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THE
MUSIC TRADE
U n d e r THE
REVIEW
TALL TOWER
As is well-known to many in the trade, the
family of Louis H. Clement, president and treas-
urer of the Whitney & Currier Co., Toledo, 0.,
including himself also, are musicians of no mean
order. In musical circles, Mrs. Clement is highly
appreciated for her attractve personality as well as
her skill as a musician. Mr. Clement's two daugh-
ters are also accomplished pianists. At their
home in New York were two pianos, a Mason
& Hamlin being especially favored by Mrs. Clement,
and intimate friends were often entertained by de-
lightful impromptu concerts in the evening. With
Mrs. Clement and a daughter (four-handed) at the
one instrument, and the other young lady at a
second piano, with Mr. Clement displaying his
skill on the violin, the music rendered was very
enjoyable. The point of the story, however, is
this: When it came time for the family to re-
move to Toledo, recently, Mrs. Clement, who had
a host of friends here, was loath to go, but one
thing she insisted on taking along with her,
and
that was her Mason & Hamlin piano.
She had grown to admire it so much that she in-
sisted on keeping it whether or no, and the result
was Mr. Clement drew his check for the price and
the much-loved instrument was shipped to their
new home and everybody was happy.
neither of which were forthcoming. Now, the old
warhorse, who is an admitted authority on patent
law, is again in the limelight for a brief space.
His reappearance was in the New York political
campaign, now happily over. He sought to ask
questions, more or less relevant, of one of the
leading candidates, but neither harm nor rancor
has followed Gen. Walker's activities in this di-
rection. The redoubtable, loyal, and militant war-
rior got his name into the newspapers, and that
probably was glory enough.
waiting to sing and play good music to the
thousands who want to hear them. And withal,
there is no auditorium, either large or small, really
well adapted for musical purposes. Why not a
municipal temple of music?
turers, and, what was of vital importance, funds,
orchestras a-plenty, and literally hundreds of mu-
stock will help sell itself,.
In last week's Review reference was made to
the achievement of Thomas C. Moore, traffic man-
ager, in the matter of securing reductions in the rate
of pianos from Chicago and St. Louis to
Denver, Colorado Springs, Pueblo and other points
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in Colorado. The new rates from Chicago mean
For quite a number of years, ever since Steinway
a saving of $2.25 a piano, or $20 per car, while
Hall gave up its concert room, and Checkering
from St. Louis it means a saving of $2.07 a piano,
Hall was torn down, there has only been one
or $18 per car. It will be noted that while this is a
really appropriate auditorium in New York for
reduction of $20 per car on pianos shipped from
the smaller forms of concerted music, such as
Chicago, in single shipments the charge to trans-
quartet, trios, and so on, to say nothing of
port pianos will be $16.20, against $18.45 here-
solo recitals. Mendelssohn Hall, in West 40th
tofore charged. The rates from St. Louis involve
street, in fact, has for long been the only refuge
corresponding reductions. An important feature
for the solo reciter as well as for the chamber
of the reductions is that they effect all rates on
music organizations. And Mendelssohn Hall is
traffic originating east of Chicago and the Missis-
now to go. It has been found that it does not
sippi River to the Colorado common points above
pay its owners; or rather, perhaps, that the busi-
named, where the rates to these destinations ate
ness buildings all around it are making so much
made upon a combination through Chicago or St,
money in comparison that the site seems too valu-
Louis. Furthermore, these new rates must not be
able to be devoted any longer to musical purposes.
exceeded from any point directly intermediate to
This, in spite of the fact that Mendelssohn Hall is
Chicago or St. Louis on any line, a party to the
really only the ground floor of a bachelor apart-
tariff, to any point directly intermediate to Denver,
A premium system for its traveling salesmen has
ment house.
Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Col., and the other
been inaugurated by a prominent house, which
* • • & ' • &
points in Colorado common therewith. The man-
believes that the plan will be productive of distinct
Musical New York faces a really serious situ-
ager of the Freight Bureau has taken up with the
mutual benefits. Each man's income beyond a
Interstate Commerce Commission the question to
certain point is regulated by the amount of his ation in this matter. There is absolutely no hall
of any kind in the city fit for the precise sort what extent the application of these rates may be
sales, which is a condition by no means uncom-
demanded to previous shipments, as well as the
mon, except that in this case the method is dif- of recital and concert for which Mendelssohn Hall
has been used. Carnegie Hall is too large for
method to be pursued to obtain reimbursements.
ferent. A standard is established for each man,
piano recitals. It is worse for string quartets, As- soon as this is. determined, the particulars will
consisting of the volume of gross sales that the
and impossible for solo singers, although it is be given publicity, and the manager will proceed
territory should produce under ordinary condi-
used sometimes for all these purposes. The New
to collect all overcharges.
tions, previous experience being taken as the basis.
Theatre is as bad. What is needed is an audi-
A given cost is determined, comprising salary and
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expenses. The profit sharing is fixed by the torium somewhat larger than Mendelssohn Hall,
but smaller than Carnegie Hall. Somehow or
Henry L. Mason, chairman of the Board of
ratio of the two items of gross sales and the cost
other such a place must be had, and in time for
Directors of the Mason & Hamlin Co., Boston,
of covering the territory. If the latter item should
next season. And it is apparently too much to
and a recognized musical enthusiast and author-
total $3,000 and the basis of sales be $30,000, the
expect any real estate investor to build for this
ity has written a most interesting book entitled
one being 10 per cent, of the other, then the sales-
purpose, since the returns are not large enough. "Opera Stories," which describes in an entertaining,
man divides with the house 10 per cent, of any
amount of sales in excess of $30,000. Should the
What, then, is to be done?
concise and non-techn'cal manner the stories upon
total reach $40,000 he receives one-half of 10 per
which 128 operas, including with the more popu-
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cent, of $10,000, or $500. The stimulus of the
lar ones of the day a number very unfamiliar to
A possibility is suggested by some words of
usual percentage basis is present, while at the
American audiences, are founded. The book, which
President McAneny, of Manhattan Borough,
same time the employer is a partner in the gain.
is being well advertised, will leave the hands of
spoken last Sunday at the opening of the Institute
the publishers in a few days. One of the fea-
of
Musical
Art's
new
buildings
on
Claremont
ave-
•t
it H
tures of the volume is a series of portraits of
nue. Said he: "I hope for the day when the city
famous grand opera stars, reproduced in the form
Little has been heard of Gen. Albert H. Walker
itself will be willing to give a larger measure of
of full page illustrations.
since the passage of the existing copyright act
encouragement, through its own support, to music
until recently. It will be recalled the general was
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and the institutions of music, just as we do to
a great stickler for the constitutionality of the old law
our institutes of art. We do not do enough of
The
lack
of
sympathy
often
existing between the
in its attempted interpretation—by the lawyers—
this sort of thing. Out of our millions in the head of a department and the force under him is
in connection with perforated music rolls when the
city treasury we do not do enough for the en- one of the great deterrents in the progress of a bus-
White-Smith-Apollo case was before the courts.
couragement of those things that lie close to the iness. This condition is sometimes due to the ego-
Every one present at the time argument was heard
life of this town."
tistic vew of the department head that what he does
in the United States Circuit Court of Appeals,
is right and what everyone else does is wrong.
K
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«
New York, will remember what Judge Lacombe
Hence, unless the salesmen agree with him a bar-
As a matter of fact the city does practically
said to the combative, yet genial general, when
rier arises which somehow it is difficult to over-
nothing. True, we have had better municipal
ho was allowed ten minutes "by courtesy" of coun-
come. There is nothing like co-operation in a
music this last summer, and the improvement may
sel on both sides to present his views, the court
business to achieve results, and the opinion of
be expected to continue. But, just think for a
consuming most of the allotted time in pleasantly
every employe should be invited to the end that
moment of the great opportunity the city now has
informing the veteran attorney of its functional atti-
all work as one family to promote a desired end.
in front of it in this Mendelssohn Hall case.
tude on constitutional questions. Governor Hughes,
It doesn't do for a manager or anybody else to
Why not a municipal concert building? Why not
now a justice of the Supreme Court of the United
a temple of music built and run by the city, con- assume an autocratic pose which divides him from
States, of counsel for the complainant, was greatly
his fellow-workers, when all are laboring for the
amused with Judge Lacombe's rejoinders to Gen. taining an auditorium for orchestral concerts, a
same cause.
chamber music hall and perhaps studios or other
Walker's allegations and referred to them when
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meeting
rooms
for
different
purposes?
It
might
court adjourned as "sockdolagers." When the
Keeping the stock in good condition is a very
rot yield any very large return, but it certainly
copyright law was placed on the books, the gen-
important asset. Plenty of "elbow grease" be-
could be made to pay. Here is a chance for our
eral "bobbed up serenely" with a proposition to
hind the broom, the duster and the cleaning cloth
have it declared "unconstitutional," and all he present administration to do something which will
will do wonders towards bettering the appearance
lacked to make this fierce threat a reality was the forever render their names immortal. We need a
of things, and producing more sales, as the clean
necessary backing of certain music roll manufac' city building for the cultivation of music. There are