Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE
forward men and corporations? Such men are unworthy to bear
the title of journalists. They are using an honorable title as a mask
when wielding the bludgeon of the thug. It is, however, pleasing
to say that blackguard journalism does not exist in any industry
save in isolated cases, but unfortunately the last vestige is not
entirely swept out of music trade journalism, although it is known
that the kind of hold-up metho'ds no longer obtain to any great
degree. But it should be wholly extinguished, and it can be if
right methods are adopted. During the past few months there has
been a fixed purpose on the part of the chief exponent of black-
guardly music trade journalism to attack certain leading houses in
this industry. Carefully worded phrases, innuendos and cunningly
concocted slurs have been arranged in a manner with the hope of
producing an absolute surrender on the part of those who have
been attacked. However, there has been no surrender, nor will
there be, and the most amazing part of this whole proposition is that
any business firm should directly furnish a support to such a black-
guard by placing patronage in his paper, and without their
support he could not exist. It is inconceivable that business men
in 1908 should tolerate the presence of a miscreant who has exuded
a poison more deadly than that of the upas tree for more than a
quarter of a century. The only way to treat a man who adopts
blackmailing methods is to kick him out of business offices. Throw
out the men who represent him, because they are in sympathy with
his methods, else they would resign. Withdraw patronage from
them. Then they will come around like whining curs and will be
ready to grovel in the dust before their superiors.
HE demand for pianos in grand form is steadily increasing and
X
piano producing institutions which have made a specialty of
grands have been well rewarded in their efforts along the lines of
grand expansion. Take the house of Chickering for instance. We
all recall what a tremendous success was won by the Chickering
Quarter grand almost immediately upon its introduction to the
trade. Its graceful lines won applause from critics and this was
only the inceptive of a new grand era for the Chickering institution.
Then even a smaller grand was produced, so that every grand type
from that colloquially termed "infant grand" straight up to the most
imposing grand pianos created was included in the Chickering line.
In this connection it is well to state that before a Chickering grand
piano is ever put forth for trade criticism it has first undergone
the most severe tests in the experimental rooms of the factory.
Because these severe tests are applied and because experiments
which make for piano betterment never cease within the walls of
the Chickering factory, is one of the reasons why Chickering
grands have won such a universal praise. When the grand product
•.erf a piano concern exceeds that of its upright in annual output it
surely must be said that it has reached success in the'development
of grand pianos. And while they have been placing emphasis upon
grands the forces directing the Chickering institution have not
halted in their endeavors to improve their upright creations wher-
ever possible. Some of the most recent styles of Chickering uprights
have been mdst warmly received by trade critics.
D
V
URING the past few years the standard of commercial ad-
vertising has been raised to a remarkable degree. There
was a time when the average advertiser was satisfied with the work
of some amateur artist whose efforts he managed to pick up at a
nominal price. To-day, however, there are retail houses whose art
censorship compares favorably with that exercised by high-class
magazines. Some of our largest department stores have a corps
of experts and as a result their advertising always appears in an
attractive form. Of course it would not pay manufacturers in a
special industry to have a staff of advertising experts unless the
business was a very large one; yet the fact to be borne in mind at
all times is that the more artistic the advertising the more attention
it attracts, if placed in the proper mediums. There are plenty of
advertising experts who can be employed at nominal figures and
manufacturers and merchants should see to it that no sloppy adver-
tising of pianos or musical instruments is put forth. Good art in
advertising pays. This has been proven beyond the slightest shadow
of doubt and it should be the aim of every advertising man in the
music trade to use only illustrations that will reflect the good taste
and refinement he naturally desires to have identified with a.
product.
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REVIEW
IN LIGHTER VEIN
No man who has borrowed from his employer's money drawer ever
paid up in full.
Fortune is not likely to bother the man who isn't ready to seize
the opportunity when it presents itself.
Tardiness may do in society, but it don't fit in business. Be prompt
and above all be prompt in the morning.
Politeness should not begin with the customer who spends a dollar
cr $5, but with anyone who enters the door of the store.
To unload a poor piano upon a confiding customer who desires a
good piano is a crime. To brag about it afterwards is adding to crime.
Bluff may be popular and successful as a means of winning at poker,
but as a business making quality it doesn't stand particularly well.
Don't go around with a chip on your shoulder. The man who is per-
petually looking for trouble generally is successful in finding what he
is seeking.
There is a powerful lot of difference between sticking to a thing
until you succeed and being so pigheaded that you will never admit that
you are wrong and change before it is too late.
Contentment is a good thing, but sometimes it's too much of a good
thing. It does not pay the business man to be contented because that
after a while may lead to a form of trade degeneracy.
"Are you guilty or not guilty?" asked the magistrate of the man
accused of theft.
"What's the use o' me sayin' 'not guilty?' I said that last time an' you
wouldn't b'lieve me."
Miss Scraper.—Did you see that old man crying while I was playing
my sonata?
Friend—Yes. He said your playing reminded him of old happy days.
Miss Scraper—'What was he, a violinist?
Friend—No; he was a piano tuner.
A BARGAIN.—"What!" exclaimed the husband. "You drew your
savings from the bank, went to a broker's office, and bought Z., X. and Y.
stock at 14, when it has been dropping like a rock?"
"But, my dear," argued the wife. "It was such a bargain. Why,
during the short time I was in the office I saw the man mark it down
to 14 from 45!"
POLITICAL ECONOMY.—"My choice of candidates for next year,"
said the copy reader, "is Taft, Root, Shaw or Knox. I don't care which
they nominate, but I want one of the four."
"Why?" demanded the foreman of the proof-room.
"Because," thundered the copy reader, "I can work one of those names
into a headline a blamed sight easier than 'Fairbanks' or 'Hughes!'"
ABOUT TIME.—At last the drammer recognizes the importance of
the toiler, as witness the following:
"Nellie, the Beautiful Cloak Model."
"Edna, the Pretty Typewriter."
"Bertha, the Poor Sewing Machine Girl."
"Elaine, the Elegant Cook Lady."
Others in preparation.
Did you ever notice how a piper prances up and down as he pipes?
He never sits, he never stands still, but up and down, round and round,
to and fro, he struts continually. A little boy, listening to the weird skirl
of the bagpipes of a street performer, once said to his father: "Father,
why does the piper keep on the move all the time he plays?" "I can't
say, my boy," the father answered, "unless it is to prevent anyone getting
the range with a cobblestone."
ACTING THE PART.—The curtain had just gone down on the second
act, leaving the heroine in the villain's clutches. Up in the balcony a
sentimental woman burst into tears.
"Don't cry, dear," said her husband. "Remember, it's only a play.
Act like a man!"
"Very well, John," said the lady, smiling through her tears. "You'll
excuse me for a moment, won't you? I must run out and send a telegram."
WANTED IT SUPPRESSED.—"John," said Mrs. Lighthead to her
husband as that gentleman settled down to his evening meal, "I have
been corresponding with authorities on the subject, and I find I am
descended from some of the oldest families in the country."
"What good is that going to do us?" asked the piano dealer en-
quiringly.
"Why, I think it is perfectly lovely to be well connected!"
"Maybe it is, but don't tell the grocer. He is charging us enough
for everything as it is."