uncle Jerry Peebles was looking over the list of "amended spellings"
recommended by the reformers. "Good land!" he exclaimed. "I don't
see nothin' strange in them words. That's the way I've allus spelled 'em."
LIKE A DOG.—"Your husband says he works like a dog," said one
woman.
"Yes; it's very similar," answered the other. "He comes in with
muddy feet, makes himself comfortable by the fire and waits to be fed."
ON THE TRAIL.—" 'And methought the air grew denser,' " quoted
the professor in literature. "Now, what do we learn from this?"
"That the automobile was common in Poe's time," answered a prac-
tical member of the class.
The silversmith and the piano dealer met. "How's business?" asked
the piano dealer. "Oh, pretty fair," replied the silversmith. "I am
interested in loving cups at present." "How funny! I am interested in
loving couples." "Loving couples?" "Yes, I am placing a new duet
piano stool on the market."
The Woman Upstairs—Did you hear my piano going early this
morning?
The Woman Downstairs—No; who was playing?
"I'd have you know it wasn't playing at all. The mean old piano
dealer came and took it away."
AUDIENCE SAVED.—The audience was rushing for the exits.
"Shall I sing?" cried the hysterical near-soprano.
"No," replied the manager, "it would only add to the terror."
Later on it was learned that all of the eleven people in the audi-
torium had reached the sidewalk in safety.
A POWERFUL PERFORMER.—Visitor (to host whose daughter is
assaulting the piano in ultra fortissimo)—I'll tell you what it is, sir.
Your daughter is a powerful performer; she gets out of the instrument
all there is in it.
Host—I'd be thankful if she'd get out the $500 I put in it.
HIS FAIR PROPOSITION.—"Are you able to support my daughter?"
asked the old gentleman. "You know she has pretty expensive tastes,
and I don't mind saying that the journey has been pretty hard for me
at times."
"That's just the point," exclaimed the prospective benedict. "If I
marry her we can divide the expense/'
THE GREAT WHITE WAY.—They were on their honeymoon and
were climbing the Schnupfelgapfenspitzent Peak, and she stood above
him some twenty feet. "What ho!" he gasped. "What do you see?"
"Far, far below," she cried, "1 see a long, white streak, stretching
like a paper ribbon back almost to our hotel!"
"Ha, ha!" he ejaculated. "I'll bet it's that blessed hotel bill over-
taking us!" And they proceeded onward and upward.
WITH THE MINSTRELS.—"Mistah Walkah, wot am de diff'unce
'tween a trav-ler startin' to Tangier an' a plate o' veal hash?"
"I give that one up, George. What is the difference between a
traveler starting for Tangier and a plate of veal hash?"
"De one am Morocco bound, an 'de uddah am half calf."
"Ladies and gentlemen, the celebrated vocalist, Prof. Rox de Bote,
will now sing that beautiful and touching sentimental ballad, 'Take Your
Face Away, Clarence; You Have been Using a Safety Razor.' "
A TESTIMONIAL.—The mail opener of the Life-Elixir Reviving Co.
frowned.
"What's the trouble?" asked the secretary.
"Kick," says the mail opener briefly, tossing a communication to
his superior.
And the secretary read:
"der Surs you advertised your tonik wood make a new man of Me i
bot a bottil but it failed to Wurk, the copers Rekinized me without no
trouble on the first job I done, so here i am, to the Hay for you and
Your medisine! No. A. 87667694, Cell 13, Sing Sing."
Baron Haussmann, who was a fellow-pupil with Berlioz at the Paris
Conservatory, relates in his "Memoirs" an anecdote which is illustra-
tive of the impediments and set-backs placed in the unhappy Berlioz' way.
As was to be expected, he was not in favor with the severe and "classical"
Cherubini, then at the head of the Conservatory. One examination day
Cherubini was running over a piece which Berlioz had submitted, when
he came upon a complete rest of two measures.
"What is that?" he asked in his usual ill-natured tone.
"Mr. Director," said the pupil, "I wished to produce an effect which
I thought could best be produced by silence."
"Ah, you thought it would produce a good effect upon the audience
if you suppressed two measures?"
'Yes, sir."
"Very good. Suppress the rest; the effect will be better still."