Presto

PRESTO
10
HISTORIC ACCURACY IN
FAMOUS ADVERTISEMENT
Copy-Writer for Chase Brothers Pianos Was
Correct in His Reference to Barbara
Frietchie and the Frederick Incident.
The versatility of the advertising experts often
enlarges educational opportunities and adds piquancy
to history. A fine illustration came to notice when
the Chase-Hackley Piano Co. began a series of page
displays in the trade papers, two years ago. At that
time the advertising copy-writer for the old piano
industry at Muskegon, Michigan, introduced one of
the historical incidents of the Civil War with which
to give emphasis to the length of time in which the
Chase Brothers pianos has been before the trade and
public. The line employed was:
"Famous Since the Days of Barbara Frietchie."
A well drawn sketch of the incident upon which
the line was based accompanied the advertisement,
showing the grey column of Stonewall Jackson halt-
ing before the house of the white-haired patriot in
Frederick, Maryland. The lines from Whittier's
poem appeared beneath the cut:
"Who harms a hair t of yon grey head
Dies like a dog! March on, he said."
According to Whittier those were the words of
Stonewall Jackson on that day when "foot and hoof"
marched into the town, and the confederate general
saw Old Glory floating from the heroine's attic win-
dow.
The advertisement had scarcely appeared when
Presto received a letter in which was repeated the
old charge that there never had been any Barbara
Frietchie, that she was a myth, and that the Stone-
wall Jackson incident was but a poetic fancy of the
Quaker poet. And since then there has been a good
deal of discussion of the same subject, until an east-
ern newspaper decided to settle the question and
sought for living proof that Barbara Frietchie and
her flag actually defied the hosts in that grey spring
morning of 1862. Several accounts of the event ap-
peared, but they, too, were disputed until a corre-
spondent of the New York Times wrote that he had
happened to meet a Dr. Wagner, in Ohio, who de-
clared he had met a citizen of Frederick who knew
Barbara Frietchie personally. Recalling the discus-
sion started in the piano trade by the Chase Brothers'
advertising, Presto wrote to the Ohio doctor and, in
reply, received the following courteous communica-
tion. It will no doubt be read with interest, and it
adds affirmation to historians who have contended,
with Whittier himself, that the fine old Civil War
poem was founded upon actualities:
"Galion, Ohio, March 8, 1923.
"Editor Presto: I do not think there is any doubt
about there having been a lady by the name of Bar-
bara Frietchie, who lived in Frederick, Md. I was
born and raised in a small town called Woodsboro,
eleven miles north of Frederick and twenty-eight
miles from Gettysburg.
"I had two brothers in the Union army, and I was
left to care for my aged parents, my father being an
invalid. August following the close of the war, in
1865, I came to Galion to practice my profession.
"I knew nothing of Barbara Frietchie until I read
of her fame and the poem. Several years after I
had located in Galion, I visited my old home and
determined to learn something about Barbara
Frietchie. I visited an uncle living in Frederick and
learned from him there was such a person living in
Frederick. She lived on West Patrick street. I
walked out West Patrick street, met a man and in-
quired for her house. He pointed to a two-story
brick house on the south side of the street and said,
'There is where she lived.' Said she was a relative
of his and he called her Aunt Barbara. He did not
know as to her having a flag.
"Very respectfully,
"SAMUEL WAGNER."
March 17, 1923
PRIMA DONNA SOPRANO
PRAISES STEQER PIANO
"Beautiful Steger Tone an Inspiration," Says
Hazel Eden, Leading Artist of the Chi-
cago Civic Opera Company.
The name of Hazel Eden is the latest addition to
the constantly growing list of leading artists who
have recognized the fine musical qualities of the cele-
brated Steger piano.
LITTLE GIRL IN Q R. S.
NATIONAL ADVERTISING
With a Smile She Tells the World That Q R S
Player Rolls Are "Better."
The Q R S little girl appearing in the Century
Magazine, Harper's Monthly, World's Work, Atlantic
Monthly, Review of Reviews, Scribner's for April
is some talker. She will tell over fifty million people
that Q R S Music Co.'s player rolls are better be-
cause they possess human interest and human music.
She will literally "sell the world." All of these
magazines are on sale about March 20. To much of
the effect of the Q R S Music Co.'s "little girl" will
be felt this month.
The Q R S Music Co. has increased its national
advertising about five hundred per cent. "We will
continue to make a music roll worth $1.25, and hope
that you can see the advantage direct and indirect
of selling a fine music roll," is the greeting sent to
dealers this week.
Two fine numbers which are selling big and the
demand for both growing are No. 2095—"Lost a
Wonderful Girl" and 2100—"When the Leaves Come
Tumbling Down."
AIM TO PRESENT FULL
PIANO LINE TO BUYER
Prominent Music House of Columbus, Ohio, Makes
Service the Paramount Consideration.
Heaton's Music Store, one of the most outstanding
music establishments of Columbus, Ohio, is making
every effort to give service to the buyer in order to
make the present activity of business endure, accord-
ing to Mr. and Mrs. Wert Heaton, who were in Chi-
cago this week. Mr. and Mrs. Heaton selected a
number of new styles of different makes of pianos,
for shipment to take place in the stock of the store.
The Heaton music store intends to give the pur-
chaser a complete line of high class instruments from
which to make a selection. The company is the rep-
resentative for leading manufacturers of the east
and the middle west, and fulfills this purpose in a
very satisfactory manner. Mr. and Mrs. Heaton
spent two days visiting Chicago wholesalers, and re-
turned to the management of the business.
New and larger quarters have been leased by the
Kearny Piano Co., Houston, Tex.
A Valuable Agency
HAZEL. EDEN.
In expressing her appreciation of the Steger's musi-
cal excellence, Miss Eden writes:
"My admiration for the artistic Steger piano reflects
the great pleasure this superb instrument has af-
forded me.
"The beautiful Steger tone is an inspiration.
"I have yet to find a piano which equals the Steger
in its perfect sustaining qualities and exceptional
beauty, brilliancy and resonance of tone. For voice
work it is ideal."
Miss Eden, who was formerly with the Boston
English Opera Company, the Los Angeles Opera
Company and soloist with the St. Louis and Denver
Symphony Orchestras, is now making a concert tour
of the United States and Canada.
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