Music Trade Review

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l i f t . MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
SKETCH OF AN OLD PIANO.
HOW GEO. F. ROOT, WRITER OF THE FAMOUS WAR SONGS, SOLD A PIANO TO A PUBLIC
SCHOOL EFFORTS TO RAISE THE PURCHASE MONEY AN HISTORIC INCIDENT.
RICHARD M. WALTERS.
Will Welcome Dewey.
Richard M. Walters has been appointed
by Mayor Van Wyck as a member of the
reception committee to receive Dewey up-
on his return to these shores. The list
of names of those appointed by the Mayor
include some of the greatest in the finan-
cial, literary, industrial and social life of
this Metropolis. Mr. Walters is the only
piano man named in the appointments.
He will not be lonesome, however, for he
has a host of friends among those who will
figure with him on the committee when
the great Admiral arrives.
Practical Education,
New York is to have a "Commercial
High School" as an addition to the present
scheme of secondary education. Commis-
sioner O'Brien says:
Its purpose is to take the boy who has
passed through the elementary schools and
fit him for a business life. The curriculum
of the new institution will be formed upon
lines that will give the student a thorough
knowledge of the laws of trade and busi-
ness. When he receives his diploma as a
graduate he will be a valuable acquisition
to any counting-room or business house.
The course will be four years, as in the
other high schools, and will be both broad-
er and deeper than in the "commercial
colleges" which teach bookkeeping, short-
hand, typewriting, etc., in a short course.
The first two years will be devoted to the
English language and literature, mathemat-
ics, history, elementary physics, chemistry
and bookkeeping. The last hal f of the course
will include two modern foreign languages,
civics, the laws of trade, the history of
commerce, economics, commercial geogra-
phy and the study of products, agricultural
chemistry, and the markets of the world as
learned through a digest of consular re-
ports.
In other words, the Commercial High
School—which will occupy a fine new
building on West Sixty-sixth street—will
undertake to fit boys to enter business and
commercial pursuits, just as the other
high schools prepare them to enter college
on their way to the professions.
It is a commendable step in the direction
of practical education.
Pianos have an interestin g history. Some
times we read of instruments which have
accompanied their owners to all parts of
the globe. They have gone through floods,
fires and revolutions. There was an in-
teresting history of the Steck piano given
at a recent reception at the High School in
Galesburg, 111. One of the students pre-
pared a very interesting account of the
piano which had stood for so many years
in their institution of learning. It was a
very interesting sketch, and well worthy of
reproduction. Here is what he said:
In the pursuit of the present we are
wont to overlook the past. We observe
things about us and use them, but never
think from whence they come, nor why
they are here. We never stop to consider
that these various articles represent many
trials and sacrifices on the part of those
who obtained them. So it is with this
High School piano. We pass it time after
time, never knowing what it has gone
through and what a varied experience it
has had.
In 1866 the present grammar school was
built. Prior to this time there had been
nothing but vocal music in the school, and
with the new building there came a desire
for better music and a piano, but the get-
ting of one was a great problem. Pianos
then cost much more than they do now,
and the purchase of one was thereby ren-
dered much more difficult. Now the ques-
tion arose, how would they proceed to
raise a sufficient amount of money to obtain
one. It was decided to give a series of en-
tertainments, in which both teachers and
pupils were to assist. Several of these en-
tertainments were given in Caledonia hall,
which stood on the southwest corner of
Main and Prairie streets. Others of less
importance were given in the High School
hall.
Inasmuch as the High school was pre-
paring to buy a piano a very favorable op-
portunity was now presented to them. It
was customary then as now for large music
houses to send agents out into the sur-
rounding country with pianos to sell on
approval, and it is with a transaction of
this kind that we are concerned.
In the winter of '66 and '67, Gaorge F.
Root, representing Root & Cady, of Chi-
cago, came to Galesburg and brought with
him a good Steck piano. Root & Cady
were a large music firm. George Steck &
Co. were the makers and did business in
New York. At this time Mrs. M. D.
Cooke was teaching music in the Gales-
burg public schools; Professor J. B.
Roberts was superintendent, and with
them it was left to decide upon a
piano. They were pleased with this
instrument, and as Mr. Root offered
to give a benefit concert with his sister as
soloist the debt was assumed. It was also
understood that the board of education
would back them up. This concert was
given in Caledonia hall and cleared a neat
sum. The amount to be raised was $600,
and immediately after this concert all in-
terested parties set themselves to the task
of raising a sum of about $450. This was
no small matter, and as Mrs. Cooke says:
"Many aweary head and heart had we
before the end came." Mrs. Cooke gave
a concert and military drill in Caledonia
hall, which netted a handsome sum.
Other entertainments were given such as
ingenuity could devise and finally the
necessary $600 was raised. Some say that
the board voted to make the final payment,
but their records do not show that this was
done.
Now let us observe the instrument. We
see that it is the old-fashioned square,
wooden case piano. On its face are the
words :
GEORGE STECK & CO.,
NEW YORK.
MADE FOR ROOT & CADY,
CHICAGO.
Its number is 2358, which appears in
the bill of sale. This bill of sale reads as
follows;
May 22, 1867.
Galesburg High School
Bought of
ROOT & CADY,
67 Washington street, Chicago, Illinois:
No. 2358 Geo. Steck & Co.
Piano, Style 7 Square
Grand
$800 00
Less 25 per cent. . . . 200 00
$600 oo
The above piano is fully warranted for
five years and we hereby agree to replace
it with another if it fails to give satisfaction
or refund the money.
ROOT & CADY.
Received payment,
J. L. LEE,
Agent for Root & Cady.
The conditions for raising money at this
time were very unfavorable. The number
of people to raise it was small and the
great Civil war had closed but two years
before. We may well honor the persever-
ance and energy of our predecessors and
to them we owe many thanks for the pur-
chase of such a substantial instrument. It
was here that the germ of Galesburg High
school push began to work—a germ which
has exerted a lasting influence upon the
school.
The piano was paid for in about three
years. During this time almost every cent
raised by entertainments went towards
paying for it. After it was purchased it
was placed in the High school hall which
was on the third floor of the present
Churchill school. Here it was used when
the various rooms of the school assembled
for chapel exercises.
E. Q. Adams, of this city, was the first
performer and played the instrument until
1869. When not in use it was closed and