Scan 42
Musical Courier 1896-03-04: Vol 32 Iss 835, 1896
131 lines. Read by computer on 20 September 2026. Printed page 41. See the scan on archive.org.
1BOSTON OFFICE THE MUSICAL COURIER, 17 Beacon Street, February 29, 1896.
3THE funeral services of the late John N. Merrill were held at his house in Winchester on Wednesday morning at about 9:30 o'clock, friends from the city taking the train leaving at 8:30. The service was conducted by the Rev. Mr. Newton, pastor of the Congregational Church of Winchester, where Mr. Merrill was in the habit of attending each Sunday, as he owned a pew in the church.
5During the services the Weber Quartet sang the hymns Lead, Kindly Light, Abide with Me, and Nearer, My God, to Thee. After reading a selection from the Bible, Mr. Newton delivered an extemporaneous address, in which he paid a high tribute to the many noble qualities of Mr. Merrill's character, eulogizing his life both in its domestic and business relations, alluding most feelingly to the sudden shock of sorrow to family and friends. A short prayer closed the service, after which the many friends and acquaintances took a last leave of the deceased. The immediate family, with near friends and Masonic delegation, went at once to Lawrence, where the burial took place with Masonic ceremonies at the grave, the Rev. Mr. McDonald, of the Warren Street Baptist Church, a lifetime friend, making a final prayer.
7There were quantities of flowers everywhere in the rooms, the casket being almost hidden with lilies, pinks and palms, while the piano was a mass of blossoms, a few white roses on the keys, a large spray of pink roses on the front, and big bunches of pinks, roses and lilies on the top. Very handsome pieces were sent by Mr. Karl Fink, of New York, and Mr. and Mrs. Handel Pond, of Winchester, a large pillow by the employees of the factory, a cross and crown by the employees of the wareroom.
9Other beautiful arrangements of flowers were received from Mr. Theodore Brown and Mr. Andrew Hammond, of Worcester; Cook & Son, De Molay Commandery, Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Richards, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. A. Browning, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. E. Sherburne, and Mr. and Mrs. Jas. W. Rawlings, of Boston; Mr. and Mrs Jack Haynes, of New York; Dr. F. M. Kennedy and Mr. Ch. H. Merrill, Lawrence; Mr. and Mrs. F. Cutler, Mrs. Treat, Mr. and Mrs. John Tucker and Mr. John Lufkin, of Winchester; Rev. Mr. and Mrs. McDonald, Brookline; Mr. and Mrs. Henry W. Hall, Burlington, Vt.; Mrs. N. G. Clark, West Roxbury; Mr. and Mrs. Burton Todd, Winchester.
11Among those present were Mr. Karl Fink, Mr. Otto Wessell and Mr. Jack Haynes, New York; Mr. Fred Baumer, Wheeling, W. Va.; Mr. R. S. Brown, Salem; Mr. C. S. Thomson, Marlboro; Mr. F. Langton, Ashland, Pa.; Mr. D. A. Barber, Cambridge; Mr. D. E. McKee, Mr. C. E. Lewis, Mr. O. Lundin, Mr. Wm. H. Cook, Mr. Chandler W. Smith, Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Richards, Mr. and Mrs. Handel Pond, Mr. F. M. Wallace, Mr. Wm. C. Brooks, Mr. Wm. Berry, Mr. John McLaughlin, Mr. Young, Mr. Hill, Mr. Gardiner, Mr. Childs, Mr. Geo. H. Ash, Mr. H. C. Brown and Mr. Chas. Sherburne.
13Mr. Merrill's mother, who is an invalid and spends eight months of the year in Florida, could not be present, and his sister was also too ill to attend the funeral.
15Mrs. Merrill will close her house at Winchester and make her home with her father for the present.
17On Thursday a meeting of the Boston P. and O. Association was held in Steinert Hall, at which were present Mr. George H. Chickering, Mr. Handel Pond, Mr. Chas. E. Bourne, Mr. W. K. Basford, Mr. Fred Powers, Mr. Wm. Cook, Mr. Chandler W. Smith, Mr. F. D. Irish, Mr. Lon Dinsmore, Mr. H. F. Miller and Mr. A. Steinert.
19An informal discussion as to the duties devolving upon the piano trade of Boston, now that an association has been formed, resulted in Mr. Chandler W. Smith being appointed permanent secretary, with power to call meetings in the future when occasion requires.
21The following resolution was prepared for publication:
22A meeting of the association was held at Steinert Hall, February 27, to take action on the death of our valued associate and friend, Mr. John N. Merrill, who died of pneumonia after an illness of a few days.
24President George H. Chickering presided at the meeting. After many expressions of eulogy, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted:
25Resolved, That, while in the death of the late John N. Merrill, one of the youngest of the Boston piano manufacturers, we recognize the working of the Divine Will, the trade loses a man of the strictest integrity, and one who had the heartiest esteem and respect of his associates. We recognized in him a man of exceptional business ability, with a future of great promise. Taking a prominent place in the general interests of the trade at large, and representing the Boston Piano and Organ Association as one of its executive committee, his enterprise and good fellowship will be sadly missed.
27We tender to his family our warmest sympathy in this their time of affliction.
29We desire the secretary of this meeting to forward to the family of the deceased this expression of our feeling, and to furnish the same for publication in the daily papers.
31Committee: HENRY F. MILLER, ALEXANDER STEINERT, WILLIAM H. COOK.
33CHANDLER W. SMITH, Secretary.
35BOSTON, February 27, 1896.
37***
39The Ivers & Pond Piano Company has recently had a room fitted up in Turkish style that is very attractive. Rugs, portières, hangings of different kinds, all of Turkish design and make, are arranged most artistically, an Armenian firm having designed and carried out the scheme of decoration.
41The house will probably have another of the small rooms made into an ideal Japanese apartment soon.
43***
45The business of the Vose & Sons Piano Company is 25 per cent. better this year than last. The company has had a decided increase in business and feels much encouraged, as orders are coming in with great regularity.
47***
49Mr. E. S. Payson is on a trip to Virginia and North Carolina, but is expected back the early part of the week.
51***
53Norris & Hyde have just received a letter from their agent in Arizona telling of a sale of one of their transposing keyboard pianos to the Sisters' School of Tucson, and that one has also been ordered for the University of Arizona, at Phoenix.
55***
57A large number of people attended the concert in the Chickering factory on Thursday afternoon, when Miss Pond played.
59***
61Mr. Fred Baumer, who came to attend Mr. J. N. Merrill's funeral, returned home on Friday.
63***
65Mr. Theodore Pfafflin spent three days in town this week, and will begin his duties in New York on Monday.
67***
69Mr. George J. Dowling arrived home on Wednesday from a successful Southern and Western trip.
71In Town.
73Mr. Karl Fink, New York; Mr. Theodore Pfafflin, New York; Mr. Jack Haynes, New York; Mr. Otto Wessell, New York; Mr. Charles T. Sisson, Chicago; Mr. Chas. Bobzin, Chicago; Mr. J. H. Wilson, Chicago; Mr. F. Baumer, Wheeling, W. Va.
75To Soothe the Savage Breast.
77THE Aeolian Company received on Monday at its warerooms a newly designed instrument intended for the export trade. This Aeolian is a neat, compact affair in oak or walnut, occupying when packed for shipment about the space of a steamer trunk. It is fitted with the complete automatic attachment, and the regular Aeolian music is used.
79In Africa, Australia and South America, where goods are transported over mountains and for long distances into the interior, this little instrument will be commercially appreciated and will undoubtedly find an extensive market. Imagine for a moment the delight and exultation of a Zulu chief as he turns the delicate crank of his Aeolian and produces one of our stirring two-steps, and imagine also the peaceful expression which will steal over his face when, returning from an exciting altercation with a neighboring chief, he seats himself at the instrument and grinds out low, plaintive melodies!
81The missionaries will find this little instrument of inestimable pleasure in their absence from the refinements of civilization. Modern invention has placed within reach of all, both in a financial and practical form, an instrument comparatively unlimited in the number and style of compositions, and no people, however remote, need remain longer without the delights of melodic and well executed music.
83FOR SALE.
84Fifteen and a half Shares of the Freyer & Bradley Music Co., of Atlanta, Ga.
85For full particulars address NEEDHAM PIANO AND ORGAN COMPANY, 36 East Fourteenth Street, New York City.
87Shoninger Incorporated.
89THE B. Shoninger Company has been incorporated under the laws of the State of New-York, by Seymour H. Rosenberg and Henry Oppenheimer, of New York city, and Bernhard Shoninger, of New Haven. This step is in line with the movements of other foreign corporations doing retail business in New York city, and covers what was previously the Shoninger branch here.
91The officers of the company are B. Shoninger, president, and Seymour Rosenberg, secretary and treasurer. Mr. Shoninger is head of the New Haven corporation as well, and Mr. Rosenberg is the successful manager of the Shoninger warerooms here.
93Flechter Case Goes Over.
95THE case of Victor Flechter, the violin dealer indicted on a charge of stealing a Stradivarius violin from the late Jean Bott, came up on Monday, before Judge Cowing, in Part III. of General Sessions.
97There was a war of words between Mr. Flechter's lawyer, Arthur C. Palmer, and Assistant District Attorney Osborne. Mr. Palmer claimed he had Mr. Osborne's positive promise that he would take the case up a week from this Wednesday, but on coming into court was informed that the case would not be heard this term, and would have to go over until another. "My client is perfectly innocent," Lawyer Palmer said, "and has been practically ruined by the notoriety thrust upon him. Customers are prevented from buying of him while the indictment is hanging over his head, and he has been unable to secure either life or fire insurance."
99The District Attorney claimed he had not had sufficient time to prepare the case, and on looking over the testimony found there was one witness to be brought from Germany.
101The case was put over until the next term.
103More Kirk Johnson.
105ANOTHER echo of the Kirk Johnson failure in Lancaster, Pa., is that an issue has been framed to test the ownership of properties levied upon by the sheriff in which the Mathushek Piano Manufacturing Company is named as plaintiff, and William J. Kirby, John N. Johnson, Charles H. Amer, J. N. Miller and Clara King are named as the defendants. The defendants are the execution creditors of Kirk Johnson & Co.
107Trade Notes.
109-J. G. McCrae, of Sarnia, Ont., has assigned.
110-Charles H. Smith has begun business in Jacksonville, Ill.
111-Henry Crutcher, of Elberon, Ga., has sold out his music business.
112-W. H. Babcock will have charge of a Kimball branch store in Oshkosh, Wis.
113-Mr. Adolf Slomosky has been re-engaged as salesman by Hardman, Peck & Co.
114-Morey & Barnes, pipe organ makers in Utica, N. Y., have dissolved. C. E. Morey continuing.
115-A. J. Davis, of A. J. Davis & Brother, Toledo, Ohio, is reported as having given a real estate mortgage for $1,100.
116-The stock of Louis Flores, Santa Cruz, Cal., was burned February 25. Loss estimated at $3,000; insurance small.
117-The Jackson Pipe Organ Company, of Washington, Ia., is reported to have given a real estate mortgage for $2,000 and a chattel mortgage for $12,540.
118-H. Kleber & Brother, Pittsburgh, will remove their music warerooms to their new store, Nos. 221 and 223 Fifth avenue, between Wood and Market streets on or before April 1.
119-Wm. B. Wilson, the traveling representative of the Autoharp department of Alfred Dolge & Son, was in Galveston, Tex., last week on his way home from a long trip to the Pacific Coast and South. Mr. Wilson expects to be in New York the first week in March.
121WANTED-A position as general traveling salesman for piano or organ factory. Ability, experience, and reference of the best. Address B., THE MUSICAL COURIER, New York.
123OLD VIOLINS Splendidly Imitated.
124I. E., VIOLINS NEWLY MADE OF OLD WOOD.
125bearing the stamp of the genuine old masters' instruments.
126GUT STRINGS,
127best English Gut, to be had from all dealers of standing.
128WUNDERLICH & CO.,
129Manufacturers of Musical Instruments and Strings,
130EUBABRUNN-Marzneukirchen I. Sachsen, Germany.
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