June 20, 1925.
PRESTO
BRIGHT SOCIAL SPOT
OF THE BIG WEEK
EEBURG
Event of Wednesday Evening Was One of
the Delights of a Perfect Week Long
to Be Remembered.
A report of the big dinner of the National Asso-
ciation of Music Merchants appeared in last week's
Presto. It was, as had been anticipated, the big so-
TYLE"L"
toastmaster, had rapped his gavel for attention, but so
great was the exuberant spirit of those present, that
it was difficult to hold them in leash, even for a lim-
ited time.
It was an evening given to joy, and who can stifle the
fountain that continually bursts forth with sparkling
wit, and humor mingled with a pardonable abandon,
like a host of kiddies welcoming the advent of the va-
cation period.
The busy days of convention routine, with their dis-
cussions, facts, figures and serious business problems
were over for the most part. So like the children out
of school, they had earned their time of relaxation.
And who now could mar their pleasure or put a damper
on the ardor of their spirits? Nay, it was an eve-
ning for revel, and, with the ladies gracing the occasion,
there was an added charm that made the picture com-
plete in its every detail.
Soft music blended sweetly with the perfume of
flowers, large plants and bright lights, with the taste-
fully decorated tables made the sitting one that was
an inspiration, and the most prosaic must have become
imbued with the environments, feeling secret delight in
being present to participate in the royal entertainment,
that had been so notably prepared by the local enter-
tainment committee.
The election of D. E. Weisert, the only president
of the merchants' association/gave satisfaction to
every member. Mr. Weisert has had a long experience
in the better class of retailing, having been with some
of the foremost houses in Chicago almost from his
boyhood. As a member of the successful firm of
Bissell & Weisert, he has proved his capacity, and
his house is one of the most progressive.
DEATH OF ED MAXWELL
CAUSED MUCH REGRET
Passing of Favorite Assistant of the Late
John C. Freund Generally Commented on
at Last Weeks' Convention.
The KEY to
OSITIVE
ROFITS
MANUFACTURED ONLY BY
J. P. Seeburg
Piano Co.
"Leaders in the
Automatic Field"
1510 Dayton St.
Chicago
Address Department "E"
S. E. WEISERT
President, National Association of Music Merchants.
cial event of the week. The attendance was large
and the speaking eloquent and well spiced with fun.
Those who remained away missed a rare treat. It
was an occasion that will frequently be recalled with
feelings of pleasure, for there was everywhere in evi-
dence that spirit of good-fellowship, jollity and camar-
aderie that added the proper zest to make it an event
indeed.
Owing to the extra large number present, additional
space had been allotted outside the spacious dining
room; in the Avenue of Palms, adjoining the dining
room, and this made it possible to adequately take care
of the guests without crowding.
Doubtless the very large number present was the rea-
son for the delay in beginning the affairs, for though
it had been scheduled for six-thirty prompt, it was
nearly two hours later before the photographer's flash,
as he snapped a picture, a portion of the guests, was a
kind of semi-official announcement that the banquet had
begun.
It is true that President W. W. Smith, who acted as
Regret was expressed at the recent convention
when those who knew Edward Maxwell heard of his
death, which had occurred early in the week. Mr.
Maxwell is remembered as a former managing editor
of "Music Trades," of New York. He was a very
big man physically, a graduate of Harvard, at one
time make-up editor for Hearst's New York Journal,
a hard driver, and his love for New York was shown
most when he was making fun of it. He was married
and resided on Pinehurst avenue in that part of Man-
hattan known as Washington Heights.
Loyal to his friends, a member of Tammany, the
only man who ever interviewed Hetty Green; the re-
porter who went to Tampa with the army for
Hearst's papers in the war against Spain; a man who
dared to make fun of Chicago although he had never
been in it except four days at the World's Fair in
1893'; a man who knew better when he said that "no
idea worth while had ever originated west of the Al-
legheny Mountains in the United States." But Max-
well was conscientious, knew his limitations, wrote
excellent English and carried out to the letter the
fiat of his chief, the late John C. Freund, that "no
colloquialisms shall find their way into this paper."
WILLIAM H. REHM
ADDRESSED CONVENTION WHAT SOME OF THE
President of Chicago's Civic Music Association
Told of His Organization's Efforts to
Make America Musical.
William H. Rehm, president of the Civic Music
Association, Chicago, told the music trade con-
vention at the Drake June 8 to 11, the accomplish-
ments of Chicago in making practical application of
the slogan—"Make America Musical."
'"Xo other city in America has accomplished as
much toward the Americanization of its foreign born
through musical expression as we have in Chicago,"
said Mr. Rehm this week. "Through the efforts of
the Civic Music Association, thirty-five or forty con-
certs are given every winter is Chicago. These are
either free or are offered at a small charge of five or
ten cents. The best artists appear without any re-
muneration for their services, although of course we
pay their expenses.
"The folk songs of the various foreign races are
sung at community centers under the direction of our
teachers who teach the song as translated into Eng-
lish as well as leading the singing in the native
tongue. They also teach the people the national
songs like 'America' and 'The Star Spangled Ban-
ner.'
"We conduct a free training school for young peo-
ple who want orchestra practice, and each year many
of our students secure engagements with large city
orchestras."
TRAVELERS ARE DOING
E l m o n A r m s t r o n g Back; B o b B u r g e s s with Setter-
gren, and L e m Kline Making Sales.
~*~
"Bob" Burgess has just started to travel for the
Settergren Company, of Bluffton, Indiana. He has
many friends among the dealers, north, south, east
and west, so that he may be considered a valuable
addition to Mr. Settergren's traveling staff.
One of the active spirits at the convention in Chi-
cago last week was Elmon Armstrong, who now trav-
els for the Henry G. Johnson Piano Company, Belle-
vue, Iowa.
Lem Kline is doing some special sales work for
retailers in which work he is very successful, largely
because of his ingenius system of local advertising.
He has several engagements ahead and invites cor-
respondence from dealers who want to stir up trade.
PIANOS FOR JUNE BRIDES.
The House of Watkins, 241 Asylum street, Hart-
ford, Conn., representative in this city of the Stein-
way piano, is catering to the June bride through at-
tractive advertisements and window displays featur-
ing pianos and talking machines. The advertising
points out that the piano has come to be a necessity
in the house, and despite the influence of the radio,
it has maintained its position as one of the most im-
portant assets of a well equipped home.
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