Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
trade editor to so discriminate that such
rumors should not appear in type.
The fact of a rumor appearing in a paper
— although a rumor —lends to it a
certain amount of authority and force
and when that rumor insinuates "that
such and such a house is in trouble/' "that
the wholesale manufacturers are going to
go out of the retail business," "that a veri-
table frost has struck so and so," and other
libels which only tend to show "that the
country is going to the dogs," it is time to
call a halt.
There is no rhyme or reason for the pub-
lication of such items. They are published
for no good purpose, and they do an im-
mense amount of harm.
Business is not just what it should be, it
is true, but if there were less talk of hard
times and a greater tendency on the part
of each one to put a shoulder to the wheel
and be cheerful about it, things would be
more apt to improve than by pursuing a
policy which can have no other effect than
to delay possible chances of improvement
and prevent people from making an endea-
vor to get out of the present rut.
News matter, even if objectional to the
parties concerned, must be published as
news, but rumors which only tend to un-
dermine commercial confidence and work
harm all round should find no place in the
columns of trade papers.
An editor who cannot use his judgment
in a matter like this should get out of the
business—at least, his proper sphere would
be in the obituary department of some
country newspaper.
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Now that sufficient money has been ap-
propriated by Congress to permit of the dis-
tribution of medals and awards awarded
at the Columbian Exposition, let us hope
that they will at once be forwarded to the
exhibitors in Europe and in this country
who are entitled to them.
The delay has been shameful and the
foreigners who brought their goods to our
shores for display have good reason to find
fault with the mismanagement connected
with this entire matter—the friction and
red-tapeism might be expected from some
petty government other than the great
United States.
An irretrievable damage has been done
the interests of those entitled to official re-
cognition, for the great advertising value
the medals possessed years ago ; —when they
should have been distributed—has now
been rendered null and void.
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We have always maintained that it is un-
fair, uncalled for and foreign to the mis-
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sion of a trade paper to delve in the pri-
vate affairs of any individual or firm.
We have an instance in mind this week
where a local contemporary endeavors to
build an argument on the personal affairs
of the late Ernest Knabe.
The firm of Wm. Knabe & Co., as piano
manufacturers, are open to honest criticism,
but we think it very bad taste for our con-
temporary to use such ammunition as they
are now loading their guns with. There
is a limit in a matter like this which should
not be transgressed.
In the meantime, Wm. Knabe & Co.,
with an unspotted reputation of over half
a century, can well afford to ignore the at-
tack made upon their reputation, particu-
larly when the animus is so evident.
an investigation into the question of the
competition of Japanese manufactures with
American products. It is not true that
Congressman Johnson has been induced to
take this step through the jealousy of the
manufacturers of cheap pianos in this
country.
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The MusicTrades Association of Chica-
go made an excellent choice when they
elected Chas. H. MacDonald as their presi-
dent. He is a genial and cultured gentle-
man, a man of intelligence and keen obser-
vation, and will fill the office to which he
has been elected with credit and ability.
Mr. MacDonald will do much to build up
the organization of which he is now the
presiding officer.
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The latest Weber-Wheelock news is that
On several occasions it has been our
a meeting of the creditors of Wm. E.
pleasure to commend the clever and effec-
Wheelock & Co., the Weber Piano Co., and
tive advertising methods of A. G. Cone,
the Stuyvesant Piano Co. will be held at
treasurer of the W. W. Kimball Co. They
the office of the Weber Piano Co., 108
depart so radically from the stereotyped,
Fifth avenue, this city, on Monday next,
and are moreover so neat and attractive,
March 16th, at 2 P. M. The outcome of
that they never fail to convince. We have
this meeting will be awaited with interest.
been led to these remarks by the receipt of
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an elaborately printed and beautifully got-
Nikola Tesla is in very truth a wizard,
ten up volumne in Morocco leather with gilt
not only in his chosen field—electricity—
edges, containing pictures and autographs
but in his choice of a musical instrument
of the artists comprising the Damrosch
to experiment with. Like the harp that
Opera Co., now appearing in this city, and
played through Tara's Halls, the autoharp
who, during their stay in Chicago, gave an
will go down in history as the "harp that
unequivocal endorsement of the Kimball
played through Pike's Peak." Such is
pianos. The volume is prefaced with a
fame.
short sketch of the Chicago opera season
and the biographies of the different artists
E. P. Carpenter Co.
whose pictures appear. This book is truly
FINE SHOWING FOR FEBRUARY.
a sample of modern advertising methods.
It will be preserved, hence it is "not for
N a recent communication from the E.
the day, but for all time."
P. Carpenter Co., manufacturers of the
Carpenter organs, Brattleboro, Vt., they
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say: "We are glad to say that after footing
Leon E. Chase, of the Chase Bros. Piano up February business we find it is the best
Co., Muskegon, Mich., has been spending February we have had since 1893, while
some days in town. During a chat with our January business is the best we have
Mr. Chase, he spoke encouragingly of the had since 1892. Of course, the reason for
this is we are doing a very large foreign
business outlook. "The demand for the
business, which with what home trade we
Chase Bros, and Hackley pianos has been are picking up has enabled us to see an im-
unusually good," he said, "and the busi- proved record so far this )'ear, and we hope
ness transacted by the branch house in Chi- it will continue."
cago during February has been double that
for the same period last year." Mr. Chase The Late John N. Hen-ill's Estate
denied emphatically that they had any in-
T is thought that S. G. Smith, father-in
tention of discontinuing this establishment,
law of the late John N. Merrill, will be
as mentioned last week in the columns of a
appointed administrator of his estate. Let-
local contemporary. Mr. Chase left yester-
ters of administration have been applied
day for Philadelphia, and from there will for. It is probable that the Merrill busi-
wend his way home. His Eastern trip has ness will not be discontinued, as negotia-
tions are now pending for its continuance.
been quite successful.
In the meantime, the factory force is em-
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ployed, and the wareroom business is being
Congressman Johnson, of California, has continued. In addition to the late Mr.
introduced a resolution to the effect that Merrill's interest in the piano business, hfc
the Ways and Means Committee authorize left a life insurance of $7,000.
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