Music Trade Review

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l^ XXVII. N o . 8 .
Published Every Saturday at 3 East Fourteenth Street. New York, August 20,1898.
A Talk with Henry B. Fischei
HE Kl
ABTOR, LENOX ANi
TILDEK
SOME INTERESTING COMMENTS ON MUSIC TRADE AND NATIONAL A F F A I R S — S A Y S ^ y j ^ EVERY
SECTION OF THE COUNTRY IS PREPARING FOR A SEASON OF? TILDEN Y
'
UNPRECEDENTED POPULARITY.
When The Review visited the Fischer
factory on Tuesday Mr. Henry B. Fischer
was at his post and extended the usual
friendly greeting. The occasion seemed
opportune for obtaining Mr. Fischer's
views on current topics affecting the
trade.
" Now that the war is practically ended,
Mr. Fischer, and that great obstacle to
commercial progress removed, your re-
cently expressed views concerning the
outlook for a good fall trade are doubtless
strengthened ? "
" Yes. Since I last talked with you we
have made a second careful canvass of the
situation, and find that we were and are
fully justified in our opinions. Every
section of the country is preparing for a
season of almost unprecedented prosperity.
There seems absolutely nothing to prevent
it."
"Of course you have followed the de-
velopments of the situation in Cuba.
There is an important commercial side to
the question. What do you think of Cuba's
future, from an American business point
of view. Is it hopeful ? "
"In my opinion, very. Judging from
incoming Santiago reports, an era of un-
precedented activity has already begun.
The thin edge of the entering wedge, rep-
resenting civilization, prosperity and prog-
ress, has been inserted, and the opening
now made by force of arms will be speed-
ily widened by peaceful, yet exceedingly
vigorous commercial enterprises. Every
American industry will gain, our own
among the number.
"We shall witness a marvellous trans-
formation.
The military invasion is
being followed by another. Arrange-
ments are now in progress in New York
and every other city of the first class for
supply of necessaries and luxuries. Min-
eral lands will be opened. Agriculture
will be developed. In other words, Cuba
will be civilized."
"But the Cubans will give us trouble,
Mr. Fischer, unless we hand over the gov-
ernment to them?"
"Not much. If they do, they must be
taught a lesson. In my opinion, the
Cubans are not ready for self-government.
Individually, even the best of them appar-
ently lack those qualities essential for pur-
poses of enlightened administration.
Events so far have proved this. We have
lost faith in their ability to command."
" Do you think certain parts of Cuba
will soon become favorite places of resi-
dence for United States citizens?"
" No doubt of it. The Floridians must
look to their laurels. With enlarged fa-
cilities for travel, in the shape of elegant-
ly fitted up steamships, it cannot be long
before Cuba, Porto Rico, and other neigh-
boring islands will attract many invalids
and pleasure seekers who up to this time
have been content to rest upon our South-
ern shores."
" A word about Porto Rico, still con-
sidering our recent acquisitions from a
purely business standpoint, Mr. Fischer.
Do you think we shall benefit by its occu-
pation?"
"Well, I don't think Porto Rico will
benefit us very much in a commercial
sense. It will be a pleasant place for rest
and recuperation—more so, perhaps than
any part of Cuba—but it is doubtful if
many advantages w r ill accrue in other
ways. It seems odd that the inhabitants
of Porto Rico should possess, apparently,
a much higher order of intelligence than
those of Cuba. Still, such is evidently the
fact."
" As a representative American citizen,
and a New Yorker, are you in favor of our
retention of the Philippines?"
"No, if you mean the whole group of
islands.
"If you refer to Manila bay and the
island of Luzon, yes, decidedly. They
will be useful as a naval rendezvous and
for coaling purposes. The commissioners
will discuss that, of course, but in the end,
Luzon and Manila bay, will, I feel sure,
be retained. Our commerce will benefit
by it. There will be a splendid opening
for American enterprise, thanks to Ad-
miral Dewey."
"How, in your opinion, will the war
results affect our commercial relations with
Europe and other foreign countries ? "
"Very favorably. Those who have
been friendly will draw still closer.
$2.00 PRR YEAR.
SINGLE COPIES 10 CENTS.
Others who have remained at a distance
pr shown signs of antagonism, direct or
indirect, will find excuses for more intim-
ate association."
"As to the conduct of the war, do you
care to express your views briefly?"
"On that score, we have many causes
for congratulation. President McKinley
has proved himself to be as much the man
for the occasion as did Lincoln in those
trying times gone by. Faults and defects
have been looked for by people who are
ever ready to sneer, snarl and grumble,
but the record made by each branch of
the administration is, I believe, without a
parallel in either modern or ancient his-
tory.
"To prepare an army of 180,000 men—
nine-tenths of that number being, at the
start, practically unequipped for active
service; to build up and get to sea a fight-
ing fleet and a big fleet of transports; to
smash two squadrons of Spanish ironclads
with one fleet and transport three invad-
ing armies with the other; to whip an ob-
stinate enemy, occupy their richest posses-
sions and force them to make terms—all
in 113 days, is a feat calculated to make
all foreign nations think long and hard
about Uncle Sam's capabilities."
The "Criterion" in Cuba.
SPANIARDS HEARD "STAR SPANGLED BANNER"
FROM "CRITERION" MUSIC 1!OX, BUT D I D N ' T
KNOW ITS SIGNIFICANCE UNTIL 6'1'H RKG-
MF.NT HAND PLAYED IT AT SURRENDER.
The Saino Espanol or Spanish Club in
Santiago, much frequented by the Span-
ish officers, has for some time boasted a
"Criterion" music box, which was a source
of joy and delight to the club members
before the capitulation.
Strangely enough, through the long
nights of the siege their favorite piece of
music, which they were in the habit of
having repeated four or five times an even-
ing, was " T h e Star Spangled Banner,"
which greatly pleased their musical souls,
although they were entirely ignorant of its
origin or significance.
As fate would decree, on the morning of
July 17th, when the American flag was
hoisted over the governor's palace, the
regimental band of the Sixth- Cavalry
played with the utmost gusto this self-
same air, whose full meaning then broke
upon the assembled Spanish officers with
unusual force and with no little discomfit-
ure to their already ruffled feelings. •