Music Trade Review

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE:
MUSIC
TRADE:
REIVIEIW
UNDER WHICH FLAG ARE YOU?
T shall, therefore, be our purpose as the fight advances to arouse
and stimulate serious thought in this greatest peril of the hour.
We are not saying that our friends are thieves and rascals, but
Edna: "I wish nature had made me a man!" Delia: "Possibly she
has, dear. Don't get discouraged!"
we are saying unqualifiedly that they are engaging in practices
which are not in accordance with good business ethics and in the
Willie: "Pa, why is it the great writers and poets always refer to
end they will ruin the entire industry if the plan permitted is to
peace as 'sweet peace'?" Pa: "I suppose it is because peace should
go on unchecked.
always be preserved, my son."
By what measure shall we reckon the standard of pianos in the
Lord Churchmouse: "That horse I had of you is all right, but he
future if this scheme craze continues to thrive ?
doesn't hold his head high enough." Dealer: "Oh, that's pride, m'lud.
It will be simply a question of how many gift offerings and
'E'll 'old it up wen 'e's paid for."
coupons will be delivered.
The names will not amount to much and the bulwarks of the
CONGRESS SLOW TO ANGER.—Under our constitution, Congress
industry will have been destroyed.
alone has the right to declare war. That, perhaps, is why the big trusts
never get really scared.—-Washington Herald.
Now, every manufacturer and every dealer is interested deeply
in this matter and it cannot be whitewashed by the passage of reso-
"What is this peculiar key on your typewriter? I never saw it on
lutions at any trade convention.
any before." "Hist! My own invention. Whenever you can't spell a
It must be stamped out by active measures on the part of those
word you press this key and it makes a blur."
who are opposed to it. There is no other way.
If by argument it can be shown that these schemes are legiti-
"Father," said little Rollo, "what is appendicitis?" "My son," an-
swered the cynical parent, "appendicitis is something that enables a good
mate and inure to the best interests of the trade, then all dealers
doctor to open up a man's anatomy and remove his entire bank account."
should engage in the practice.
None should be left out.
"Is he what you would call a first class newspaper man?" "I should
Why should the good things be enjoyed by a few?
say so. When the 'end-of-the-world' scare was at its height he had two
Now, if it is right for one dealer it is right for all and we wish
editorials written—one to publish if it did come off, the other if it didn't. 1 '
to throw open our columns to a discussion upon this subject.
"It was to gratify your extravagant tastes," cried the desperate man,
If any man has anything to say either in favor or opposed to
"that I committed the forgery! The crime is upon your head!" The
the plans which are known under the generic term as "coupon
woman started and gazed at him wonderingly. "Is my crime on straight?"
schemes" he can have space in our paper to exploit his theories.
she asked.
It is by argument that we propose to draw out the best thought
The Teacher (reading): "'Then the girl-warrior faced the mocking
in the industry and, as the season develops, we shall probably be
foe and unsheathed her deadly weapon.' What does that mean, children?
able to suggest ways and means later on.
Well, Elvira?" Elvira: "Please ma'am, I think it means she stuck out
Just now the fight is only beginning.
her tongue."
• Some members of the music trade in this city are becoming
keenly alive to the discrediting effect of piano contest schemes and
DEFEATING THE ENDS OF SPORT.—Policeman—Stop thief! Ar-
rest him! Stop him!
seven of the New York papers have refused to publish advertise-
Athletic Crank—Stop him? I guess not! Why, he's breaking the
ments embodying the contest offers, so the Minneapolis idea is tak-
hundred-yard
record into bits!—Puck.
ing root in our midst, and why should it not elsewhere.
Why should not the members of the local trade present these
PACED TOO RAPIDLY.—"Waiter, ask the orchestra to play some-
facts forcibly to the papers in their home cities?
thing different."
We must fight to preserve the confidence of the public in piano
"Any particular selection, sir?"
"Something slower. I can't chew my food properly in waltz time."—
value, for once that is lost it will take a long time and hard work
Kansas City Journal.
to regain it.
• There will not be nearly as many pianos sold with confidence
The Lady—I want a hat for my husband, please, but I've no idea
destroyed, and it behooves every man who is interested in piano sell-
what size he takes.
ing' to exercise exceeding caution before entering into any move
The Shop Assistant—I should say about twelve and a half, madam.
Gents who have their hats chosen by their wives usually take about that
which smacks of misrepresentation or which lays him open to the
size.—The Sketch.
accusation of faking to make sales.
We are interested in preserving the integrity, the honesty and
A young man of limited means, after the marriage ceremony, pre-
the stability of piano selling, and this cannot be held if we are to get
sented to the minister a handful of coppers, all spread out on the palm
our heads so filled with wheels regarding scheme systems that we
of his right hand. "This is all I've got, parson," he said. Seeing a dis-
appointed look in the minister's face, he added, "If we have any children,
stray from the old beaten path of honest merchandising.
I
we will send them to your Sunday-school."
R
EALLY Caruso did not need the advertising which he is get-
ting.
He is drawing enough royalties from the Victor Talking
Machine Co. and from the operatic management to live on com-
fortably.
There are thrills enough in his voice without investing his
public appearance with the added thrill of danger.
His predicament gives-the public a new sensation. Heretofore
it has learned of Black Hand projects only in the denouement. The
plot has not thickened in its very presence. Now the singing of the
great Italian takes on the character of an ordeal suffered before all
men.
Let it be said to' this golden tenor's credit that while he may
quail in a San Francisco earthquake he keeps his nerve and the pitch
when mere human terrors assail him. He may be "annoyed." He
is not scared.
T
HE Chantecler influence is already dominant in a large num-
ber of merchandise lines, but we have not as yet heard of any
piano manufacturer putting forth the Chantecler brand.
We know of some, however, that have been doing considerable
crowing of late and possibly the name may develop later on.
Girl Student: "I have an essay to write. I do so wish you'd give
me a few hints." Eminent Editor: "The first thing is to get full of
your subject." Girl Student (doubtfully): "Y-es." Eminent Editor:
"If you fairly saturate yourself with it, the essay will, so to speak,
write itself." Girl Student: "I'm afraid it wouldn't." Eminent Editor:
"What have you to write about?" Girl Student: "Alcohol—in health and
disease.
Mrs. Brown: "I used to be so fond of fiction before I was married."
Mrs. Smith: "And you don't read much now?" Mrs. Brown: "No;
after the tales my husband tells me about why he is late getting home,
mere printed fiction seems so tame and unimaginative."
"I am going to embark in some sort of business, and want to know
whether you think there is much money in moving pictures?" "There
was for a fellow who moved a half-dozen of ours," said the flat dweller.
"He charged us ten dollars."
LESSON FROM THE PAST.—Hercules had just refused an offer of
$500 a week to do a turn in vaudeville as the Strongest Man on Earth.
"There's more money in going on the road with a partner and giving
fake wrestling matches," he said.
But this scheme fell through on account of a wrangle over the
prospective profits from the moving pictures, and Hercules, with no job
and no prospect- of any r was.~forced to go cleaning stables for a living,—
Chicago Tribune.