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THE
flUJIC T^ADE]
VOL. LXHI. No. 6 PublishedlEvery Saturday by the Estate of Edward Lymao Bill at 373 4th Ave., New York, Aug. 5, 1916
The Value of Recreation
J
ACK was a most industrious worker. All of his waking hours were spent in labor, with never a thought of
recreation. He eventually became famous, though the proverb which perpetuates his name somehow
neglects to praise his industrious habits, and tells rather that he was notoriously dull because he never took
time to play!
There are still a few Jacks in the modern business world, but their number is steadily decreasing. The
value of recreation, of a temporary cessation from the daily grind, the mental and physical benefit to be gained
from occasional periods of good, wholesome play is being recognized to-day in greater measure than ever before.
Recent issues of The Review have contained numerous accounts of the various picnics and outings which
have been conducted by prominent piano manufacturers and concerns. These stories have told how the factory
has been shut down, and how the entire force, from the sedate head of the firm down to the last apprentice, put
on their holiday clothes, pinned a flower to their lapels, put a fancy band around their hats, a streamer about
their arms, and a badge on their coats, and marched to the waiting boat or trolley behind a brass band whose en-
thusiasm made up for whatever was lacking in harmony.
Continuing, the accounts have told of the unbelievable number of pies consumed in the pie-eating contest, of
the portly superintendent who beat the corpulent vice-president in the hundred-yard dash, thereby winning a pipe
and losing his breath for the rest of the day; of the ball game, which was finally called because the scorer's pencil
wore out from tallying the errors; of the ruddy lobsters, the juicy clams, the steaming corn, the luscious water-
melon, and all the rest of the good things which were consumed, and of the kegs which—but enough!
The unimaginative statistician will sadly tell of the economic waste produced by such affairs. True, had
the crowd of merry-makers been hard at work in the factory, as usual, a certain volume of business would have
been done, a certain number of pianos would have been produced. Had there been no picnic, there would have
been no bothersome sunburn the next day, and no stiff muscles from unwonted exercise.
But despite these facts, was the day really wasted?
Experience and theory both give a decidedly negative answer. The relaxation from humdrum activities, the
putting aside of the cares and worries of business for a day, the spirit of good fellowship which the day pro-
duced, all brought results of lasting benefit which far outweighed the dollar and cents value of the actual work
which otherwise might have been accomplished.
Tt is axiomatic that men who work hard, play hard. American business men are learning that the physical
machine will not stand up under the strain of modern commercial activity unless it is given an occasional period
of rest—not necessarily the rest of enforced idleness, but rather the greater restfulness of changed activities in
the form of wholesome sport.
Employers are learning that they can get closer to their employes by occasionally commingling with them on
the friendly basis which common pleasures will form.
The piano manufacturer who is not above taking off his coat and serving his turn at the bat against some
wiry stripling ordinarily employed in his finishing department will find that same stripling working with greater
enthusiasm because he has learned that his boss was really human, after all.
The same truths apply equally well to the social affairs of the various piano associations and clubs which
have been so successful this season.
The keenness of competition and the constant struggle for business is apt to make every man, no matter
what his business may be, regard his competitors as opponents for whom he has no large measure of good-will.
This attitude is erroneous, but nevertheless natural.
Its antidote, however, can be found in the social trade affairs which are being given in every line of business.
(Continued on page 5)