Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-09-14
From the Ba.toa Tun.onri.
American Pianofortes at the
Paris Exhibition.

II viii be highly gratifying to our readcis
to learn the marked success which has at
tended the specimens uf art which Amerl-
cans have sent to the PARIS Exhibition bot
to none Of them has been attributed so much
merit as TO our celebrated American piano
foItes. II would seem hardly possible that
we could rival, as yet, France and England,
and the other countries Of Europe. so dis
tngulshed for their progress IN the arts and
sciences, IN so delicate and important an in
srument as the pianofone but the inlelli-
gent correspondent OF the Chronicle, in his
letter to that paper, dated Paris, August II,
1855, an extract from which we give below,
shows what rank our Boston planoforlcs
take abroad. We have before heard Of the
reputation of the celebrated instruments
manufactured by Albert w. Laid & Co.,
and Il gives us the greatest pleasure 10 add
to that already just gained reputation that
they now rival the world. We congratulate
our friends, and the mechanics of the estab-
lishment, that they have been able before
such an ordeal and in the presence Of three
hundred French pianos. TO tax the first puzs,
and we Americans should be proud. TOO, lhat
we have so emlnen, planOiorte manuinclo-
~ among ~. We need no longer TO send
to Europe for instruments Of superior tone
and finish but may rather expect TO furnish
her with her best and finest pianofortes.
We copy from the Chronicle Of Sept B:
The great exhibition Is now in a more
lourishing condition than ever, and It's future
will, no doubt, be very successful. The
jury of award nre now engaged IN deciding
as To the merits of the various contributions.
A remarkable affair has just taken place re-
atiye to a contribution from Boston, which
will much crafty the pride OF Boslonians'
The trial before the jury OF award, OF the eS-
ceence of the various pianofortes on exhi-
biiion, took place at the celebrated Pars
Conservatory of Music. The jury was com
posed OF seven Of the most eminent probes
sors of music in Europe.
Joseph IlolmesPorger, director OF the I'M
perial Conservatory of Music at Vienna, inc
president, placed himself in position where
he could hear the tone Of the instruments
without seeing them so as to render per
feciy impartial opinion of their merits III
addition to this, the manufacturers hs'pe'
were all covered up with white CARDS on
each of which was certain number. Nhen
all had been tried, Mr.. lielmesporgef salu'
now for the American piano, referring "
one frcm BOSTON, which he had on severn
occasions examined aud tried at the exh,oi-
tons, and which, for some unsceouhlAule
reason, had been neglected to be sent VIVA
the rest. A N. York piano was among 'u'
number, and supposng he referred TO uas
they told him II bad been tired. lis ans"'.
was positive that II had not been ineu' ~
all this time he had not seen, but only iis'en.
ed to the tone of the instruments. hIe,
repeated assurances by them, and denla's "
him, he came forward and satisfied them 'i,e'
the one he referred TO was not there, ana ~,
rected them at once to send to the exlioluo"
sor it, Soon il arrived, and when treu ~ ~,
fore that talented jury, was pronounced y"
best p,anojorie in the French exhibition snu,
accordingly, il was awarded the nisnes'
prize medal. This piano is from me man,
factory of Messrs. A. w. Laid oo'i -
Boston. The above facts are sccu'".
the letter, having received my inior.lu.JISS
personally from Mr.. iielmesperger hl.n' s"e
| lie is young man, not over t"en,, INV ~.
years Of age. Having before heard ~. men, 1u
perior quality Of tone Of the above ln'us
ment, his practised ear detected tina, II 'D'
moi at the trial. II IL, indeed, astonlsn'ps,
The circumstance that Boston plsho'" If
has SO successfully stood the severe 'ess
such eminent European professors 9, n Jude
Is an event which may well gra'i'y "0 pr
OF Bostonians.'