Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
"rumors," can there be any possible claim
for damages in that?
The intent of the individual is considered.
That word "intent" enters largelyinto
a libel case.
We most heartily and emphatically con-
demn the publishing of "rumors" which
are presumably printed to injure—not to
benefit.
We hold that it only exhibits a certain
spite, malicious or otherwise, which that
paper holds against the individual or firm
against whom the slur is cast.
No man advances materially in the esti-
mation of his fellow man by casting slurs or
innuendoes upon a man who is seeking to
gain an honorable livelihood in the same
field as himself. Personal dislike should
not influence the editorial utterances of a
paper.
We are really at a loss whether to take
Mr. Harger seriously in this or not.
If seriously, then he should confine his
own references to the affair to brief digni-
fied sentences, or else his actions in the
matter might be construed by some to
mean a bid for notoriety, including a bid
for sympathy as well.
Neither of which would be dignified or
typical of American journalistic independ-
ence.
Again, when considering the matter
do we have to dip far, into the depths of
the musty past to bring to mind a series of
articles which appeared in the Times, which
were far from complimentary to the Indi-
cator?
Let us repeat, if serious, let us be fair.
Consistency and fairness, as well as im-
partiality, is the rightful heritage of the
American people.
*
J
he took it up with a feeling of awe that was
not unmixed with horror, for it proved to
be a rude imitation of a fiddle made of
human skin. The pores are distinctly visi-
ble, and the human hide has become yellow
with age. The barbarous instrument was
presented to Livingstone by a powerful
negro chief as a token of friendship, and
was probably fashioned out of the skin of
some enemy taken in battle.
The celebrated missionary forwarded the
gruesome violin to the British capital,
where, after the lapse of years, it found its
way into the auction rooms, and finally to
this country. The front and back of the
violin were' made of human skin which
was evidently stretched over forms of some
kind and carefully dried, before being
stitched with leather thongs at the sides.
The tail-piece consists of leather, but
the head and neck are of some kind of
tropical wood. In place of the holes,
there are square openings, and the head is
quaintly carved. Some adventurer must
have given the chief a notion of a modern
violin, for the relic greatly resembles that
instrument, but the music that may be
elicited from it by means of the rude bow
that goes with it, is in no wise like the
heavenly strains that are drawn from a
Stradivarius. At any rate, the strange
thing is worth the inspection of every vio-
linist and lover of violin music,
* *
*-
Chas. H. MacDonald, vice-president of
the Pease Piano Co., and manager of the
Western branch of that house, arrived in
town Wednesday morning. Mr. MacDonald
was accompanied by his family, including
his talented young son, Charles Wilbur Mac-
Donald. He will remain in town over a
week, attending the annual meeting of the
company, and arranging with the other
officers of the firm the business details for
the present year. Mr. MacDonald is a
thorough type of the American business
man; a philosophical reasoner and a logical
thinker. He takes a very optimistic view
of the business situation. In a pleasant
interview which I had with him Wednesday
morning, he said: " I find an entirely better
feeling prevailing among the business com-
munity, and unless the money affairs of the
Government seriously interfere, I am con-
fident that we are entering upon an era of
prosperity which will not be short lived.
Our business in Chicago for the past year
has been in many ways peculiar. It has
been spasmodic, so to speak; trade coming
in waves at irregular intervals, for instance:
October and November were decidedly
good months, while December in many re-
spects was disappointing. Yes, I shall re-
main here for a little over a week, after
which I shall go directly home again "
. ADOLPH KRUG, violin maker at 16
Champlam street* Detroit, Mich., is in
possession of a curiosity that is said to have
been the property of David Livingstone,
the great African explorer, and that now
.* *
belongs to a wealthy gentleman of th.at
The council of the city of Leipsic, Ger-
city, who purchased it in London many
years ago for 50 guineas. The relic has not many, shows its appreciation of the value
an equal in the world, and even the price- of American trade by advertising in some
less collections of the British museums are of our most widely circulated papers that
the annual spring fair for manufacturers'
without its counterpart.
When a reporter inspected the curiosity, sample exhibits and sample collections will
take place there from March 2 to 14 in-
clusive, and call special attention to the
fact that manufacturers of certain classes
of goods always select this spring trade sale
as the best time for showing their samples.
Among the instruments to be on exhibition
are musical instruments and musical mer-
chandise.
,
* *
*
.
From a statement made by Mr. Spofford,
the Librarian of Congress at Washington,
it appears that Uncle Sam is making a
handsome profit out of his copyright busi-
ness. Mr. Spofford reports "an immense
development in publishing activity." The
number of books on historical and bio-
graphical subjects is steadily increasing;
but, oddly enough, there has of late been a
heavy decrease in works of fiction, and the
cheap paper libraries, once so familiar on
the other side of the Atlantic, are disap-
pearing. Much of the copyrighting done
during the last year was for newspaper
syndicate articles. Mr. Spofford does not
say to what cause the falling-off in fiction
is attributable.
* •
Charlie Sisson left for home last Wednes-
day, in order to recuperate preparatory to
starting out on his spring visit to his many
friends in the trade. "Charlie" is having
decided success with the 'Shoninger."
* *
The most interesting item at a recent
auction of violins, in London, was one be-
longing to Mr. Corrodus, dated 1741, by
Guarnerius del Jesu. There was much
competition for this instrument, which was
finally sold for $1,850. Among other lots
were a violoncello, by Foster, formerly in
the possession of George IV., bearing the
Royal Arms on the back, which went at
$600; an Ajitonius Stradivarius, dated 1720,
which fetched $230, and one by Francesco
Ruggeri, of Cremona, 1694, which was sold
for $270.
• • -
•
*
•
I had the pleasure, under the guidance
of Henry Behr, of examining some new
pianos which Behr Bros, are preparing for
the spring trade. In the designing of
these cases, the firm have made a radical
departure from anything heretofore made
by them. They are artistic and handsome
in appearrance, and will be appreciated by
dealers. Mr. Behr will leave on the 20th
of the month for about a two months' trip
West. "This," said Mr. Behr, "is the
first trip I have made for ten years. I pro-
pose to make rather a thorough tour of the
country, going by the Southern route,
which will be a very good time to visit the
Southern States up to Los Angeles, San
Francisco, thence to Portland and Tacoma."
* *
Herman Leonard, big, husky, hustling
Leonard, of Dolge faith and fame, left
yesterday for one of his extended Western
trips. Mr. Leonard will journey out visit-
ing the principal cities on the Northern
route. His trade in Chicago has grown to