The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1912)

The Talking Machine World Vol. 8. No. 2. TALKING MACHINE CHEERS LEPER. Mrs. Eldridge R. Johnson, Wife of President of Victor Talking Machine Co., Sends Machine and Big Supply of Records to Exiled Chinaman in Pennsylvania — Gift Proves a Revelation and Great Source of Pleasure. Yee Sui, the Chinese leper, knelt in his little shack on the pesthouse reservation .one day recently and poured forth to his new-found Christian God a prayer of thankfulness. A little box rested on the bare table in the one room in which Yee Sui eats, sleeps and — lives, if life to him until now has been living. The little box was a present to Yee Sui, and there is a long story about it. As was his habit, Yee Sui had daily watched Yee Tang trudge up the hill. But last week a boy accompanied Yee Tang, and the boy bore a package. Yee Tang made greetings and spoke a word of comfort. Then he laid aside the wrappings of the package. The little box with polished sides and glistening trimmings was revealed. Yee Sui wondered, for Yee Tang had not spoken of that which he brought. From a smaller package Yee Tang drew a black d'sc. Anyone but Yee Sui would have seen that it was a talking machine, but Yee Sui knew not of such things. With increasing wonderment he saw Yee Tang turn a handle. The record was one made by the choir of Trinity Church of New York, and the famous old hymn was exquisitely rendered. Yee Tang said afterward that the beauty of the hymn had seemed to transform the bare, little room into a thing of beauty, for both had stood as in a trance, as men in a higher realm. Yee Tang had the song sung again ; he translated to Yee Sui, and Yee Sui chanted in his native tongue to the accompaniment of the singers. The next selection was one of Sousa's marches. To Yee Sui it was a sort of shift from the sublime, but it enraptured him. As the music would wax softer until there was scarcely a murmur, Yee Sui would look anxiously, child-like. As it flowed swiftly into a crescendo, finally ending in a magnificent crash, Yee Sui smiled: "It is like a beautiful flower suddenly bursting into bloom," he said to Yee Tang. Though these two pieces were a superlative delight, there still was a climax waiting, thanks to Yee Tang and a new found friend of Yee Sui's. It was Mrs. Eldridge R. Johnson of "The Chimneys," Merion, Pa., and wife of the president of the Victor Talking Machine Co., who brought this sunshine into the life of the outcast Chinaman, says the Pittsburgh (Pa.) Gazette-Times. Not only was there with it excellent variety of records — hymns such as "Oh Come, All Ye Faithful," "Joy to the World," "Praise Be the Father" and "Onward Christian Soldiers," and Sousa concerts, comic operas, quartets, duets, solos and the like — but there was a score of records in Chinese. These records — though often they are kept in stock — were made specially for Yee Sui. They are chants and songs with stringed accompaniment. They arrived at the company's store last week and were turned over to Yee Tang. It was one of these records that Yee Tang had saved for the climax of his entertainment. Suddenly he started the machine and there rolled out a song favorite with China's sons. Perhaps it brought memories of more happy days, days among loved ones in a faraway land, perhaps many things — but the shock was almost too much to be borne. Yee Sui cried; but Yee Tang's comforting finally prevailed. Yee Sui wanted it played again, and he seemed to grow wonderfully young. He danced about in delight as Yee Tang played the others to him. Then Yee Tang played them all over again. Afterward Yee Sui learned how to adjust the machine and then he played one all by himself. New York, February 15, 19 J 2. PHILADELPHIA DEALERS MEET. For the Purpose of Forming an Organization Composed of Handlers of Victor and Edison Machines — Permanent Officers to Be Elected. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Philadelphia, Pa., Feb. 8, 1912. An association composed of dealers handling Vifctor and Edison talking machines has just been organized in this city at a meeting held in the Parkway building, 119 North Broad street. A fair attendance of dealers attended the initial gathering. After a long discussion temporary officers were elected, and it was decided that the next meeting shall be called for the evening of February 14, to which most of the dealers of Philadelphia and vicinity will be invited and when, it is expected, the election of permanent officers will follow. TALKING MACHINE EXPORTS. The Figures for December Presented — Reports Show Falling Off for the Month. (Special to The Talking Machine World.) Washington, D. C, Feb. 9, 1912. In the summary of exports and imports of the commerce of the United States for the month of December (the latest period for which it has been compiled'), which has just been issued by the Bureau of Statistics of the Department of Commerce and Labor, the following interesting figures relating to talking machines and supplies are set forth : The total exports of talking machines, records and supplies for December, 1911, amounted to $215,2(!2, as compared with $254,085 for the same month of the previous year. The twelve months' exportation of talking machines, records and supplies amounted to $2,847,573. THE POPE AND THETALKING MACHINE A Deliahtful Story Showing How a Record of the Bells of San Marco Brought Memories to His Holiness of His Old Home in Venice. A report from Rome tells of a visit made to the Pope by a parish priest from Venice, where the Pope was formerly a Bishop. For the entertainment of his visitor, the Pope placed in a talking machine a record made from the sound of the bells when first thev rang from the reconstructed Campanile of San Marco. "Close your eyes," said he, "and listen ; you will feel that you are back in dear Venice." It is, of course, the familiar human story of the millionaire who would like to hear the tinkling cowbells on the farm again ; of the far-wandering mariner that longs to hear across the water the sound of the port bells of his native town. Not always in the Vatican is the weariness of the Pope to be cheered by the mighty music of organs and trumpets and the voices of tuneful choristers. There are times when he would like to be a parish priest and listen to the bells of his old home town, as a writer in the World says. Dr. Holmes used to insist that memory is more responsive to perfume than to anything else; that old songs, ■old drums and old joys are brought back to us on the invisible wings of the odors of jasmine and rose and violet. Against that dogma stands a great array of poets bearing witness to the compelling power of bells. Every literature has its bell songs and bell stories, every heart its Venice to be recalled by them. C. E. GORE JOINS DE MOLL & CO. FOKCES. (Special t" The Talking Machine World.) Washington, D. C, Feb. 5, 1912. C. E. Gore, who for the past seven years has heen manager of the wholesale talking machine department of the E. F. Droop & Sons Co., this city, has .severed his connection with that company to Price Ten Cents take over the management of the Victor department of O. J. DeMoll & Co. at Twelfth and G streets, N. W. Before becoming connected with the E. F. Droop & Sons Co. Mr. Gore spent nine years in the factory of the National Phonograph Co. in Orange, N. J. TEAM WORK IS ESSENTIAL To the Success of Any Business — Developing the "All-Together" Spirit — United Effort Lightens All Labor and Has a Good Effect Upon Customers. Team work is that element of co-operative force that enters into every organization, making for success. It is the cement between the blocks that makes the structure "stick together" and stand strong 'ginst the battering power that tests for good, for fair, for indifferent and weak! Team work must prevail in every line of work ; the harmonious development of any project demands that "alltogether spirit"— the faithful execution of each in dividual's work so as to fit perfectly into that oi those "above and below" to bring on the perfect working out of the whole ! There's no place for dry rot when team work is on tap — its powerful and "make good" influence creates the standing of any enterprise! Team work and "making good" are blood relations ; they are dependent upon each other and either would be an invalid without the strong arm of protection of the other. Team work means more than the mere doing of one's work — yes, indeed, millions more. It signifies the whole-hearted effort of the individual employe, a personal application of his or her efforts so as to leave no "bad taste" or "unpleasant aftereffects"— it means the leaving of a clear, clean right-of-way to the fellow employe following and the pleasing, perfect execution of his or her share of the work as a prideful deposit in the Bank of Intelligent Service! Team work must not be superficial ; the employe's attitude toward each other in the accomplishment of their work must be deep-seated, sincere, pleasant, with a realization that "the all-for-one-and one-for-all spirit" brings all over the tape in a grand finish to the goal of mutual results ! Team work must reflect action ; every effort to each employe, representing a unit, must ring with that cheerfulness and good nature which alone can dem onstrate the good intent and sincerity of the doer! Team work, like the waves of the sea, must be ever-moving, "always on the job," as inaction means stagnation and the bone yard ! The spectacle of a team trying to make a steep grade, one horse pulling steadily and the other j erk> ing indifferently, is distressing! Such lack of concerted effort, such wasted energy is the strongest sermon on the lack of "pull-togetheriveness" so often apparent when intelligent, harmonious team work is so essential for "making the hill !" It is an everyday exhibition of team work backwards ! Team work and "make good" play leading parts in the drama of merchandising; the perfect performance of one must be supported by the keen exhibition of the other — there must be no distinguishing lines; the "audience" (the great critical public) must not know where the one starts and the other stops; their interlocking must be a perfect union to make for a happy and successful finish ! The existence of team work is made known to the customer as soon as the doorway is passed on the way in — it starts with the pleasant co-operation between each employe in each department, from the doorman's agreeable "make-yourself-comfortable" greeting right down and up the line through the department salespeople, managers, officers and management! The customer must be able to sniff and be made to feel the team work and "make good" throughout the store; it must be in the air and carry with it that soothing salve of courtesy and intelligent service to cover "bad impressions" that might exist in the customer's imagination!