Scan 32
Musical Courier 1895-06-05: Vol 30 Iss 796, 1895
93 lines. Read by computer on 23 September 2026, twice; the two readings disagreed in places. Printed page 33. See the scan on archive.org.
1loose and so on. The possibility of such atmospheric conditions may enable the reader to appreciate the fate of a certain mechanical piano—one with a handle—lately sent to an Arab chief, dwelling within a galvanized iron house in the heart of the Kouba-el-Khali Desert. A party of Europeans, out lion hunting from Aden, had succumbed during an expedition. The chief in question, Yussuff Bey, on examining their skeletons, came across a copy of the Transatlantic Oracle in the pocket of one of the deceased. Being a good linguist, Yussuff read the paragraph quoted in the earlier part of this article, and then he digested the advertisements. Impressed by one of the latter he tapped the nearest telegraph wire and cabled to Massachusetts for a "Mechanical Grand" with a crank. "I reckon," said he in Arabic, "that the piano will be all right so long as that darned palm tree which overshadows my roof lives."
3Little did he guess that the instrument ordered was cursed with a thirst quenchable only by means of an artesian well and a fire hose. Scarcely had his piano been installed a week than the palm tree withered. The chief then tethered to a leg of the instrument his favorite camel. Before sunset, however, the entire reserve of moisture in that camel had been absorbed by the piano, and the animal died. Still determined to save the piano, Yussuff employed a Soumali gang to work the crank in relays; and as they ground out Händel's Water Music, Bennett's Mill Stream, Lake and Fountain; selections from Cherubini's Water Carrier, Pauer's Cascade, and Life on the Ocean Wave, the instrument revived in a wonderful manner. The improvement was, nevertheless, short lived. This insatiable machine contrived to actually absorb the water pieces note by note, so that no matter how quickly the crank was eventually turned no sound came. It was then that the burning sun beamed down with full force through the skylight overhead; and when the chief returned that night from a marauding expedition there was nothing left but a burnt frame, an assortment of black wire and a few ashes.
5It will of course be intelligible that a certain quantity of vapor must be comprised in a piano, made as it is of many heterogeneous materials. Of the wood alone it is said that the sap "contains large proportions of certain albuminous, glutinous, resinous and oleaginous compounds in a state of solution, and it is of these compounds that nature, in the growth of the tree, by her laws of heat and pressure, in the course of time gradually creates the hard, sound and fibrous portion of the wood." Although, then, in a humid climate it is essential to keep a piano dry, an instrument situated in a desert requires, especially when a sirocco is blowing, moisture near at hand to compensate for the evaporation going on. As the rate of such evaporation would be increased with the velocity of the wind, it is well, even in the Sahara, to keep your piano out of a draught. The rate at which evaporation takes place depends upon the temperature, the size of the piano and the facility with which the gaseous particles can escape by diffusion through the air, or, as already noted, by the motion of the air itself.
7In hot, dry climates, evaporation may perhaps be indicated only by the presence of bubbles or blisters on the surface of an instrument. Experiments, at all events, as to the rate of evaporation in dry inland States where plants are needed, could best be executed by firms who stock 300 or 400 pianos. Thus, if 400 pianos be inclosed in a condensing machine during the four hottest hours of a summer's day, the total of liquid exuded divided by 400 would represent an average quantity of moisture required by each piano, which quantity should be multiplied by four, to allow for loss during the necessary filtration through the mold, the root, and the journey up the stem to the extremity of the leaves of each plant before being given off.
9It will be suggested perhaps that the exhalations of all plants cannot be equally suitable for the nourishment of pianos; little nutriment, for instance, could be given forth by dried up vegetation, such as the Alpine Edelweiss. But this introduces a fresh phase of the question. It is sufficient to show in one article that piano sellers resident in arid localities must be prepared in the not far distant future to add the study of botany to other business bothers. As well as polished pianos, such gentlemen will have to keep themselves posted up in the market prices of "potted plants" to be included possibly in the price of a piano in addition to free tunings. Happily piano dealers in Great Britain, thanks to our much maligned climate, are not likely to be troubled with plant keeping this side of the millennium. They can therefore afford to commiserate with the trade on the other side of the Atlantic.—A. S. R., Piano, Organ and Music Journal.
11The Old Standard—The Old Reliable
12MARTIN GUITARS.
131833. Manufactured by C. F. Martin & Co. 1895.
14NO CONNECTION WITH ANY OTHER HOUSE OF THE SAME NAME.
16For over sixty years the MARTIN GUITARS were and are still the only reliable instruments used by all first-class Professors and Amateurs throughout the country. They enjoy a world-wide reputation, and testimonials could be added from the best Solo Players ever known, such as
17MADAME DE GONI, MR. WM. SCHUBERT, MR. S. DE LA COVA,
18MR. J. P. COUPA, MR. FERRER, MR. CHAS. DE JANON,
19MR. H. WORRELL, MR. N. J. LEKPOWSKI, MR. LUIS T. ROMERO,
20MR. N. W. GOULD,
21and many others, but we deem it unnecessary to do so, as the public is well aware of the superior merits of the MARTIN GUITARS. Parties have in vain tried to imitate them, not only here in the United States, but also in Europe. They still stand this day without a rival, notwithstanding all attempts to puff up inferior and unreliable guitars.
23Depot at C. A. ZOEBISCH & SONS, 19 Murray St., near Broadway, NEW YORK.
24Importers of all kinds of Musical Instruments, Strings, Etc.
26Highest and Special Award, World's Columbian Exposition, 1893.
28CARL FISCHER,
296 & 8 Fourth Ave., New York,
30Sole Agent for the United States for the famous
31F. BESSON & CO.,
32LONDON, ENGLAND.
34Prototype Band Instruments, the easiest blowing and most perfect instruments made.
35Band and Orchestra Music, both foreign and Domestic, made a specialty of, and for its completeness in this line artistic and musical instruments my house stands unapproached in this country. Catalogues will be cheerfully furnished upon application.
36Musical Merchandise Department, wholesale and retail, complete in all its appointments.
37Everything is imported and purchased direct, and greatest care is exercised to procure goods of the finest quality. All Musical Instruments and Strings are selected from the best quality obtainable.
38Some of the many Specialties I Represent: E. RITTERSHAUSEN (Berlin), Boehm System Flutes; COLLIN-MEZZIN, Paris, Celebrated Violins, Violas and 'Cellos; BUFFET PARIS (Evette & Saeffer), Reed Instruments; CHAS. BARIN and SUSS celebrated Violin Bows. one of two readings
39Some of the many Specialties I Represent: E. RITTERSHAUSEN (Berlin), Boehm System Flutes; COLLIN-MEZZIN, Paris, Celebrated Violins, Violas and 'Cellos; BUFFET PARIS (Evette & Shaeffer), Reed Instruments; CHAS. BARIN and SUSS celebrated Violin Bows. one of two readings
41WASLE & CO.,
42MANUFACTURERS OF
43GRAND, SQUARE AND UPRIGHT
44Piano Actions and Keys,
45175 & 177 HESTER ST., NEW YORK.
46COR. MOTT ST.
48S. S. STEWART, Manufacturer of FINE BANJOS.
49Publisher of BANJO MUSIC and BOOKS.
50Also the "BANJO AND GUITAR JOURNAL."
51SEND FOR CATALOGUE.
52STORE AND FACTORY:
53221 & 223 CHURCH ST., PHILADELPHIA, PA.
55HARRY COLEMAN,
56912 & 914 Race Street,
57PHILADELPHIA, PA.,
58Manufacturer of the
59MISSENHARTER
60… AMERICAN
61Excelsior
62Solo and Military
63Band Instruments.
64Are used by the greatest artists in the profession, who recommend them as being well constructed, correct in tune, easy to play, beautiful in tone, elegant in model.
65Sole Agent for the Celebrated Bertling Clarinets, Flutes, Piccolo, and both Boehm and Ordinary System.
67THE CELEBRATED GORDON GUITAR.
68FROM $8.00 TO $60.00.
69* one of two readings
70(no line here) one of two readings
71Send for Illustrated Catalogue.
72* one of two readings
73(no line here) one of two readings
74The Leading Teachers and Artists are using the
75GORDON GUITAR.
76HAMILTON S. GORDON, 139 Fifth Ave., New York.
78OLSON & COMSTOCK CO.,
79MANUFACTURERS OF
80Piano Stools and Scarfs,
81PIANO CASES
82Carroll Avenue and Union Park Place,
83CHICAGO, ILL.
85PIANO CHAIRS
86and STOOLS.
87The Davis Chair Company,
88MANUFACTURERS OF
89THE ONLY
90PERFECT SPRING BACK CHAIR.
91Guaranteed to give complete satisfaction to professor or student. New designs in Piano Stools. Best finish. Sample order solicited. Cuts and prices on application.
92MARYSVILLE, OHIO, U. S. A.
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