Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
engaged in the retail industry in this trade impressions which they
have formed regarding the relative grade of certain instruments.
Goethe, of superb mentality, was famous for his skill in skating.
Byron was a great swimmer. The most remarkable man of modern
The task of new comers in the industry who desire to associate
times, John D. Rockefeller, enjoys relaxation by indulging in golf.
themselves with the production of an artistic product is sometimes
W. W. Kimball, full of years and honors, who has built the largest
easier than an attempt by others to build up a reputation for lea-
piano factory on earth, also indulges in golfing.
dership by acknowledged improvements.
The opinion of the trade
Outdoor sports not only benefit the student, professional and
and public has been formed, and once made it is difficult to
business man, because of the exercise they give the body, but be-
remove.
cause of the recreation they give the mind, for monotony means
Last week a prominent dealer of New Orleans was in town,
and while in The Review offices referred to the fact that the im-
pression created by the adoption of a certain device by a well known
firm some twenty years ago—which turned out to be an utter failure
—was still working an injury to the reputation of that instrument
the destruction of the brain.
'"T"*HE plain figures and one price system must tell.
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The plain
people, as Lincoln used to call them, appreciate confidence
and frankness on the part of the merchant whom they visit for the
purposes of investigation and probable purchase.
in his locality.
The one price, plain figure will succeed. We have never known
T T H E interest clause is becoming more and more dominant in
piano sales, its introduction being insisted upon in more
a dealer to revert to the antiquated system of doing business-
who has once given the one price plan a fair trial.
In fact we
can name a number of firms who by an adherence to this policy
cases than ever before.
When credit is
have done the most satisfactory business in their careers after the
extended to a customer he is receiving the actual equivalent of
adoption of one price and these prices marked in plain figures
money, and why not insist upon his paying for the use of that
upon their instruments.
Why is this not good sound common sense?
property?
Sound business reasoning that!
It is in line with modern business policy.
A number of dealers have advised us lately that they have in-
Everything marked at its
lowest real value in plain figures and then no deviation from those
sisted upon the interest clause, and are well satisfied with the
figures.
results.
H P H E R E is certainly plenty of opportunity for aggressive work
I T is true that this is the age of specialism, but on account of the
along Association lines, local and national, in order to
*• specialist giving himself no rest, there are a number of ailments
make organizations more thoroughly representative and therefore
constantly developing which are traceable directly to a continual
more influential in promoting the interests of the trade.
strain upon the mind without recreation.
tive as is the call for an increase in membership of these associa-
Impera-
And a continual strain upon a man's mind which is turned in
tions there is good reason for insisting on the loyalty—perhaps
one direction is bound to bring about unhappy results unless there
we should say the necessity of securing the constant interest of the
is some kind of a relaxation. Concentration is the secret of success,
members in association work, and utilizing their co-operation in
but continual concentration upon one subject is sure to bring about
carrying it on.
Frequently after the adjournment of what presumably was a
brain destruction.
OMETIMES it is remarkable that more musicians and actors
are not insane, for rarely do we find one engaged in either
profession who can be induced to speak five consecutive minutes on
stimulating and profitable meeting there has been little to remind
the member of his identification with an association, except per-
haps a bill for dues and the notice of another annual gathering.
any subject but in connection with music or the stage. If we insist
T T is not strange that some lose interest in the association move-
upon introducing other topics of conversation we are made to rea-
*
ment.
The fact that so many retain their membership in or-
lize that, we are talking to deaf ears and to absent minds. We may
ganizations is an evidence of -the strength of their attachment to
be listened to with a polite air of tolerance, but we can easily
association work.
detect that the minds are elsewhere.
It is hardly the same with specialists in other lines, because
There is, however, an imperative necessity for association ac-
tivities between meetings.
How this desirable end is to be attained
while the man may be a specialist in business, he is constantly
is not an open question.
The answer will depend largely upon the
thrown in contact with men, and in discussions that follow his
special circumstances in each association, and the ingenuity, energy
mental horizon naturallv becomes broadened.
and enthusiasm of those in charge of its interests.
The work of an association should be so organized, and the
power of concentration
does not mean the continual
methods of working so devised that the member whether in the stir
Tt means the ability to focus the
and business pressure in an important town or in the comparative
To have a life purpose and a specialty is de-
seclusion of a store widely separated from the great currents of
sirable, but to have no recreation for the mind outside of that spe-
commercial life, should realize that he is connected with an active
cialty is death and destruction.
organization, and he is doing something to aid it in carrying out
" T ^ H E greatest people in the history of the world, it will be found,
its plans for the improvements of trade conditions.
thought on one subject.
mind on any subject.
have known how to be frivolous and how to drop the one
The field is indeed so large and interesting that there is
thought that has distinguished them for others which gave that
abundant opportunity for activities which will make the members
part of the brain repose and brought another set of cells into
realize that they are connected with live organizations which are
activity.
working practically for the betterment of the trade.
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