Music Trade Review

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MUSIC. TRADE REVIEW.
Either one of these dealers is fully able to buy the
nineteen organs which we offered, and which are all
we have in the world, and we believe itlikely that we
might close out the whole lot to one man at the
prices offered, as wo do not think a similar organ can
AN INTERVIEW WITH THAT GENTLEMAN.
be produced for fifty dollars.
"As I wrote only to these few reputable dealers,
In the i*s:e of last week the Musical Courier took who are all experts in the organ business and know
occasion to reflect on the credibility of statements far more about the value of such instruments than we
made by Mr. Chas. H. Parsons, regarding some or- do, and offered them three months time before they
gans which he had offered for sale, and a representa- were required o pay for them, I am at a loss to see
tive of this paper was sent to Interview that gentle- how I could have taken any unfair advantages, even
man, with the view of ascertaining what he might if I had been so inclined.
have to say on the subject.
" I fully appreciate the value of a free press, but
It is but fair, perhaps, to state that Mr. Parson6 when a writer takes advantage of his position to ven-
has been engaged in the musical merchandise busi- tilate ideas which may be hurtful to others, without
ness in New York for the past twenty years, occupies first making any effort to know whether he is right
an honorable position as Secretary of the Musical or wrong, he at least entitles himself to the censure
Merchandise Board of Trade of the United States, is of every reputable business man. You see I put it
well rated at the Commercial agencies, and is well delicately."
spoken of as an honorable, straightforward man by
Reporter: "Will you permit me to ask—aside from
his competitors in the trade.
the nineteen organs you speak of, have you any in-
Our reporter was courteously received at Mr. Par- terest whatever in the manufacture or sale of or-
son's office, and that gentleman, laying aside his gans?"
pen, expressed himself as happy in meeting a repre-
Mr. P. ; " Not the slightest. I bought the factory
sentative of T H E MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, and the
at Washington in July last, at the public auction
conversation proceeded about as follows :
sale, and sold it to a stock company in the fall.
Reporter: " I suppose, Mr. Parsons, you have seen
" I am not a stock owner in the company which
the article published in the Courier last week refer- bought it and have no connection with the organ busi-
ing to the organ question? '"
ness in any form, shape or manner, beyond disposing
Mr. P.: "Oh! certainly—when one man goes to of the nineteen instruments already referred to."
the trouble of attacking another in print he never
Reporter: "What about the offer of the writer in
fails to send his victim a copy of the paper—other- the Courier that he will donate $51) to charity if there
wise he might never iind it out. We received a marked are no 'dummy' stops in the Monarch organ?"
copy per mail as soon as it came off the press. It
Mr. P.: " That question is easily settled. There
was wet when It reached us.
are no 'dummy' stops in the organ, and a sample
Reporter: " Would you like to say anything in re- of the instrument stands in our store and we shall be
ply through the REVIEW? "
pleased to exhibit it to any one who takes the inter-
Mr. P.: " I don't know that I have any feeling in est to examine. In a long business experience we
the matter, save one of thankfulness.
have not found it necessary to make mis-statements
" I t is, of course, unpleasant to have remarks made in order to push business, and we shall not begin at
about one similar to those published in the Courier, this late day.
for even the good will of a do^ is said to be worth
"Regardingthe $50 offered we do not feel sanguine.
having when inexpensive, but how much worse it We believe, as a rule, that newspaper men who are
might have been had an able newspaperman written financially responsible usually invesitgate a subject
an article with the same animus and published it in before they write about it, while those who have
a live paper.
nothing to lose do not consider such a form neces-
"Let us at least be grateful that our calamities sary.
are no greater."
" I do not wish to reflect on the abilities Jof Mr.
Reporter: " But in reply to the insinuation of the Floersheim and Mr. Blumenberger to raise $50, be-
article itself, will you not say something ? "
cause I really know nothing about them—I onlystate
Mr. P.: " It is hardly worth while, and I only ad- a general principle. As they do me the courtesy,
vertise my literary friend and his paper by replying however, of asking me to nominate the institution to
to him. I have been in the trade for over twenty which their noble charities can be forwarded I re-
years, and I hardly think it's necessary to justify my- spectfully suggest one in which I feel quite an inter-
self in the eyes of my friends -still I must confess est, viz: 'A society for the amelioration of the con-
that when a musquito bites me it requires a great dition of impecunious music trade paper editors.'"
deal of Christian fortitude not to slap it—and on the
whole, as you so kindly offer me the opportunity, I
will say a few words :
THE BEHNING-ELLIS CONTROVERSY.
" First — Here is the circular describing the appear-
ance of the Monarch organ, and there [pointing across
E have hitherto refrained from making any
the store] is a sample of the instrument. Please
comments regarding the change of the
compare the cut with the original, and let me know
Behning agency in Washington, D. C, from
if it deviates a shade in appearance from the descrip- John F. Ellis & Co. to E. F. Droop. A few weeks ago
tion as shown in the circular.
we received from Messrs. Ellis & Co. a circular in-
•• Second~0n the 2d page,you will find the com- tended to mislead the public, but at the time of
plete description of the interior, including the stop receiving it, we concluded that they were somewhat
system. If you will discover the slightest deviation disappointed at losing the Behning agency and took
from the description given, or a single ' dummy* this means to injure the well-earned reputation of
stop you may have the instrument for nothing."
the Behning piano. We would not now have taken
Reporter: " What, then, do you suppose to be the the subject up were it not that one of the so-called
object of this attack on you? "
trade papers has published three Ellis circulars
Mr. P.: " I roally cannot imagine. I have never, without comment. Below we give the entire corres-
to my recollection, met either Mr. Floersheimor Mr. pondence between the three firms, which will clearly
Blumenberger, whoso names appear as proprietors of explain itself.
this sheet.
WASHINGTON, D. C, Jan. 12, 1887.
" I t ia true that I do not advertize in their paper,
nor do I remembor ever having seen it with the ex- To the Piano and Music Trade:
oeption of the copies kindly sent by them gratuitous-
The following letter has been published in several
ly, containing a personal attack on myself. Neither of the music-trade papers of New York :
of the gentlemen have ever visited our store or taken
NEW YORK, Dec. 27, 1886.
the least pains to inform themselves as to the truth
Messrs. John F. Ellis & Co., Washington, D. C:
or falsity of their assertions regarding the organ in
GENTLEMEN : Please take notice that we have
question.
consummated arrangements for a transfer, on Janu-
"Their statement that the letter which they publish ary 1st, of our agency for territory thus far controlled
is a 'circular' which was sent by us all over the by you.
Thanking you for past favors, we remain,
country, is an error which they might easily have
BEHNING & SON.
Yours truly,
avoided by a simple inquiry at our office.
KOCHMANN.
"It was not a 'circular' but was a letter which was
There is a deception attemped here whioh we think
dictated by me and written out on the caligraph by
ought not to be permitted, and we therefore beg to
our stenographer. We wrote this letter to fifteen or- call your attention to the following exposition of the
gan dealers in the United States and no more. matter:
SHAMEFUL AND MALICIOUS ATTACK OF
THE "COURIER" UPON CHAS. H.
PARSONS.
W
199
When we put ourselves before the trade as in the
market for a leader we received a number of letters—
some catalogues and several personal applications
on the subject; among the latter, young Kochmann
(December 23, 1886), representing Behning & Son, of
New Nork, who asked us to run their pianos as our
leader, and then proceeded to state what pianos
they were willing we should run. Now, although
we felt kindly toward the Messrs. Behning (having
sold their pianos for a number of years) we could
neither run their piano as our leader nor permit
them to dictate our policy—so we stated that we
would mention what had been said to our proprietor,
and let Messrs. Bohning & Son hear from us.
On the 27th of December, 1886, we wrote them as
follows:
This is to notify you that we will not handle your
piano atter the 1st of next January.
On December 29, 1886, we received from Behn-
ing & Sou the letter which heads this circular, and
which was post-marked as follows:
NEW YORK, December 28—3.30 P. M. Washington,
D. C, December 29 - 1 A . M .
We thereupon sent the fallowing letter to Messrs.
Henry Behning & Son :
Your letter, dated 27th, and post-marked New
York, December 28, 3.30 P. M., received in Washing-
ton, December 29, 1 A. M., came to hand, announcing
transfer of agency after January 1. On the 27th we
notified you that we would give up the agency for
the sale of your pianos in this territory after Janu-
ary 1, 1887. Your proceeding is "rather thin." But
if it will be of any benefit or gratification to you to
say that you transferred the agency from us—when
you did not -we have not the slightest objection :
only, if it is done in an offensive manner, or in any
way to injure us, we will take pleasure in properly
placing the matter before the public
We leave this matter with you without comment,
and are,
Very truly,
JOHN F. ELLIS & Co.
Following the Ellis address, is the following oor-
respondence:
[Copy.]
NEW YOBK, Jan. 5, 1887.
Messrs. John F. Ellis & Co., Washington, D. C:
GENTLEMEN : We are in receipt of your favors of
the 27th and 20th ult., and in reply beg to state that
the arrangements for a transfer of agency were com-
pleted by our Mr. Kochmann while in your city on
December 23d, and that the notice to you which, as
our representative had verbally acquainted you with
the purpose of his visit, was purely formal and had
to be deferred on account of the holidays.
Trusting this explanation will be satisfactory, we
remain,
Yours truly
BEHNINO & SON.
[Copy.]
NEW YORK, Jan. 20, 1887.
Mr. Edward F. Droop, Washington, D. C.:
DEAK SIR : We mailed you yesterday invoice and
warranties for pianos shipped on the 12th and 14th
inst., and herewith inclose order for John F. Ellis &
Co. to deliver to you the Behning glass signs.
Owing to the altercation we are at present engaged
in with the latter firm as regards the withdrawal of
of our agency from them, we would kindly request
you to favor us with a few lines setting forth the
fact that arrangements for the representation of the
"Behning" after January 1, 1887,. were made by you
on the 23d ult., &c.
Wishing you success, we remain,
Yours very truly,
BEHNING & SON.
WASHINGTON, D. C, Jan. 22, 1887.
Messrs. Behning &* Son, New York:
GENTLEMEN : I cheerfully state that your Mr.
Koch man arranged with me on the 23 d of December
last to represent your pianos here after January 1st.
Before entering into this arrangement, however, I
recived the positive assurance that you were not
willing to continue with your former agents here.
Yours truly
E. F. DROOP.
GAZETTE.
A. B. NICHOLSON & Co., Denver, Col., attached.
A. L. & M. A. WARE, Millis, Mass., assigned.
ALBERT J. HALL, Oliftondale, Mass., oonveyedreal
estate for $1.
Louis TAYLOR, Lawrence, Mass., chattel mortgage,
$200.
GEO. MOFADDEN, Syraouse, N. Y., real estate deed,
$1.
CHAS. M. STIEFF, Baltimore, Md. The factory of
this firm was partially destroyed by fire. Loss of
factory, stock, to., $15,000 to $20,000, fully covered
by insurance.
MRS. GEO. BRANT. Geo. Brant receives release to
judgments. Receives deeds, $1,557, and gives deed,
$2,500, and mortgages, $3,400.