Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Che Small Goods trade
THE "WONDER" MAN.
C. G. Conn, of "Wonder" fame, is looked
upon from a distance by many musicians as
the man best qualified to solve all problems
at all times connected with the theory and
practice of instrumental music.
The Review, on a previous occasion, quot-
ed some instances of apparently round mu-
sical people trying- to fit into seemingly
square holes. Their wants and wishes are
made known occasionally in Mr. Conn's
periodical publications. For summer reading-,
paragraphs of this order are entertaining
in the highest degree.
For ••example, a clarionet plaver in In-
diana recently expressed a wish to hold a
position in "an asylum." Whether as a
warden or patient is not stated. Baseball
and cigars are the alleged points of strength
in another clarionet player in Iowa. He
plays, but wants a cigar factory, and adds
that he can play ball, too. Such a combi-
nation would be simply irresistible if he
were, say, in New York, where we really
want talent just now for the home team.
Whenever they lost a game they could get
their clarionet-player to toot for comfort, or,
if they won, he might toot for joy. Every
home-run could be made the signal for
distribution of home-made cigars, "made by
a member of the team."
The manipulator of a bass drum in Kan-
sas says he can also run a steam engine or
an electric motor. As a self-player, with
the proper attachments, this man might be-
come a thumping success. For a traveling
orchestra, the services of a double-bell eu-
phonium player of Elmira, who says he can
also wash clothes, would be simply indis-
pensable. After wringing a touching mel-
ody from his favorite instrument, he could,
almost in the same breath, turn to and wring
neglige shirts and handkerchiefs for the
remainder of the organization.
But if the musicians who are actually
looking for such incongruous occupations
appear eccentric, the persons who are in
search of talented harmonists seem entirely
unreasonable. One applicant for help wants
a man who can shave and play a cornet.
Perhaps he would be expected to do these
things simultaneously. Some barbers could
rasp their customers just as well with a
cornet as without one. In Pennsylvania
they want men who can play the fife and
drum, fill teeth, plaster walls and dig coal,
flutes. Piccolos,
Guitars,
mandolins, Banjos, Zithers
flnd Every Instrument
ClMt's mwlul • •
JOHN C HAYNES & CO.,
Importers and Manufacturers,
451 Washington St., Boston,
all under the same contract. This appears
to be ihe limit, and goes to show the won-
derful versatility of the men who live mostly
on wind.
SCRIBNER ITEMS.
In the last issue of The Review there ap-
peared, on page 33, a detailed description
of the new "Metallochord." With it was
shown an illustration of the instrument.
Inadvertently, the picture was inverted. The
illustration as given below shows the cor-
rect position of the bars for playing. The
quality of tone. Second, I find the strings
supplied with the violins more durable than
those we formerly had. The saving of
strings for these boys is therefore very much
appreciated.
Brother Zephiriny,
Director.
St. Ann's Academy Orchestra, New York.
Jerome Thibouville-Lamy & Co., New York.
Gentlemen :
The set of instruments is giving per-
fect satisfaction in tune, tone and workman-
ship. We are to give our first concert to-
night and my entire Band of twenty mem-
bers join me in sending you their many
thanks for the fine set of instruments you
selected for them.
U. S. Scarbrough,
Director.
Citizens' Concert Band, Crowley, La.
VIOLIN SUPPORT.
THE MRTALLOCHORI), I'AT. MAY J, igOI.
Young people who are learning the vio-
lin will be interested to know that a device
has just been invented which is likely to
prove of much service to them. It is in
the form of a support for the arm, and it is
asserted that by its means the instrument
can be always held in an absolutely correct
position. The inventor is a distinguished
violinist, and the device is indorsed by Dr.
Laborde, a Paris physician, who thinks so
highly of it that he spoke in its favor a
few days ago before the French Academy
of Medicine.
The support consists of a semi-circle
which enfolds the lower part of the arm a
little above the elbow, and which is con-
nected with a belt that can be lengthened
or shortened according to the size of the
arm. Its main usefulness lies in the fact
that it prevents muscular fatigue, keeps the
shoulder in a proper position, and finally
gives the arm that power over the instru-
ment which it must have in order to produce
the best effects.
Dr. Laborde has thoroughly tested it, and
he maintains that young violin players who
use it will learn more quickly and more
easily than those who do not use it.
strokes are made from left to right, the use
of one hand only being necesary. .
Frank Scribner desires to have it clearly
pointed out to those who are interested that
each instrument is packed in a box, with
hammer, music rack and six pieces of mu-
sic, and can be retailed at $1.25.
The well-known inventor and manufac-
turer of harmonicas, Christian Weiss, Jr.,
whose general agent for this country is
Frank Scribner, of 415 Broadway, has com-
menced suit against Adolph Strauss & Co.,
of this city, for alleged infringement of the
Weiss patent on harmonicas. This patent
covers the "Clarion" harmonica, having
One of the biggest hits this season among
pipes over the reeds, sold by Mr. Scribner, musical compositions is the "Amicizia," al-
and is the patent referred to by Judge Coxe ready known and quoted as the "king of
in his opinion in the case recently decided marches." The composer is W. Paris Cham-
by him. The suit has been brought in the bers, whose compositions are sufficiently
United States Circuit Court to restrain the numerous to fill a large volume. The "Ami-
infringement of the patent and from an in- cizia" march is being played throughout the
junction and damages. Mr. Scribner in- series of park concerts in this city and has
formed The Review on Monday that all found great favor among the people. Mr.
infringers of the patent will be held strict- Chambers, who is the New York agent for
. C. G. Conn, is his own publisher.
ly accountable.
The retail music dealers have learned that
PRAISES THIBOUVILLE-LAMY.
the Columbia zither is a most profitable ac-
quisition to their line.
Among recent testimonials received at the
New York offices and warerooms of J. Thi-
bouville-Lamy & Co. are the following:
Messrs. J. Thibouville-Lamy & Co.,
L. Duchatellier, Agent, New York.
Dear Sirs:—All the stringed instruments
now in use in St. Ann's Academy Orchestra
come from your firm, and since they were
'introduced we have noticed some improve-
ments. First, they have a better quality of
tone, although they are cheaper in price than
those we formerly bought from another firm
before being acquainted with yours, and the
result is that the tout ensemble of the or-
chestra is a much better one as regards its