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THE
as in them lay, the pinnacle of their aspiration.
On their trade-mark, so admirably depicted at
the rear of this platform by one of the com-
pany's present-day artisans, they placed the
motto, 'Palmam qui meruit ferat,' 'Let him
who deserves it bear the palm,' and, to this
stimulating and fair-minded appeal to competi-
tion, they added the significant phrase, 'Sui
generis,' 'In a class by itself.' The result of
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
I recall the vivid impression made upon my
boyish mind that it was a cheerful place. Each
man at his work radiated joy; this was catching
and refreshing; indeed, an atmosphere of cheer-
fulness permeating the scene transported me,
as it were, to a sense of gladness such as I
had seldom if ever known. If I asked a ques-
tion concerning some miraculous machine, some
tool of mysterious shape, or the like, the an-
The Mason & Hamlin Co. Employes' Orchestra
their efforts is common knowledge, and,
happily, they lived to find the name of their
company not only known but esteemed, as well,
at home and abroad. This implies on their part
ability, determination, fidelity to principle,, and
vision, in short, and best of all, soundness of
character. Therefore, we do well to render
honor to the memory of these men and their
associates, and, in gratitude, to appreciate, in as
full a sense as may be, the real and vital signif-
icance of the inheritance which from them we
have received.
"But this occasion is unique from another
point of view. We meet to render honoiyalso,
to a second group; to the master-mechanics and
other members of the organization who, while
loyal to treasured traditions and to the ideal
of their predecessors, have conspicuously con-
tributed, through periods of service ranging
from five to fifty-six years, to the company's
progress and nearer approach to that selfsame
ideal, to the initiation of its product into richer
and more and more fertile fields, and to its ever-
expanding reception by those who know and
demand the best."
A Tribute to Harold Bauer
At this point Mr. Mason digressed a moment
to pay high tribute to Harold Bauer, who se-
lected the Mason & Hamlin piano as his con-
cert and recital medium over a quarter of a
century ago, and who has played it continuously
ever since, and to present to the pianist a hand-
some silver bowl as a mark of esteem from the
Mason & Hamlin Co.
"John Ruskin has said that all wise work must
be honest, useful and cheerful," Mr. Mason
went on. "Let us here apply this test. Ex-
amine, if you will, the product upon which these
craftsmen have worked; I am confident that the
first requisite called for, honesty, will be at once
apparent. Listen to the finished product of
their labors, as we shall shortly do, and at the
hands, furthermore, of a master, and judge
whether the second condition is complied with,
usefulness. Then visit the plant of the organ-
ization, observing the men in their own environ-
ment, and, again I am confident, you will agree
that as to cheerfulness it certainly abounds
there. I remember being taken as a child to
the factory by my father over forty years ago;
swer was never futile or stupid, like that of
the immortal 'P. Toots, Esq., Brighton, Sus-
sex,' but always intelligent and explanatory,
and, let me add, cheerfully given as well.
"Fascinated by the whole-heartedness, the
case and the calm assurance with which the
men applied themselves, I marveled at the ex-
quisite workmanship of each, and I was struck
by the expression of happiness in the faces of
MAY
9, 1925
given in those far-off years. To-day, on fre-
quent visits to the factory, many of the same
experiences are lived anew, and many of the
same faces, furthermore, with the same kindly
expressions, greet me just as they did over two-
score years ago.
"Such are the effects, I take it, of allegiance
to principle, wise work and high ideal. Do you
wonder, then, that the instruments made by
these men hold the supreme position they do
among the musically intelligent? Do you won-
der, I say, that this is the case when the multi-
farious details which enter into the finished
product are treated with such infinite care?"
After paying tribute to those who carried on
the work in the various departments of the
factory, from the case department to the ship-
ping-room, Mr. Mason continued:
"We have just been listening to a perform-
ance by the Mason & Hamlin Employes' Or-
chestra. Could anything be finer, finer than the
idea of having such an orchestra! These men
who delight in making a musical instrument
also delight in making music The thought is
pregnant with suggestion; for music, that is to
say, worthy music, is a thing of beauty; the
more one appreciates and cultivates one's sense
of beauty, the stronger and better by just so
much one becomes. Through the study and
practice of orchestral works these men of our
orchestra develop their sense of the beautiful,
and hence, in a word, the better and stronger
men they become. The bettor the man the
better his work. Again, music is a universal
language and its- social influence is incalculable;
its effect is elevating and ennobling; it empha-
sizes to man his relations to his fellow, his duty
and responsibility to family, community and
country. Surely the more closely we consider
this affair of the orchestra, the more clearly we
see its importance. All success to it, and in the
words of Rip Van Winkle, 'May it live long
and prosper.'
"I have referred to the inheritance which we
have received from the founders of this busi-
ness. May I now refer to the present-day work-
ers, to the fidelity, the unswerving allegiance,
and the success with which they, in turn, ex-
Mason & Hamlin Co. Factory Management
Hack Row, left to right: Carl Peterson, General Foreman Finishing Depts.; Albert A. Hartmann, Planning Dept.; Wil-
liam C. Camack, Paymaster. Front Row, left to right: Stephen E. Woodbury, Research Dept.; Agnes M. Grove, Secre-
tary and Purchasing Dept.; Paul H. Taylor, Vice-president and General Manager; Frederick H. Fiske, Office Manager.
all. Although perhaps unconscious of it at the
time, I have looked back in later years to the
influence of those early experiences with pro-
found gratitude, and I like to think that what-
ever there may be in me of the sense of definite-
ness, directness and order received its earliest
impulse in the lesson so simply and cheerfully
emplify in their work and efforts the principle
so typical of the founders themselves? It is
much that each man to-day does his best and
does it cheerfully and honestly, and while this
is so the finest kind of success must crown his
endeavor.
"And now one closing word. May I express