Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
MUJIC TIRADE
VOL.
L. N o . 20.
Published Every Saturday by Edward Lyman Bill at 1 Madison Ave.,New York, May 14, 1910
10 CENTS.
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W
E frequently hear the statement that such and such a man cannot succeed because he is
not conducting" his business according to established rules.
It doesn't necessarily follow that failure will succeed in immeshing him simply on
that account, because he is mapping out new and original plans which disturb conditions
'round about him.
It does not mean that he is going to the dogs, by a long shot.
Criticism is easy, but the rules were made by the masters, and not the masters by the rules.
When Beethoven was told that consecutive fifths, with which one of his compositions bristled,
were forbidden by the theorists, he answered: "But I allow them."
He calmly defied the long-cared criticism of his time, but he never offended the perplexed ears
of the unprejudiced music-loving world.
When Napoleon was doing some of his greatest work in Southern Europe he paralyzed the
Austrians, who said that he must fail because he was not fighting according to established rules, but
Napoleon made his own rules. He followed no others, and with what result the world knows.
Criticism is all right, but it must be well founded. There must be reason for it.
No man should be criticised for adopting means to obtain business simply because his methods
are not in harmony with accepted theories.
But if a man is pursuing methods which have a tendency to bring his own business and the trade
or profession with which he is associated into disrepute, by reason of unfair, questionable and dishon-
orable methods, then he is to be criticised. Pray why not? Why should he be immune?
Unfair methods, however, are not always dishonorable methods, and the distinction should be
made, but any man who is misleading the public and who is bringing his trade or profession into dis-
repute should be criticised, and to withhold criticism is to be unfair to one's self, unfair to one's own
business and trade relations.
Tricks may bring a man into notice, but they cannot sustain him, and he is sure to be finally
estimated at his true worth.
Modern business has been built on fairly secure lines by reason of adherence to fairness and
decency in the conduct of business enterprises.
This foundation should not be battered down by methods which are calculated to bring disre-
pute not only on the individuals who adopt them, but upon the entire industry with which they are as-
sociated.
The kind of criticism should be aimed at them which should be effective.
Criticism is sometimes needed to keep men irom straying too far away from the beaten paths of
business honor.
.