New-York daily tribune., 1859-12-24

Ter who led the New1O OTk Volunteers AZ the oate OF
Cherubusco and died from the wounds he received on
that occasion, gave grand ball at the Apollo Rooms
on Thursday evening in honor Of his memory.
HIETs oE PuKcHAsISs AEo-FoRTEs.-As this is
She ssason when, probably one-third pianos
se6 than any other period Of the year, purpose
briefly 70 present readers some Information rela
tive 70 the cha5acerstcs Of truly frslclass nstru-
nent at the zane time we shall endeavor TO en-
khtsn them in regsrd 70 the various methods adopted
especially in this city TO Deceive the unwsry purchaser
Ab6 in this latter respect, and prominent among the
means IesOrtsd 70 Of late, fnd plan adopted that
swticaIcnlae oimpoee upon the majority. certain
class Of Manufacturers whose pianos constructed
with the nOtt economical expenditure of time and
Tpopeysre IN the habit Of sending their instruments 70
rrivsie housef and by Of attractive advertise
rnens wbern they elsborssely describe the externss
Of frstcass piano, they manage TO dispose Of their
iastruueuts &c handsome profit and that, too, 3;
price ity pen ceBt below that required 70 procure an
spparenfly similar style OF piano of the bett makers
One pronBen; feature of toese advertisements is the
fact 20 glarDeIy put forth, Of the "great sacrifice
offered heire the result Of adverse circumstance
or other By this gross imposition, which is carried on
90 unlimited extent and the advertisements worded
10 every imaginable way that possibly attract the
inferior quality Of materials and workmanship are
spresd among the community, to the detrment alike of
the purchaser and the honorable portion Of the manu-
factaIers Many Of the anetiOn. roOms too used
a. dcpots for the special tae Of these inferior instru
msn Sc at tuch places the external appearance of the
altcle for sale is frequently the only means the pur-
chaser hos Of forming any estolate Of its vaue. |
risno forte is article Of laxury and-when we take
iaa ss.sissatis ths ratsri-s skill tinn and money
EMPLOYED in the construction Of thoroughly made in
stumsDt--it must necessarily be an expensive one. |
IN many respects, IL is tn,ilar 10 watch. Now we
know that we ean procure Handsome lever watch OF
one manufacturer Oneourtb the price we can OBJ
TIN he apparent duplicate Of another and the reason Is
oesious; for though the pnDepe Of mechanism be the
ssme IN both cares a 9 one has had four times the
smoun Of time and labor expended it's eonsTuc ion
and nish that the other has and 90 IL is with piano
A. for instance we can purchi of A. B, G, & Co.
locking seveo-octave piano for 5000 and yer
could not procure OF Messrs
ID, r, r., g. CO. for twice the sum, for the simple
that the former, though possessing handsome
exterior and having the same principle employed m
the construction Of its "action is not only composed
Of the mos, inferior quality Of materials, but has been
constructed with about opefOurth the expenditure OF
tine End labor employed in tie manufacture OF the
ene a. matter Of oourse being in Feaitythe cheapest.
Oat Of ali the manufacturers Of pano-fortes, only
proportion are above mediec-ity and still fewer COM
hane in their pianos the requisite quail les Of tone,
touch finish and durability which characterize a su-
psrior instrument. u s evident therefore, that co.,
aiderable Judgment is necessary when making pur-
chase, and Il would in most cases be advisable 70
he panied by some persOn competent to make q
iudeious selection, few who rely solely upon their
own Judgment in the matter escape disappointment in
the result There are however, number Of our man
nfpcturcrs whose regard for their we-eaDed reputa
lions fully equals tlat for their pecuuiary pros and
on there we may safely depend for good piano, with
cut the pse d,1 Of professor, but they are sadly in
the minority. The qualities OF piano, which we shall
briefly remark upon its tone, touch, Finish, and
durability; and Of these, durability Is the quality Of
primary importance for, II piano possess the
essential qualities Of tone, touch and fnish 20 per-
f,9cn, lack durability all ifs other exoellencies
81, q comparatively he advantage and, in this
st,i, ilose pianos having iron frames are the ones
nu.t ikely 10 stand wen on tune the strength thus
Se,,d fay eompensaiing for the disadvantage arising
frc, :he metallic tone impaired by such frames; but,
ul,ss The wooden portion Of the instrument s made Of
tie besi seasoned material though iron-framed,
The piano will not remaia in tune, for the that
when The pin block is not made Of the best seasoned
au the hold on lbe pin reaxes, and the instrument
gets ont of tune Il only requisite TO sppy the test
OF he farnace-heat-now in such general useto one
OF there inferior Instruments 70 have the fact above
refer 10 fully exespliGed. As regards toae the most
durable quhlfy Is the mellow tonei" " brilliant
toned rsno sccn oses i,s dehgbtfu quality, and by
constant use becomes hard and often harsh, whereas
q mSIlow-toped instrument changes by use TO eri-
ksni one ard retains is quality OF tone for some time
Afnc touch 20 piai.o il somewhat rare qualification
tfo majority Of instruments being either too hard os
30 easy to be desirshle. An easy touch, slthough
sdsas, 70 tie yoosg pianist s far froa being sdvan-
taeeoas; moderately hard toueh being preferable for
macy rcaDs the most prominent being the fact Of its
beng less habie 70 become hard in tone from use.
Rrary welLEnihed p;ano al admit of the closest ex
amstion in every part this mot the ease With 'hose
Of iuarior make az in the lser ease those portions
not exposed view win be found TO be roagkiy aud
hurxissly finished. A 70 external appearance, that,
shksugh generally shs Gst, should be the last thing
,honsN or Many piano Is flushed externally IN 9
xe, hs Odsosne manner onlsr hide internal and
;,o,,.nt aefects this Is especially the with low
,,.sead ;. sun,ens, recommended by their haDcsome
s~.v,,.I ssraBee. We eannOt speak favoraby OF
= : =, ~. ,,. ssrOus ssafsachmsnts to the piano, -
,bsx all more or ss detr4c from its intrinsic value
To s,,p mn these n marks, however, We woold advise
a, % avoid purehasiis cAeaP P'aS@ Ia The gen