Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
from that seductive cereal; that the price
of corn has fallen in consequence, and that
the fall in the price of corn is the cause of
the free-silver movement.
There has been nothing more brilliant
than this since the deacon proved that the
moon is made of green cheese by showing
clearly that we could not know that it is
made of anything else.
*
T thejjfirstjglance at the illustration
below one might easily imagine that
it was a scene in "Shore Acres," and that
the central figure was James A. Herne. It
is not, however, it was taken by Charles
Henry Ormsby Houghton while out doing
the seashore on his bicycle with his recently
patented camera attachment.
A
Here~is*the~gentle way in which a West-
ern editor "does up" a rival: "An empty
cab drove up to the door of 'The Blazer'
shanty, yesterday, and the editor of that
scorbutic organ of infamy stepped out."
We hasten to state that the "Western edi-
tor" referred to has no connection whatso-
ever with the music trade press; although
the kindly (?) feeling at present existing
among our confreres in the West would in-
cline one to think so.
It should be the first and most
important business of every
dealer to know personally every
man to whom he grants credit,
and the closest scrutiny of coun-
ty records should be another
self-imposed and religiously
obeyed duty, remarks the "Im-
plement Age.'' Frequent trips
through the territory in which
a dealer's customers have their
home, and where they win or
lose by the efforts they put
forth, will always yield good
returns. The dealer who knows
from careful investigation the
actual condition of the people
on whose patronage his busi-
ness depends nearly always suc-
ceeds.
* *
*
The; gentleman who occupies the leading
place in the picture is a well-known figure in
the music trade. He is noted for his Ches-
terfieldian grace—for having in his ward-
robe more trousers than the late mayor of
Philadelphia, who is said to have had a new
pair for every day in the year—for the ease
and fluency with which he discusses trade
matters—for his influence, which is felt
throughout the trade, for the fact that he
resides one-half the year in Boston. Well,
I may as well say, for after the descrip-
tion I have given who else could it be but
Karl Fink!
Yes, it is Karl, and " Omie" snapped
him just as he is saying "All aboard!"
The bicycle is the curse of the age.
That is what some piano men say who
claim it has played the very mischief with
the trade. Upon its innocent head—or
frame-—is visited all the crimes of the age.
Only last Tuesday the president of a lead-
ing national bank in this city gave it as his
judgment that the bicycle is the cause of
the present political situation. He says
the wheel has taken the place of the
horse; that the horse had an appetite for
corn, while the wheel is a total abstainer
the pleasant things that make life worth
living. The relation from the country was
there.
"There's no use in talkin'," he said, "ye
done fine."
"Thank you."
"An' I must say thet the man thet made
the pianny deserves praise, too. Ye
couldn't pick up an insterment anywhere
'tall, thet 'ud stand the pace you put it
through."
"Perhaps not."
"I'll never fergit the way ye got yer fin-
gers all twisted up an' then untangled
agin. It's a sight ter tell the neighbors
about, thet is."
"I—I am glad you enjoyed it."
"Wall—I admired it more'n I enj'yed it.
There's jes' one thing you orter do."
"What's that?"
"Yer oughter come up to Higginsville
some time when yer ain't got very much to
do, an' git Mirandy Slocum to teach ye
'The Monastery Bells' an' the 'Fisher's
Hornpipe.' They take practice, but you
could git 'em purty soon, an' then ye'd
have a couple o' pieces thet was worth layin'
yerself out on."
* *
*
Dr. Carl Barus has recently shown how
the velocity of the wind can be noted by
noting the musical pitch of the sound of
stretched wire. The principal elements on
which the calculation is based are the
diameter of the wire and the temperature
of the air. The length of the wire is im-
material, so long as it is not changed.
Every variation in the wind's velocity is
faithfully represented b} 7 the rising or fall-
ing of the pitch of the note sung by the
wire.
*
I met Chas. H. Parsons, president of the
Needham Piano and Organ Co., a few days
ago. His bronzed face, clear eyes, and
elastic step indicate that his brief excursion
across the "big pond" was of material
benefit from a health standpoint. He was
an interested visitor to the Music Trade
Exhibition which was held in the Agricul-
tural Hall, where some specially constructed
Needham styles were on exhibition. As
usual Mr. Parsons closed some important
deals as well as enjoyed himself.
Patti is said to choose her ser-
vants for Craig-y-nos with an eye to" their
vocal powers rather than to their domestic
attainments. The castle is always full of
company, and as operatic performances in
the theatre of the castle are of constant oc-
currence, Mme. Patti must recruit her troupe
from the servants' hall. Patti is said to be
such an admirable manager that the double
avocations of her servants never clash.
She pays them very large wages, and treats
* * *
them as companions. The little opera
"I've heard of nerve," said a piano
house costs her about $50,000 a year.
dealer, "but the worst case I ever had in
my business was that of a man who bought
a piano on installments, and, though he has
It is unfair, more, it is despicable for a never paid a dollar, threatens to sue me be-
trade paper to "play" on the personal likes cause I refuse to send a tuner for the
and dislikes of individuals just to gratify fourth time within a year."
its own base purposes. This setting man
"Oh; that's nothing," said another
against man is not only unchristian, but dealer. " I have a man on our books who
brutal and undignified.
has had a piano two years and has renewed
* *
every note in payment, and who called this
The pianist had finished dusting the morning to know how much we'd allow
piano keys with his abundant hair, and his him for his old piano on a new one, to be
fingers hung with languid grace like paid for on the same terms as before."—
branches that had not yet recovered from " Music."
* * *
the onslaught of a fierce storm. He was
Judging from the interesting communi-
receiving the applause which his endeavors cations received at the home office from
as a classical interpreter merited. A Mr. Hugo Sohmer that gentleman is having
throng pressed around him and told him a most enjoyable time.