Music Trade Review

16
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
D (EAD) BEAT-TY IN FOREIGN LANDS.
is the most entertaining little
volume that has ever been publish-
V
ed. Despite the fact that it is " from
January 20th, 1881.
feeling invigorated by the fresh sea air, need I say that I done full justice to
the occasion?"
When there are indications of a storm, "the clouds gather porten-
tisusly." Instead of washing himself, he "performs his morning abula-
tions." He went to the church of Notre Dame, and " found it mostly occu-
pied by persons whose principal motive appeared to lay in the display of
their attire."
In a graphic passage, Daniel speaks of Napoleon as "standing solitary
and alone between the camps of two contending forces. Alone he stands,
statute-like and motionless."
At Versailles there is "the most magnificent artificial landscape the
ingenuity of man could desire."
At Pompeii the houses seem to be "actually inhabitated."
When some children were pleased, it was "much to the no small amuse-
ment of a congregation of urchins."
The temptation to continue is great, but we forbear; for, after all, we
have an unaffected pity for Daniel. His infantile simplicity almost disarms
criticism; for does he not say that he is the author of this book, and is not
that the unkindest thing that could be said of any human being?
original notes," it is difficult to rid our-
selves of the idea that it was written by
Mark Twain while suffering from the
toothache, or by the Danbury Newsman
during an attack of dyspepsia.
On re-reading the volume, however,
we find touches that are far beyond their
powers. A study of it is earnestly recom-
mended to those humorists. From the
first page to the last, preface included,
it is written in a style so exquisitely
ludicrous and bombastic, so full of mal-
apropisms and absurdities, that no one
will ever care to dispute its authenticity.
D. F. B. in his " tour in foreign
lands," has ascended not only Appenine,
but asinine heights, the latter so persist-
THE CONDITION OF TRADE.
ently that he has placed himself far
beyond the possibility of human compe- r T^HE first three weeks of the new year have, for the most part, been occu-
tition.
JL pied by manufacturers and dealers in balancing books and taking an
This is how he tells us of his desires account of stock preparatory to another business year, which in our opinion,
to visit Europe, and of his wish to see famous things there:
and that of a majority of the trade with whom we have conversed on the
" It has always been my desire to view the scenes celebrated for their subject, promises to be fully as notable in the number of sales as its imme-
antiquity and renown, to gaze upon the sepulchres of kings, the crumbling diate predecessor. The books of most firms in the business show a remark-
ruins of ancient palaces, to breath, amid the towering summit of the Alps, able and gratifying absence of doubtful accouuts, and there seems to be gen-
the air where majestic sublimity reigns supreme; or deep in subterranean erally neither the disposition nor the necessity to revert to the old system of
caverns of the earth, look upon the sarcophagus of prophets, priests and longcredits, at least as far as the wholesale trade is concerned.
kings, and approaching read hieroglyphics that still withstand the shock of
There does not appear to be a good prospect for an increase of wholesale
time."
prices; in the absence of any understanding among the manufacturers,
Yes, Daniel, in Europe, they generally bury their famous men "deep in prices will probably continue to rule as low as they did in 1880, and the
subterranean caverns of the earth," it is also customary with them, to put dealers and consumers will continue to be the lucky men.
prophet, priest and king, together in one sarcophagus; and if you, learned
The margin of profit for the manufacturer of pianos and organs is now
friend, can read hieroglyphics, they are quite as likely as not, to be those so small that it is difficult to see how the small manufacturer, who makes
"that still withstand the shock of time."
pianos solely to sell to dealers, will be able to make both ends meet. The
But let Daniel proceed; "all these mighty antiquities of ancient renown trade in pianos and organs seems to be rapidly dividing itself, the cheap
lay enshrined in traditions whose origin is lost in the dust of centuries. To third-class instruments being obliged, to a great extent, to seek purchasers
me, the iron finger of time, traces amid the ashes and debris of ages, lesson, among the more musically uneducated classes of the far West and South,
written in an imperishable language: . . . . Lessons which all the nations while in the Eastern, Northern, and Middle States, the hold which first and
of the earth can read, teaching mankind the immutability of our great Crea- second-class pianos and organs, have on the popular estimation, is becoming
tor, and immorality of the soul."
stronger. It will continue to grow in strength as musical education
If this was his habitual phraseology, it is not to be wondered at, that increases, and so people become more capable of judging of the merits of an
when he took his departure, " the children clapped their hands in childish instrument for themselves, so that they are not obliged to rely on the opin-
glee, dogs barking . . . even the humble, dusty roadside flowers ion of a third party whose judgment is often governed by bank notes instead
seemed to nod and join in the general acclamation of delight as we rolled of musical ones.
by." Just so, it was amid such acclamations that Artemus Ward left his
We hope no music teacher who turns an honest penny in selling pianos
native shore :—"The citizens appeared entirely willing that I should go, to his pupils will feel himself aggrieved by the above, but if there be one
'bless you sir,' they said, 'don't hurry about coming back; stay away for whose conscience troubles him, we can only say as Hamlet does in the play,
years if you want to.' It was very touching."
" Let the galled jade wince."
When the steamer was nearing the Irish coast, Daniel had " in this brief
period passed through scenes vai'ied and multiform in their character, some
of them occupying but a few brief moments, yet how they live for ever after
The New York daily papers of the 13th inst. in an account of an explo-
engraved indelibly upon the heart, which no touch of time can wholly sion at a factory in Newburyport, describe it as a celluloid explosion.
eradicate, but are treasured in the halls of memory to be recalled only in The papers aforesaid are laboring under a delusion, as the factory at New-
after years."
buryport in which the explosion occurred was not manufacturing celluloid,
Let us examine this a little ; the scenes through which he passed were but lignoid, an entirely different compound. We are officially informed that
varied and multiform ; some of them occupied but a few brief moments, yet celluloid is manufactured at no other place than Newark, N. J., and that
they live for ever after engraved indelibly upon the heart, that no touch of neither the Celluloid Piano Key Co. of this city, nor the parent company at
time can wholly eradicate them ; he then proceeds to inform us, that they Newark, have any connection whatever with the factory at Newburyport or at
will not be thought of again for several years. On page 17 he says :— any other place.
" immediately opposite the bank is located Trinity College (Dublin), from
S. Brainard's Sons, of Cleveland, Ohio, have taken the agency for the
which have emanated some of the greatest arts of our time."
On arriving in London, " here I tind myself—a mote in the sunbeam— Emerson piano for Northern Ohio.
amid millions of human beings, where all the passions of the human heart
There is a general and growing scarcity of the better grades of finishing
run rampart, and whose lives full many are overshadowed by a sky of misery, lumber. This is especially true of black walnut, it is more than the present
the only stars which shine down upon them are penury and want," and across production can do to fully supply the demand.
whose dark horizon flits but few straggling clouds of happiness. One need
Good walnut of fair quality can be had in the Boston market for $70 to
to possess the graphic pen of its once most illustrious and distinguished
citizen—Charles Dickens—to portray life as it is in this great throbbing $80 per thousand; extra grades quickly bring $90 to $100, and unusually
desirable lots command Si 10 to $120. A good quality of cherry sells easily
heart of England."
Such a passage does indeed make one regret that Charles Dickens had for $90 or $100.
no opportunity of portraying life, as it is, in D. F. B.
The B. Shoninger Organ Company, of New Haven, have received that
Daniel's knowledge is only equalled by his perspicacity ; he visited Christmas present, which we wished they might in our last number. Mr.
Pompeii, and looked '' with awe and veneration upon the silent city, the Brown, the celebrated New Haven architect, having prepared the plans for
home of Cicero, Homer and Ovid, whose history, wrapped in the obscurity of the new offices and factory, and ground was broken for the new building on
over a hundred centuries, still proclaim them to be the most distinguished the 17th inst. The new structure is to be of brick trimmed with Ohio stone,
poets of ancient, if not of modern times."
and the cost will be about $25,000.
It was with feelings of reverential awe that he passed through West-
The New Haven Organ Company held their annual meeting in New
minster Abbey, "and gazed upon the sarcophagus containing the bones of
Henry V. and his brother, Richard, Duke of York, who were murdered by Haven on the afternoon of the 17th inst.
their cruel uncle, Richard III."
On Wednesday morning, 12th inst., a fire occurred by which the two
The facts of history are of little account to Daniel; he deals with them upper stories of the Meriden House, in Meriden, Conn., were ruined, and the
in an extraordinary manner, as befits a most extraordinary man; neverthe- stores in the basement of the hotel were all damaged by smoke and water.
less it is true that Henry V. died and was buried, or, as Daniel would say, C. M. Loomis, who occupied one of the stores, succeeded by hard work and
" was interred deep in sepulchral caverns of the earth," a little more than energy in removing his entire stock without damage, his efforts in this
thirty years before this " cruel uncle, Richard III.," was born.
respect being in striking contrast with those of the other occupants of stores
St. Paul's was visited, of course, and some astounding information in the building, and we understand that the Insurance Companies which
imparted to a listening world. " Here rest the remains of the Duke of Wel- had risks on Mr. Loomis' stock feel much gratified with his conduct in the
lington, Sir Joshua Reynolds, and Admiral Nelson, whose motto, ' Never matter.
give up the ship,' will ever be remembered."
The Bridgeport Organ Company have not yet adopted our suggestion
Mr. Daniel F. Malaprop's style is, we most fervently hope, inimitable.
On page 3 he was " ushered into one of Pullman's palace cars. Inundated about advertising themselves by a sign across the front of their building,
with floral offerings and wreaths, and fairly walking on a. bed of roses, I and there is as yet no indication to an outsider that any organ manufacture is
being carried on there.
take the last long, lingering look," etc.
How Daniel succeeded in walking on an inundation, must be left for
GERMAN STRIKE ENDED.—The case makers and joiners employed in the
him to explain.
manufacture of musical instruments, who were recently out on strike in
When the bell announced the first meal on board the steamer, Daniel Berlin, Germany, have returned to work at old prices—even, in some cases,
"descended," as he says, "below." With " my appetite sharpened, and at reduced rates.