Music Trade Review

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v
VOL. XVI. No. 14.
published Every Saturday.
THE LATE ELECTION—RANDOM
REMARKS—
" PRINTER'S INK " AND SOHMER & CO.—
SOHMER & CO. IN THE RETAIL AND
WHOLESALE TRADE.
THE ARTLESS COMPOSER—A NOBLE FAD—THE
DUKE OF NORFOLK AS A PIANO MAKER—
FACTS FOR THE "CHAPPIES"—HAR-
LEM COMPLIMENTED — FOLDING
BEDS AND THINGS—AN INTER-
ESTING REPORT—LOCAL
PRIDE GONE MAD.
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$3.00 PER YEAR.
SINGLE COPIES, 10 CENTS.
ffeu/ Yorl{, f/ouember 12,1892.
The last issue of that unique and attractive
little specialist, Printers' 1 Ink, in its " Advertis-
ing World " notes, has this much to say of a
spirited member of the trade : '' Charles Fahr,
the advertising manager for Sohmer & Co., says
that the firm will advertise the Sohmer pianos
steadily throughout the winter. All kinds of
mediums are used in turn, and the business goes
out summer and winter.'' Sohmer & Co. cer-
tainly lead in that sphere of advertising. While
they have won a very high position in the
wholesale trade, they have, however, slighted it
somewhat for a more local domain. Retail trade
in a center like New York is not easy to work
up and hold. It is necessarily confined to a
limited field, the keenest and most enterprising
and costly methods of competition prevail in
that field, and while it offers some emolument
worth striving for and some local glory, it does
not open up the opportunities for an exhibition
of business genius that the wholesale trade does.
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Jobson—"How's your daughter getting on
with the piano, Jones ? ''
Jones—"First-rate. She can play with both
hands now. Says she'll be able to play with her
political contest just decided has again ear in six months ! ''
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demonstrated the wonderful good humor
I have culled the annexed from the epistolary
and ready adaptability to reverses which have
characterized the conduct of the people at large department of last Sunday's World. The writer,
during similar fights in the past. The battle of addressing the editor, asks: "What must a
the ballot has been fought, after the usual pre- composer of music, who has been very success-
liminary skirmishing, swords have been meta- ful abroad, do to insure the presence of the
phorically sheathed, and the late soldiers have music reporters of the New York papers at a
returned to the pursuits of peace, content to ac- concert to be given within a few days for the
cept the verdict of the majority. If, as some express purpose of introducing his music to this
European statesmen argue, our Presidential country ? Will it be sufficient to send tickets of
elections result in considerable friction and admission to the editor ? " What a guileless
financial outlay—that is to say, more than the creature ! By the time he has '' introduced his
maintenance of some Vanderbilt or Gould as music to this country " through that means, he
king would involve—there is a decided gain to will have learned two or three very nice tricks,
the political life and mental activities of the and many of the inner mysteries of a certain kind
nation at large on all important and far-reaching of journalism will be laid bare to his vision. Let
questions, no matter who goes to the White him " send tickets of admission to the editor,"
by all means.
House.
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Nearly all the decent members of the British
There was a great and abundant display ot
enthusiasm on both sides during the campaign. nobility have some fad, literary, mechanical,
Even the spirit of the fight '' penetrated into scientific, or otherwise. The Duke of Norfolk is
Bloomingdale and other homes of the insane, " said to be deeply enamored with the construc-
as a certain daily complacently remarked last tive features of the piano. The attachment is
week. The writer of the foregoing committed a of very recent growth. He has fitted up a regu-
very bad bull in a sycophantic effort to feed lar workroom with bench, tools, and accessories,
political pabulum to the palate of the rich editor and is devoting himself to an improvement of
and the business management. He was trying, the upright action with the enthusiasm of an
in the smartly vague and generalistic style of ordinary everyday inventor. Mr. Hamilton, a
the smart reporter, to show that the party for very near relative of the Duke of Fife, was the
which his employers were working was so popu- inventor of the '' Vocalion '' organ, we must re-
lar that the spirit and logical essence of this member. I believe he was recently knighted.
popularity had even invaded the insane asylums ; He was, however, always regarded almost as a
" nearly all the inmates ot Bloomingdale were member of the nobility. The '' Gussies '' and
in favor " of that particular party. And all the '' dem boys '' of the trade, you know, will be deep-
fun of the thing is cuddled up in the fact that it ly touched when they learn that a real live duke
got into print, under the eyes of everybody in has come into the sphere of piano making, even
to the extent indicated.
the publication office.
President of Musical Society.—"And how
did you like the singing of our choir, Jinks ? ''
Jinks (anxious to be polite).—"Well, anyway,
the members didn 't allow their efforts to be di-
verted by the mere mechanical accuracy of the
organ."
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My friend Fleck, of the Harlem Philhar-
monic, gave a seance one day last week as-
sisted, of course, by the organization. During
a part of the celebration he introduced the Rev.
Dr. Biting, who made an address. Among
other things the latter declared, with magni-
ficent and thrilling emphasis : '' The United
States is the greatest country in the world ; New
York State is the most glorious State of the
country ; New York city is the most magnifi-
cent city in the land ; Harlem is the most beau-
tiful portion of New York city, and the best and
most beautiful part of Harlem is right here."
If that compliment did't touch the crowd they
must have been exceedingly serious at the time.
Dr. Biting knows several things about working
the plate.
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Gussie.—"Her taste in music is improv-
ing wonderfully."
Algy.—"Why, she never plays or sings now."
Gussie.—" Yes, that's where she displays her
good taste."
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While riding on the Sixth Avenue Elevated,
recently, my attention was caught by tbis ad-
vertisement : '' You seldom use your piano.
Why not trade it for a folding bed, or, if you
like music, get a
self-playing attachment."
The advertisement is well displayed and must
be read daily by a very large number of people.
Now it must be clear that the analogy so plainly
—although innocently—instituted between that
useful article of furniture mentioned and the
attachment, to the belittlement and injury
of the latter in the public estimation, is the re-
sult of very little knowledge of the proper em-
ployment of words in the preparation of adver-
tisements. It also illustrates, in a glaring man-
ner, the disregard shown by many business
firms for the fact that to prepare a well con-
nected, succinct, and catching ad., calls for
more thought and knowledge oi English com-
position than is commonly understood. As an
art it also calls for something more, and that
"something" can no more be explained than
the "something" which gives a popular song its
magnetism can. The firm who have issued the
advertisement pointed out, will have learned
something in that direction, however, or, at
least, the writer of it will, through the forego-
ing.
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I admire the intense and incandescent local
pride of the Indicator, that is when it is asso-
ciated with any common sense project or idea
relating to the progress of Chicago. Chicago
is, meanwhile, within the Union. It is ia-
{Continued on page 291.)