Presto

14
March, 1931
P R E S T 0-T I M E S
SELF=EXPRESSION THROUGH MUSIC STUDY ORIGINATOR OF
SCHOOL BANDS
The boys and girls shown in the accompanying pic-
ture live in the beautiful city of York in eastern Penn-
sylvania and all are taking piano lessons on York and
Weaver pianos, manufactured by the Weaver Piano
Co. of York.
Their parents when recently interviewed all ex-
pressed great pride and keen pleasure at seeing their
er's singing. Her mother said: "She plays the piano
in a show window at times as an advertisement. She
is paid for this, of course. She is in the fourth grade
in school and all her marks are very good. We expect
to have our smaller children start music very soon."
Margaret Liggitt, daughter of Walter B. Liggitt,
treasurer of the Manufacturers' Association of York,
L.KKT TO UK JUT: WALTER MARCH, JR., RUTH MYEliS, MARGARET LIGOxITT, RTCHARD
BETTY GRBIMAN, WILLIAM DUBBS.
children developing self-expression and leadership
through learning to play and sing. The mothers and
fathers of these children, through wise planning and
guidance, are laying a substantial foundation for their
children's success and happiness in later life. It is
no longer laborious and burdensome to learn to play
the piano. After a very few lessons a very small child
can sing and play and enjoy it.
Walter March, Jr., 8-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs.
W r alter March, 2 Latimer street, York, has taken
lessons from Prof. Karl Knisley. This boy is already
playing duets with his older brother, who plays the
violin. Their father is a civil engineer.
Betty Greiman, 9 years old, started music study at
the age of 5 years. Now she accompanies her moth-
HOSTETTKR.
plays upon a York piano which her father bought for
her six months ago. She is 9 years old and is study-
ing under Prof. Walter L. Rohrbach.
Ruth Myers has been taking piano lessons for ten
months under the instruction of Carl Smyser. She is
9 years old. Richard Hostetter is 9. He is a be-
ginner, but his interest in music has aroused his little
brother, Edward, 6, so much that he is also learning
to play the piano.
William Dubbs is 7 years old. His mother said:
"The system you use to get children interested is very
line. I never heard of anybody playing so quickly
before. The neighbors called their children in to see
how Billy plays. They can't understand it. They
have been studying a long time and can't play pieces
as well as he does."
A. S. BOND KILLED BY AUTO
By DEE OTT
Forty-three years ago Robert ("Bob") Scovill^
went to Coffeyville, Kan , with his parents. His
father, a carpenter by trade, was musically inclined
and gave "Bob" the instructions he was able to offer.
The boy obtained his first violin, later discovered to
be an old instrument worth more than $5,000, in a
business deal which took place in Coffeyville in a
barber shop owned by his brother. The youngster
"swapped" a billy goat and an old guitar to one of
the barber's patrons for the $5,000 fiddle, now in pos-
session of the pioneer musician's son, Leslie Scoville,
instructor of music in the Okmulgee, Okla., schools.
After industriously scraping the strings of the price-
less instrument night after night in practice, young
"Bob" made his "professional debut" with his father
more than forty years ago, playing at dedication sere-
monies at Bartle's "mill"! More determined than
ever to concentrate on music as a vocation, he organ-
ized Coffeyville's first orchestra and furnished music
for dances in the old-time "opry" houses, centers of
Coffeyville social life in the '80's.
At Memphis, Term.
Scoville's first genuinely professional job came in
1895, when he quit the Coffeyville Orchestra and
joined the band which furnished the blaring glory for
the Harris Nickelplate circus for a tour of the South.
At Memphis, Tenn., he conducted a theater orchestra
four seasons, and then returned to Coffeyville.
With Barnum & Bailey.
He remained a few years—then Barnum & Bailey's
circus came to town. Attracted to the lot by remind-
ers of the fascinating life of the road, Scoville, now
21, loitered among the show's bandmen and struck
up an acquaintance with Walter English, who then
pumped the tuba in the circus band, but later became
well known as a composer of marches. The youth
confided to English his ambition to be on the road
again, but added wistfully that his mother wouldn't
hear to his going trouping again, English under-
stood and volunteered to interview Mrs. Scoville. He
did call on her and pleaded "Bob's" cause so effec-
tively that he won parental consent for the boy to
join the Barnum & Bailey band at the first oppor-
tunity.
Off to London.
"Bob" bided his time in Coffeyville and at last
news came from English that he should post to join
the roving musicians—in London, where the circus
made is headquarters while in Europe—and with his
violin and a set of drums, the latter for band work,
(Continued on page 15)
resolutions of respect for Mr. Bond, who had served
as chairman of the organization's advisory board for
the last six years.
The board of directors of the Old National Bank
of Fort Wayne, of which group Mr. Bond was a mem-
ber for the last 27 years, adopted a resolution in his
memory, saying in part:
"Albert S. Bond, in whom were combined the high-
est attributes of gentleman, citizen and friend, died
on the thirteenth day of February, 1931. His death
comes as a tragic shock.
"He was a man of whom it can be truthfully said
that he was honorable, upright and conscientious in
his dealings with his fellow men. During the long
period of his association with the Packard Piano Co.,
the members of that organization had learned to re-
gard him as a kind friend and adviser, more than in
the light of an employer.
"He was truly democratic and a genuine friend
to all who knew him. Although an ardent sportsman,
he never permitted the pleasures of life to overshadow
the more serious phases of his career.
"He was a director of this bank for 27 years, hav-
ing served in that capacity since the year 1904. Dur-
ing this period he endeared himself to his fellow direc-
tors by his unselfishness and sincerity.
"Through his death, his immediate family has lost
a devoted husband and father, the community a patri-
otic and loyal citizen, the officers and directors of this
bank a loval friend and associate."
Albert S. Bond, aged 67 years, long-time president
of the Packard Piano Co., Fort Wayne, Ind., died in
the Lutheran Hospital in that city on February 13.
His death was caused by an automobile accident the
previous evening, Mr. Bond having been hit by a ma-
chine while crossing a street on his way to a friend's
home. Funeral services were held at his home, 2724
South Fairfield avenue, Fort Wayne, on February 16.
Presto-Times joins in the general regret felt at the
passing of one of the outstanding figures in the piano
industry.
Mr. Bond's prominence in the piano industry and
in the financial affairs of the city of Fort Wayne ex-
tended over a period of many years. He was at one
time president of the National Piano Manufacturers
Association. The Bond family, including several of
his relatives, were in control for many years of the
Old National Bank at Fort Wayne.
Mr. Bond's association with the Packard Piano Co.
dated far back to the time when it was the Wayne
Organ Works, and it was due to his pushing initiative
that it turned to making pianos and making very
good ones. He was re-elected president of the com-
pany several successive years after it became the
Packard Piano Co. The Presto's account of one of
these elections held in January, 1908, reads as follows:
"The annual meeting of the Packard Piano Co., Fort
Wayne, was held and the following officers were re-
elected: President, A. S. Bond; vice-president, J. H.
Bass; treasurer, H. B. Wiebke; secretary, J. M.
Kuhns; superintendent, H. W. Bond; and assistant
superintendent, S. C. Bond." J. H. Bass, mentioned
as treasurer, was chief owner of the Bass Foundry
at Fort Wayne, which a few years ago was the largest
Robert Scoville of Coffeyville, Kan., Known
by That Title, Has Had Experience in
Paris, London and on the Road
in the United States.
A. S. BOND
metal car-wheel works in the world, employing thou-
sands of men.
Christian Science services were conducted at the
funeral of Mr. Bond, with Herbert E. Rieke in charge.
The board of directors and the advisory committee
of the Wheatley Social Center of Fort Wayne passed
A wind instrument contest was participated in by
more than 200 public school students in Chicago, be-
ginning two weeks ago and ending at Crane Junior
College on March 4. The South Siders held their
contest at Hyde Park High, the West Siders at Mar-
shall High and the North Siders at McKinley High
school. Many Conn instruments were seen in the
different ensembles.
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