Music Trade Review
Issue: 1889 Vol. 13 N. 1 - Page 4
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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
after placing their advertisement with us, were good
enough to say that such action at once brought them
new applications from various parts of the country.
On the 19th ult., again, the Buffalo Piano Manufactur-
ing Company, of Buffalo, N. Y., on inclosing check in
payment of their first quarter's advertisement in these
columns, wrote as follows:—"We are glad to say that
since we advertised in your worthy paper we have re-
ceived some benefit through it, as our trade is picking
up well; receiving calls from all over the country."
What do such letters mean ? They mean that it pays
advertisers to make use of the influence of THE MUSIC
TRADE REVIEW. They mean that our paper is eagerly
scanned in all sections of the country. They mean that
we speak the truth about our circulation and our man-
ner of pushing business. They mean that there is little
or no real need for us to " toot our own horn," because
those who confide in us discover right speedily that
they have done wisely, and hasten to "toot" forus. When
a piano-maker in San Francisco thinks it worth his
FOX'S QUADRICENTENNIAL CELEBRA-
TION.
THE World's Fair of 1892 will be held in Chicago.
There is no use in discussing the matter further. It is
settled. Fox, of the Indicator, has settled it. Mayor
Grant and his Three. Hundred may retire.
The world, according to Fox, means the United
States. For him there is no Europe, no Asia, no Africa,
no Australasia. Chicago is in the middle of the United
States, and therefore is set apart by Fox and nature as
the all-important trysting-place. New York City is the
commercial capital of the vast realm discovered by
Columbus. Her population far exceeds that of the
Windy City. Her fitness in every respect for the great
international gathering has never been questioned, save
by Fox, but that does not matter. We have Fox's
word for it, see Indicator of June ist, that Chicago has
the largest beef and pork market in the world; that it
slaughters the most cattle and hogs; that it has the
greatest number of anarchists, thieves and murderers;
while to advertise in THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, pub- that it has had the foulest divorce case; that it has "the
lished in New York city, he gives pretty conclusive rankest smelling river," and the most inefficient police.
proof of the power and influence wielded among the Moreover, it has Fox. What more could possibly be
trade from this modest little office.
urged in favor of holding the greatest World's Fair of
The jealous may rage furiously, and the envious may ancient or modern times in Chicago?
imagine as many vain things as they please. The solid
New York has no such advantages. All that the Em-
facts»remain that THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW is re- pire City can claim is that she is pre-eminently asso-
garded as a reliable authority, not alone in one city, or ciated, in the eyes of civilized mankind, with America's
one state, or one section, but in all the sections and states commercial, intellectual, and artistic glory; that she is
and cities in the Union. Thus are we enabled to pursue, in the metropolis of the world; that no other city com-
peace and prosperity, the even tenor of our way.
mands such facilities for travel by land or by water;
and that the vast majority of the citizens of the United
States are desirous that New York, and no other place,
THE EXCEPTION TO THE RULE.
shall be the cynosure of the eyes of the whole world on
DURING a recent trip through the New England the great occasion. If a plebiscite of the United States
States, the main object of which was to elicit the opin- were taken, an overwhelming majority of votes would
ions of the musical instrument manufacturers of that be cast in favor of holding the Fair in the Empire City.
region in regard to the proposed Protectve Union of
But it is useless to pursue the subject; Fox is going
American Piano and Organ Makers, we were more than to have the celebration in Chicago, even if he is left
gratified with the practical unanimity of the trade upon there without anybody to join him in a quadricenten-
the subject of the suggested movement. All of the nial cocktail. We admire his pluck and enterprise
numerous firms received us with great courtesy, and and we must admit that his absence from New York
expressed their willingness to discuss the proposal, and will be severely felt. Nothing beats having an opinion
their belief that such an organization would operate to and sticking to it.
the advantage of the entire trade. All, that is, with one
Once upon a time a man of original ideas died, and
peculiar exception.
descended to the infernal regions. Cerberus opened
Upon calling at the factory of C. C. Briggs & Co., Bos- the gate and inquired as to the visitor's business.
ton, Mass., we inquired for Mr. Briggs. We were duly "Well, they wont have me in Heaven, I know; so 1
greeted by a tall, dark-complexioned gentleman bear- guess I'll come in here." The obliging three-headed
ing that name. We explained that our visit had refer- porter admitted him. " Rake that fire," exclaimed the
ence to the proposed organization. Said Mr. Briggs, ruler of the place, who stood near by. " Have you any
"Have you a brother named Jeff. Davis Bill?" "1 whisky?" queried the traveler. " No, sirree; we're hot
have a cousin of that name," replied our representative, enough without that. Rake that fire." " For how
whereupon Mr. Briggs turned upon his heel in the most long?" "Don't ask impertinent questions, my dear
Unceremonious manner and sat down to his desk, re- fellow. You must conform to the rules of the estab-
marking " I have nothing to say." Thus ended the in- lishment. Rake that fire." "But—." No buts, sir;
terview.
don't waste my time. I have other and more impor-
We will simply place on record our opinion that con- tant business to attend to." The stranger attempted
duct like this seems singularly out of place in the polite to argue until his Satanic Majesty for once los-
and cultured city of Boston, and also the fact that this epi- ing his temper, thundered, "You are the most dis-
sode marks our only disagreeable experience in that city, obedient villain I ever met. Won't have you at any
or indeed anywhere, in the whole course of our late trip. price." " But where am I to go ? I told your valet
Even New Yorkers, we are vain enough to think, can here that they wont have me up above." "Well, then,"
offer a good example to Mr. Briggs in the matters of roared the Devil, "take this^box of lucifers and go and
courteous manners and civil treatment.
light a little hell for yourself!"
It would seem that the Protective Union, or any
other body of gentlemen, will not suffer from the non-
participation of Mr. Briggs, of Boston, in their councils.
CASPAR'S DIRECTORY AND "THE
*
* *
MR. E. L. BILL, junior Editor of THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW, left New York on the 30th ult. for an ex-
tensive western trip. In our special fall edition, which
will be published on the 20th inst., we shall present our
readers with interesting matter regarding his visits to
the business centres lying along his line of route.
AMERICAN MUSICIAN"—
A CHALLENGE.
CASPAR'S " Directory of the American Book, News
and Stationery Trade, Wholesale 4 p Retail," for 1889,
is a very large book. Its compilers claim that "All
information contained in this Directory is the re-
sult of many years of practical experience and research,
chiefly received from or verified by the enumerated
firms themselves."
If the accuracy of this work were as unquestionable
as its size, Mr. C. N. Caspar, of Milwaukee, Wis., might
be in a position to boast of his exploits as a directory-
maker. A very cursory examination of its pages, how-
ever, will show that Mr. Caspar has produced a great,
unwieldly, unreliable book, whose proportions become
ridiculous when viewed from the standpoint of accu-
racy.
For the purposes of this article we select one most
glaring error, appearing on page 2 of the addenda 10
the directory. Here is the item in which the error is
contained:—
"AMERICAN MUSICIAN PUB. CO.-(Since 1887.
Est. 1884. Succ Mutual Musical Protective Union.)
John C. Freund, Mngr., P. & M. P., 835 Broadway,
New York, N. Y., Pub. "American Musician" (W. Mus.
Subscr., $4.00.)
#£F~john C. Freund and J. Travis Quigg, Editors.
32 pages {size of Harper's Weekly) every Saturday, ht.s a
guaranteed circulation of over 15,000 a week. The lead-
ing musical paper in the U. S., and the accredited organ
of the music trade!'
This information, we suppose, was " received from
or verified by the enumerated firm." In passing, we
will remark that if no other item of information in
C. N. Caspar's directory has been better subjected to
verification than this one, his ponderous publication is
not worth the paper on which it is printed.
And now to business.
The editors of The American Musician have in their
time achieved considerable notoriety for bluffing. This
last bluff, however, completely eclipses all their former
exploits in the bluffing art. On this bluff of bluffs the
proprietors of THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW take the
liberty of calling them down. We will stake with any
responsible piano manufacturer whom the editors of
the American Musician may name, either a certified
check for, or plain everyday greenbacks to, any amount,
against a sum equal to one-half such amount, to be
placed in the hands of the same manufacturer by
the American Musician, either in the shape of green-
backs or a certified check—if a check, we should insist
upon its being certified by such editors; and we will
forfeit to those gentlemen our money deposited if they
will prove by their subscription books, or by their
printers', binders', or paper bills, or in any other legiti-
mate manner, that the American Musician has a circu-
lation of 15,000 per week.
We insist upon this challenge being accepted, or upon
Mr. Caspar expunging from his directory the part of
the above quotation which we have italicised. Until
one of these two courses is adopted we shall continue
to comment upon what we believe to be a false state-
ment.
If Messrs. Freund and Quigg wish to satisfy their ad-
vertising patrons as to the circulation of their paper
straight-forward and sensible means of so doing are
open to them.
With regard to the wager of two to one, we shall in-
sist upon its being agreed to within two weeks from
the date of this issue of THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW,
viz.: August 5th. In default of our challenge being ac-
cepted within that period, Mr. Caspar must make the
expunction to which we have alluded, or submit to the
constant appearance of remarks upon his singular
methods of furnishing information to the public.
*
* *
KNOCKED OUT BY "MALARIA."
MR. MARC A. BLUMENBERG, of the Musical Courier,
laments the malarious condition of his offices at No. 25
East Fourteenth street, New York city, the air of
which, he says, is filled with microbes. Owing to this
sad state of affairs the once robust constitution of Mr.
Blumenberg has given way. Several weeks ago, he
writes, he began to suffer from loss of appetite and in-
sornnia. Finally he "collapsed" altogether, and was
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
after placing their advertisement with us, were good
enough to say that such action at once brought them
new applications from various parts of the country.
On the 19th ult., again, the Buffalo Piano Manufactur-
ing Company, of Buffalo, N. Y., on inclosing check in
payment of their first quarter's advertisement in these
columns, wrote as follows:—"We are glad to say that
since we advertised in your worthy paper we have re-
ceived some benefit through it, as our trade is picking
up well; receiving calls from all over the country."
What do such letters mean ? They mean that it pays
advertisers to make use of the influence of THE MUSIC
TRADE REVIEW. They mean that our paper is eagerly
scanned in all sections of the country. They mean that
we speak the truth about our circulation and our man-
ner of pushing business. They mean that there is little
or no real need for us to " toot our own horn," because
those who confide in us discover right speedily that
they have done wisely, and hasten to "toot" forus. When
a piano-maker in San Francisco thinks it worth his
FOX'S QUADRICENTENNIAL CELEBRA-
TION.
THE World's Fair of 1892 will be held in Chicago.
There is no use in discussing the matter further. It is
settled. Fox, of the Indicator, has settled it. Mayor
Grant and his Three. Hundred may retire.
The world, according to Fox, means the United
States. For him there is no Europe, no Asia, no Africa,
no Australasia. Chicago is in the middle of the United
States, and therefore is set apart by Fox and nature as
the all-important trysting-place. New York City is the
commercial capital of the vast realm discovered by
Columbus. Her population far exceeds that of the
Windy City. Her fitness in every respect for the great
international gathering has never been questioned, save
by Fox, but that does not matter. We have Fox's
word for it, see Indicator of June ist, that Chicago has
the largest beef and pork market in the world; that it
slaughters the most cattle and hogs; that it has the
greatest number of anarchists, thieves and murderers;
while to advertise in THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, pub- that it has had the foulest divorce case; that it has "the
lished in New York city, he gives pretty conclusive rankest smelling river," and the most inefficient police.
proof of the power and influence wielded among the Moreover, it has Fox. What more could possibly be
trade from this modest little office.
urged in favor of holding the greatest World's Fair of
The jealous may rage furiously, and the envious may ancient or modern times in Chicago?
imagine as many vain things as they please. The solid
New York has no such advantages. All that the Em-
facts»remain that THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW is re- pire City can claim is that she is pre-eminently asso-
garded as a reliable authority, not alone in one city, or ciated, in the eyes of civilized mankind, with America's
one state, or one section, but in all the sections and states commercial, intellectual, and artistic glory; that she is
and cities in the Union. Thus are we enabled to pursue, in the metropolis of the world; that no other city com-
peace and prosperity, the even tenor of our way.
mands such facilities for travel by land or by water;
and that the vast majority of the citizens of the United
States are desirous that New York, and no other place,
THE EXCEPTION TO THE RULE.
shall be the cynosure of the eyes of the whole world on
DURING a recent trip through the New England the great occasion. If a plebiscite of the United States
States, the main object of which was to elicit the opin- were taken, an overwhelming majority of votes would
ions of the musical instrument manufacturers of that be cast in favor of holding the Fair in the Empire City.
region in regard to the proposed Protectve Union of
But it is useless to pursue the subject; Fox is going
American Piano and Organ Makers, we were more than to have the celebration in Chicago, even if he is left
gratified with the practical unanimity of the trade upon there without anybody to join him in a quadricenten-
the subject of the suggested movement. All of the nial cocktail. We admire his pluck and enterprise
numerous firms received us with great courtesy, and and we must admit that his absence from New York
expressed their willingness to discuss the proposal, and will be severely felt. Nothing beats having an opinion
their belief that such an organization would operate to and sticking to it.
the advantage of the entire trade. All, that is, with one
Once upon a time a man of original ideas died, and
peculiar exception.
descended to the infernal regions. Cerberus opened
Upon calling at the factory of C. C. Briggs & Co., Bos- the gate and inquired as to the visitor's business.
ton, Mass., we inquired for Mr. Briggs. We were duly "Well, they wont have me in Heaven, I know; so 1
greeted by a tall, dark-complexioned gentleman bear- guess I'll come in here." The obliging three-headed
ing that name. We explained that our visit had refer- porter admitted him. " Rake that fire," exclaimed the
ence to the proposed organization. Said Mr. Briggs, ruler of the place, who stood near by. " Have you any
"Have you a brother named Jeff. Davis Bill?" "1 whisky?" queried the traveler. " No, sirree; we're hot
have a cousin of that name," replied our representative, enough without that. Rake that fire." " For how
whereupon Mr. Briggs turned upon his heel in the most long?" "Don't ask impertinent questions, my dear
Unceremonious manner and sat down to his desk, re- fellow. You must conform to the rules of the estab-
marking " I have nothing to say." Thus ended the in- lishment. Rake that fire." "But—." No buts, sir;
terview.
don't waste my time. I have other and more impor-
We will simply place on record our opinion that con- tant business to attend to." The stranger attempted
duct like this seems singularly out of place in the polite to argue until his Satanic Majesty for once los-
and cultured city of Boston, and also the fact that this epi- ing his temper, thundered, "You are the most dis-
sode marks our only disagreeable experience in that city, obedient villain I ever met. Won't have you at any
or indeed anywhere, in the whole course of our late trip. price." " But where am I to go ? I told your valet
Even New Yorkers, we are vain enough to think, can here that they wont have me up above." "Well, then,"
offer a good example to Mr. Briggs in the matters of roared the Devil, "take this^box of lucifers and go and
courteous manners and civil treatment.
light a little hell for yourself!"
It would seem that the Protective Union, or any
other body of gentlemen, will not suffer from the non-
participation of Mr. Briggs, of Boston, in their councils.
CASPAR'S DIRECTORY AND "THE
*
* *
MR. E. L. BILL, junior Editor of THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW, left New York on the 30th ult. for an ex-
tensive western trip. In our special fall edition, which
will be published on the 20th inst., we shall present our
readers with interesting matter regarding his visits to
the business centres lying along his line of route.
AMERICAN MUSICIAN"—
A CHALLENGE.
CASPAR'S " Directory of the American Book, News
and Stationery Trade, Wholesale 4 p Retail," for 1889,
is a very large book. Its compilers claim that "All
information contained in this Directory is the re-
sult of many years of practical experience and research,
chiefly received from or verified by the enumerated
firms themselves."
If the accuracy of this work were as unquestionable
as its size, Mr. C. N. Caspar, of Milwaukee, Wis., might
be in a position to boast of his exploits as a directory-
maker. A very cursory examination of its pages, how-
ever, will show that Mr. Caspar has produced a great,
unwieldly, unreliable book, whose proportions become
ridiculous when viewed from the standpoint of accu-
racy.
For the purposes of this article we select one most
glaring error, appearing on page 2 of the addenda 10
the directory. Here is the item in which the error is
contained:—
"AMERICAN MUSICIAN PUB. CO.-(Since 1887.
Est. 1884. Succ Mutual Musical Protective Union.)
John C. Freund, Mngr., P. & M. P., 835 Broadway,
New York, N. Y., Pub. "American Musician" (W. Mus.
Subscr., $4.00.)
#£F~john C. Freund and J. Travis Quigg, Editors.
32 pages {size of Harper's Weekly) every Saturday, ht.s a
guaranteed circulation of over 15,000 a week. The lead-
ing musical paper in the U. S., and the accredited organ
of the music trade!'
This information, we suppose, was " received from
or verified by the enumerated firm." In passing, we
will remark that if no other item of information in
C. N. Caspar's directory has been better subjected to
verification than this one, his ponderous publication is
not worth the paper on which it is printed.
And now to business.
The editors of The American Musician have in their
time achieved considerable notoriety for bluffing. This
last bluff, however, completely eclipses all their former
exploits in the bluffing art. On this bluff of bluffs the
proprietors of THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW take the
liberty of calling them down. We will stake with any
responsible piano manufacturer whom the editors of
the American Musician may name, either a certified
check for, or plain everyday greenbacks to, any amount,
against a sum equal to one-half such amount, to be
placed in the hands of the same manufacturer by
the American Musician, either in the shape of green-
backs or a certified check—if a check, we should insist
upon its being certified by such editors; and we will
forfeit to those gentlemen our money deposited if they
will prove by their subscription books, or by their
printers', binders', or paper bills, or in any other legiti-
mate manner, that the American Musician has a circu-
lation of 15,000 per week.
We insist upon this challenge being accepted, or upon
Mr. Caspar expunging from his directory the part of
the above quotation which we have italicised. Until
one of these two courses is adopted we shall continue
to comment upon what we believe to be a false state-
ment.
If Messrs. Freund and Quigg wish to satisfy their ad-
vertising patrons as to the circulation of their paper
straight-forward and sensible means of so doing are
open to them.
With regard to the wager of two to one, we shall in-
sist upon its being agreed to within two weeks from
the date of this issue of THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW,
viz.: August 5th. In default of our challenge being ac-
cepted within that period, Mr. Caspar must make the
expunction to which we have alluded, or submit to the
constant appearance of remarks upon his singular
methods of furnishing information to the public.
*
* *
KNOCKED OUT BY "MALARIA."
MR. MARC A. BLUMENBERG, of the Musical Courier,
laments the malarious condition of his offices at No. 25
East Fourteenth street, New York city, the air of
which, he says, is filled with microbes. Owing to this
sad state of affairs the once robust constitution of Mr.
Blumenberg has given way. Several weeks ago, he
writes, he began to suffer from loss of appetite and in-
sornnia. Finally he "collapsed" altogether, and was
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