Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
F
REEBORN G. SMITH seems to enjoy
politics. He dropped in on us on last
Tuesday looking blithe and happy, and as
cheery as if he had been elected Mayor 01
Brooklyn.
Mr. Smith is merry over the
condition of business. The facilities of his
Brooklyn factories aie being- taxed, and
the increased demand for cases which com-
menced some months ago, seems to con-
tinue, thereby insuring his piano case fac-
tory at Leominster being "rushed."
Mr.
Smith says that retail business in Brooklyn
is exceptionally good. He is quite enthu-
siastic about his Washington branch estab-
lishment, which is under the management
of W. P. Van Wickle, and expects that the
new building will be formally opened in a
couple of weeks.
*
If a man wants to be remembered by
posterity there is no surer plan than the
presentation to communities of noble build-
ngs, such as public halls, libraries, colleges
and museums. Cooper Union is a surviv-
ing monument to the old glue maker, whose
memory is kept fresh and green by it. A1-.
fred Dolge will ever be remembered for his
gifts to the town of Dolgeville, and like-
wise the public library and other gifts to
Steinway, L.I., by William Steinway, will
insure his name being ever honored. An-
drew Carnegie will never be forgotten as
long as stands his Carnegie Hall in this
city, his Carnegie Library in Pittsburg, and
other buildings bearing his name in other
cities. Such monuments are more endur-
ing than all the bronze and marble shafts
ever erected.
As announced in these columns last week
the co-partnership existing between Robt.
M. Webb and William Hills will expire by
limitation on the first of January, 1896.
This dissolution will in no way affect the
business of the concern, which will be car-
ried on by Mr. Webb on those progressive
and aggressive lines which have made him
such a prominent figure in the music trade
field to-day. By close application and a
knowledge of trade requirements Mr. Webb
has built up a magnificent business, which
is being constantly augmented.
*
It is not generally known that Commo-
dore Otto Wessell, of the famous house of
Wessell, Nickel & Gross, was one of the
pioneers of Chicago, says the Indicator.
He was, and that is the reason why he
never tires of dwelling in an eloquent
manner upon the glories of the metropolis
of the West. He was one of a family of six
boys thai settled with their parents in
Chicago in 1847. The Wessell residence
was on the site of the Schiller Theatre.
The Commodore's soaring ambition, even
in this adolescent period of his career,
found Chicago too circumscribed, and he
removed to New York, whi'jh offered a
grander field than he could find in this city.
We are glad that the eloquent Commodore
once lived among us. He breathed the in-
vigorating air of the prairies and filled his
system with ozone, and the rest is now a
matter of history.
* *
*
A well written article on William Stein-
way's labors as a philanthropist and public
man appeared in the Chicago Times-Herald
of Nov. n t h . Mr. Steinway's practical
benevolence as shown in his gift of land to
the poor for cultivation is naturally referred
to at length and a suggestion made that his
idea could be simulated by some wealthy
Chicagoan with profit to the poor and credit
to the man. A very excellent cut of Mr.
Steinway appeared in connection with this
article.
Senator Cullom, of Illinois, got a sort of
"send-off" for the presidential race at the
Chicago music trade dinner recently. If
he should enter the race and become suc-
cessful, what a fine lot of cabinet timber he
could find in the music trade East and
West. Such men as William Steinway, W.
W. Kimball, Alfred Dolge, Commodore
Wessell, the Cable Brothers, C. G. Conn,
ex-Governor Fuller, Geo. H. Chickering'
Matthew Griswold, the Millers of Boston,
E. S. Conway, Hugo Sohmer, and so I may
go on repeating the names of numerous
other men who would be an honor to any
office in the gift of a President of the
United States. As to the music trade edi-
tors, there would be one or two clever man-
ipulators who, in the talk of the day, would
"work the racket for what's in it," a la
Tammany; the others might be divided
among honest supporters, critics or "sore-
heads."
*
Commenting on the negotiations between
John Jacob Astor, Wm. K. Vanderbilt and
other millionaires, and Inventor Keeley, for
the control of the Keeley motor, a writer
in the Press says: I called on Keeley several
years ago and investigated his motor as far
as it was possible for me to do so. It was
operated, apparently, by vibrations. A fid-
dle played skillfully would seem to set it
going. It was a motor in B flat. That
was the key. No other would affect it.
Haydn, thd great composer, said that the
key of B flat was the least interesting of all
keys; it had not sufficient fire to render it
majestic or grand, and was too dull for
song. This seems strange. A motor is,
however, such a cold-blooded thing that its
soul for music may be said to be dead. A
motor in C ought to go like thunder. C is
bold, vigorous, commanding; suited to the
expression of war and enterprise.
* *
*
Robt. A. Widenmann, who returned last
week from the Atlanta Exposition, is full
of admiration for the enterprise of the
South. He considers that this magnificent
Exposition will help toward a commercial
awakening in that section, and tend to the
betterment of trade. The Strich & Zeidler
pianos in the New York Building have com-
manded considerable attention, and, with
their grand in place this week, the instru-
ments of this house will be kept before the
public of the South in such a way as to be
productive of good results.
THE cosy Symphony parlors of the Wil-
cox & White Organ Co., 123 Fifth avenue,
are being made still more attractive by the
addition of a winter garden in the rear of
the warerooms, which will enable visitors
to test any of the instruments without
being interfered with by street noises. It
also lends that artistic environment which
one somehow expects in connection with
the popular Symphony organ.
* *
The addition of music to the dinner bills
of Gotham's first-class hotels is so constantly
on the increase as to be-very noticeable to
those who see a subtle connection between
gastronomy and the divine art. Not very
many years ago the orchestra as an accom-
paniment to eating was confined to the
German and Italian restaurants, and the
first large hostelry that adopted the attrac-
tion was accused of sensationalism and a
necessity of bolstering up its business with
horns and fiddles. But now all is changed.
The patron of the high-class dining rooms
is treated to the rich and sensuous strains
that are declared to have a perceptible effect
in increasing the appetites of the diners.
The Park Avenue was the pioneer in this
move, some six years ago.
To-day the
number is quite large. The Waldorf has a
magnificent German orchestra, that gives
its hearers music of the highest class, well
spiced with Wagner. This band goes away
for the summer, and is re-engaged on its
return. The Logerot is of the opinion that
Hungarian music is the most potent factor
in keeping people at table longest, and a
choice selection of players is constantly in
attendance. The Windsor, the Metropnle
and the Imperial are all supplied with
bands of the best quality, and the splendid
Stewart apartment house has just included
a Hungarian orchestra in its restaurant at-
tractions. Whether the large expense of
maintaining these bands is repaid by in-
creased patronage is an open question.
Several hotel managers look upon the or-
chestras as simply advertisements, and have
expressed confidence that if all the hotels
should agree to cut them off it would be
better all around. On the other hand, the
claim that good music will induce diners to
linger longer at the table, and put them into
a cheerful and liberal frame of mind, is
worthy of consideration.