27
PRESTO
April 17, 1920.
MUSIC PROPAGANDA
AND ITS GOOD EFFECTS
Music Page, the Philadelphia North American,
Was a Pioneer in the Journalistic Sense
in Promotional Work.
In commenting on the significance of the meet-
ing in Philadelphia recently of 1,200 music supervi-
sors in Pennsylvania public schools, the Philadel-
phia North American recalled the fact that the
meeting was the thirteenth annual event of the
kind. The music department of the paper is one
of its most interesting features, the influence of
which is now recognized by business and music
dealers.
"Not so very many years ago, a musical instru-
ment was a rarity almost confined to the wealthier
homes, and their standing more often as a tribute
to conventionality rather than a means of musical
expression. Today, the home without music is a
far greater rarity and the piano, the playerpiano,
or the reproducing instrument, are regarded not as
luxuries but almost as necessities," says the North
American. "It is a good thing for us individually,
collectively, nationally, for music is not only recre-
ative but inspirational. A musical people will al-
ways have and hold high ideals. That is why we
were pioneers, in a journalistic sense, in this move-
ment for , more and better music; why we have
faithfully fostered it through the powerful medium
of educative publicity.
"We are glad to have such an opportunity for
emphasizing the material value of music, because
there still are many persons who regard it as noth-
ing more than a pleasant pastime. The number of
these constantly diminishes, for every time a piano,
with or without player attachment, or a talking
machine goes into a home a new view is fostered.
The utilitarian worth of such instruments is not
expressed in the same way as that of the sewing
machine or the mechanical washer. But when one
stops to think of their close relation to the most
pleasurable and restful form of recreation and to
every phase of human experience, it is easy enough
to understand why the Puritans tried to destroy
music in the seventeenth century.
"They saw how intimately it was interwoven
with the everyday round of life on every level of
the social structure, and they had the mistaken
notion that the one way to turn man toward things
spiritual was to eliminate as far as possible all bases
for pleasure which would interfere with their pro-
gram for stern piety. They might as well have
tried to annihilate human thirst for water, for they
were dealing with a primal force.
"Today these are almost as common as bookcases
and sofas. Today the best music of every variety
is as easily within reach of the average person as
the comfort of a rocking chair. We have put mu-
sic into our schools as a matter of course, and we
support more music schools than any other coun-
try. The meaning of this might be more impres-
sive were it possible to paint a picture of what we
would be today but for our devotion to and culti-
vation of music. Naturally, this is not possible;
but it is justifiable to assume that our attitude to-
ward music and the ease with which we now can
gratify this hunger have done more than anything
else outside the public school and the church to
socialize us as a people, and thus bring about that
mutual understanding without which democracy
could not exist."
0UT=0F=T0WN DEALERS
ENCOUNTERED IN CHICAGO
Retail Piano Men, Eager for Uprights, Grands and
Players, Enliven Things in Offices.
C. O. Hiltbrunner, of Emerson & Hiltbrunner,
piano dealers of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was in Chicago
last week and called at manufacturers' offices.
H. E. Turner, of Aurora, 111., representative of
John C. Mahan, piano merchant of that city, was in
Chicago last week buying instruments.
John Jensen, of Jensen Bros., piano dealers of
Torre Haute, Ind., was in Chicago last week.
George Fleer, piano merchant of Elgin, 111., has
been in Chicago part of the week selecting instru-
ments for his trade.
L. L. Parker, of Harrisburg, Pa., was in Chicago
ordering pianos late last week.
"Belknap, the Piano Man," of Eddyville, Iowa,
whose business card shows him to be the agent for
Francis Bacon and Haines Bros, pianos, and that
piano tuning and player work is his hobby, was in
Chicago this week. Mr. Belknap at one time trav-
eled for The Cable Company, of Chicago.
Thomas H. Hume, secretary of the Chase-Hackley
Piano Company, Muskegon, Mich., made a call last
Saturday at the Chase-Hackley Chicago offices in
the Republic Building, where H. H. Bradley is man-
ager. Mr. Hume is a son of the late president of
the company, Thomas Hume, who died a few months
ago.
BUYING PIANO AN INVESTMENT.
SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF—
The Cable-Shelby-Burton Piano Company, Bir-
mingham, Ala., assures customers that "a purchase
made here is an investment—a life investment.
Spread the cost over the years of service you may
confidently expect and you have made the most eco-
nomical purchase that is possible." The tine store
of the company at 1818 Second avenue is considered
the center of things musical in the Alabama city.
The J. B. McCoilum Music Co., Williamsport, Pa.,
has moved from the Y. M. C. A. Building to the
new quarters in the City Hotel. The particular part
of the building secured as a music store by the J.
B. McCoilum Music Co. has joyous memories for
many a citizen who could take it or leave it alone—-
and didn't. It was the barroom of the hotel up to
the day when the big drought began.
BJUR BROS. C
ESTABLISHED 1887
Makers of
Pianos and Players of Quality
Manufftcfurfft of Bjur Bros. Pianos
The Sign of
HONEST
PIANOS
TH-H+/7
The Sign of
LIBERAL
VALUES
705-717 WHITLOCK AVENUE. NEW YORK
BRINKERHOFF
Player-Pianos and Pianos
rh« Llna That Salla Eaally and Satlaflaa Aiwa-.
BRINKERHOFF PIANO CO. " ^ K e T CHICAGO
Try a Want Ad in the Presto and Get It
FUEHR
Standardized by The Quality
Every Instrument in this Line
&
a Trade Winner because it
STEMMER is possesses
Musical Character-
PIANOS
PLAYERS
AND
istics far Exceeding the Price
asked for it.
Write for Catalogues and Particulars.
Fuehr & Stemmer Piano Co.
PHONOGRAPHS
18-22 E. 24th St.
Chicago, IHinote
BAUER PIANOS
JULIUS BAUER @ COMPANY
Factory
1535 Altgeld Street, CHICAGO
Office and W&reroom*
Old Number. 244 W&b&sh Aw.
New Number, 505 S. Wabwh A
NEW V(BK
WESEKBBOi.llK.
HALLET & DAVIS
Grand
Small GranJ
Upright
PIANOS
HOME OFFICE, 146 BoyUton St. Boston
WAREROOMSc &..*•*. Naw Yatffc. CUaa**.
SWAN PIANOS
SWAN OMAN*
are of the highest grade
t h a t c a n be obtained .$.$
through over 50 years of
practical experienoe in
piano and organ building.
Illustrations a n d c a t a-
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will be furnished pi a n *
merchants on application.
FACTORYi
The tremendous aupe*i»
^
ority of the tWAR Read
\fk £ \ i Organs over all others Km
ijLg ijg4 § in the absolute mechnni—
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(raJR jaffl) the bellows action and stop
^ G J S J ^ k action, making it the beat
value in modern orgaa
building.
a
1 N . SWAN ft SONS, **»**»«. FREEPMT, ILL
Leins Piano Company
Makers of Pianos That Are Leaders
in Any Reliable Store
NEW FACTORY, 304 W. 42nd St.. NEW YORK
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