Music Trade Review

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
MUSIC TRADE
indifferent, but now there is a deep interest in the subject,
and there is more knowledge of it arising from the study
of finances and the people through their experience re-
alize that there must be some additional safeguard. The
well informed men believe that the safeguard will be supplied
in the new currency bill, and certainly it enables the banks now to
prevent a recurrence of the money panic which existed in this
country last fall. The fear of that once removed will help mater-
ially to restore confidence. It should help every piano man through-
out this country and be a powerful aid and stimulus to business
L
O
ET the doctrine of optimism be intelligently spread through-
out the land, and let us all aid in the complete restoration of
confidence.
NE of the best indications that the music trade of this country
has in a large degree thrown off the thraldom of abusive
trade journalism is evidenced in the fact that the principal violator
of piano peace and the most pronounced exponent of unclean jour-
nalism has steadily declined in strength and influence. The ousting
of the abusive sheet from its vantage ground of by-gone years shows
how the music trade has strengthened itself against the attacks of
venal journalism during the past decade. Ten years ago a cold
shiver would run down the backs of certain members of the trade
when the decadent journalist cracked his whip. They did not know
who was next in line to be attacked, to feel the sting of the lash,
and it was easier to come to an "understanding" than to submit
to continuous and perverted attacks. There was no denying the fact
that there were many men in this industry who feared that kind of
journalism which has always fattened upon the weaknesses of men.
It must be admitted that the growth of clean trade journalism acted
as a powerful repellant force against the form of journalism which
had so long terrorized manufacturers. When the reputable papers
became stronger as a natural sequence the hold-up papers became
weaker. Manufacturers found in the straightforward journals
exponents which commanded the respect and were entitled to the
support of the trade. As a result the honestly conducted papers
were destined to grow stronger while the journals that adhered to
the hold-up methods of old could only grow weaker from every
view point. Year by year they lost their influence until to-day the
chief exponent o'f the abusive form of journalism is tottering well
down the line. A complete extinguishment in this case is not ex-
pected and from time to time we may expect that there will be
sporadic campaigns of abuse carried on. all of which shows that
the leopard never changes his spots, and that that form of journal-
ism dies hard.
There are few concerns to-day that will walk up to the cap-
tain's office and settle as in days agone. They know full well that
a paper without a reputation—without character, has no influence,
and whether its columns contain praise or defamation it amounts to
one and the same thing. A limited number of readers only occasion-
ally turn the pages of a paper to' see who is next in line of attack,
and in so doing are actuated purely by curiosity.
T
\
HE intelligent members of the trade know the utterances of a
paper of unclean history have no power in moulding trade opin-
ion on any particular subject. Such papers may devote columns upon
columns to abuse of such great houses as the Aeolian Co., and others
and their ravings fall as harmless as the popping of a pea shooter
against an iron clad. The only effect is to have the one who insti-
gates such attacks sink still lower in the mire, and if it were possible,
still further down in trade estimation, an object of derision and
scorn. The wdnder grows how any business man can willingly
• support any kind of a trade journal which indulges in malignant
abuse of competitors. Such a policy to-day is an insult to the in-
telligence of the industry and any man who indulges in it should
be unceremoniously kicked out of every decent music trade estab-
lishment. In no other trade would such conditions be tolerated,
and while we boast about the beauties of the music trade industry
we permit a form of journalism to fatten upon the vitals of the
industry for many years and to'-day are allowing, partly through
fear and partly through good nature, a sustaining substance to be
extracted from this trade. In other words, in a limited form to-day
we are still paying a premium on journalistic dishonesty. Can any
intelligent man believe that any trade paper with a blackened record
can mould in the slightest degree trade opinion upon any particular
instrument? To believe it is to further insult the intelligence of an
industry in which honesty and integrity m a d a m s an important part.
REVIEW
POSITIVE CURB FOR SEASICKNESS.—Remain on dry land.
What is that about a stream of opportunities going by? Let us look
for the stream.
The heat has pretty effectually knocked out business during the past
week.
"Your wife doesn't sing now. Did she lose her voice?"
"No, she found her senses."
s
Reprove a salesman as quickly for an error in your favor as for one
in favor of a customer.
A THOUGHTFUL FAMILY.—"Does your father know I love you?"
"No. Papa isn't very well, and we've kept it from him."
The National Association of Talking Machine Jobbers had a warm
time at Atlantic City this week, and that's no joke.
'
HER LITTLE SLIP.—Departing Guest—We've had a simply de-
lightful time.
Hostess—I'm so glad. At the same time I regret that the storm kept
alJ of our best people away.
A NEAR DANGER.—He—I would like to get next to Gladys to-day.
She—You had better not.
He—Why not?
She—Because she is beside herself.
A REAL FIGHT.—Subbubs—My wife and I were discussing house-
hold affairs the other night, and we got into a regular fight.
Citiman—Really, you don't mean it?
Subbubs—Yes, the servant girl overheard us.
THE DIFFERENCE.—"Young men are not as earnest as they were
in our day," said the reminiscent citizen.
"No," answered Mr. Sirius Barker. "Instead of burning the midnight
oil they put in all their time exploding gasoline."
When you find an alleged journalist who is pounding individuals in
any particular industry, you can make up your mind that he has not
made a success of his profession, and, better still, he has chosen a wrong
vocation. He should have been in with men of burglarious intent.
BLESSING FREE.—"And will you give us your blessing?" asked the
eloping bride, returning to the parental, roof.
"Freely," replied the old man. "No trouble about the blessing, but
board and lodging will be at regular rates."
TIME IN A TAXICAB.—Cleverton (who has hired a taximeter cab
to propose in)—Say "Yes," darling.
Miss Calumet—Give me time to think.
"Heavens! But not in here! Consider the expense!"
X-RAIMENT.—"Look at Miss Perlmutter's X-raiment; isn't it ex-
quisite?"
"What do you mean by her X-raiment?"
"Hang it, man, can't you see through it? Ain't you got no eyes?"
SUCCESSFUL SPECULATION.—"Did you ever make any money in
stocks?" asked the gloomy optimist.
"Yes," answered the cheerful pessimist, "I made a thousand dollars
last week when I thought of buying 100 shares on margin, but didn't."
A MODERN SONG-POEM.
When evening gilds the western sky and all have gone to rest,
When cares have fled and fancy roams afar,
I live again that night I held you fondly to my breast,
And doing so I broke my last cigar.
SHE KNEW HIM.—"Mrs. Kutely has finally convinced her husband
that it's sinful to play golf, especially on Sunday."
"Why, she plays herself."
"Exactly, and that was the only way she could induce her husband
to play with her."
ONLY VOLUNTARILY INERT.—Lawyer—The defendant in this
case is a lazy, worthless fellow, isn't he?
Witness—Well, sir, I don't want to do the man an injustice. I won't
go so far as to say he's lazy, but if it required any voluntary work on
his part to digest his victuals he would have died of a lack of nourish-
ment fifteen years ago.
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.—Self-control is being able to cuss
before the children without letting them hear it.
A mother ip always afraid that her child's mind is so active it will
stunt its body.
The reason more men don't sleep during the sermon is the pews
are so uncomfortable.
A girl always has an idea that if she knew any dukes most of them
would want to marry her.
The worst about women talking scandal is not what they do that
way, but the things at home they neglect while they are doing it.