The Portland daily press., 1868-01-08
Pianos at the EXPEDITION.

From lights journal of Music.1
We have not meddled much in the great
controversy. In common, doubtless, with
nearly ali our readers, finding the newspapers
full OF 1t dd ndusedm, we long ago had ceased
to read. Moreover, with most musical per-
sons hereabOuts, we have come to our own
opinions in our own way, hearing and Judging
for ourselves, and should prefer the ayerass of
Chickering pianos to any Steinway that we
ever heard, in spite of French juries, Mons.
Fetis, or the Emperor himself We never
thought they needed any such endorsement.
Merit makes its own way with or without
medals. Indeed this medal competition at
great Expositions stirs up excitement by so
many questionable means, raises such a
senseless clamor, such dust, that calm, un-
biased judgment becomes almost impossible.
How can one get clear impression in such a
turbulent arena? Anywhere else, in the con-
cert rooms of ones own town at home in his
own house, can ore judge better than in cir
cumstances so exceptional. We wish the
Emperor, should his ambition ever prompt
him to give another Worlds Exposition,
would have it absolutely without medals or
awards; the comparison of products would be
equally instructive, and the conclusions far
more genuine.
But here has been a question of fact |:
Which party had the highest award? Touch
inS which we once ventured, having got hold
OF document not tnen published in this
country, the "Liste Oticietle des Recon-
penSes, dc, to suggest an inference from it.
which now appears to be the right one. In
our paper of Aug. II, we translated portion
OF the List, adding this comment:
1t will be seen from the above that the Dec
orGtSonS are ciassed as the highest grade of
honor; next comes the Grand Prize, awarded
only to M. Sax; and third in grade in the
Grand Medal. The piano. o.making house of
Erard placed itself out of the compet tition by
the fact that one of its members M. Schaeffer)
was on the Jury; but on this gentleman, as
well as on Mr.. Chickering, was bestowed the
Cross ofthe Legion of Honor; why, if not by
way OF recognizing these two as at the head of
all the makers of Pianos? The French have
long regarded the Erard as the Grand Piano
of all the world, beyond competitions; by this
act now they welcome the Chickering to an
equal place beside the object of their own
pride.
That this obvious Interpretation was the
right one is now definitely settled by the fol-
lowing
LETTER FROM MR.. cHICKERING
PARIS, Nov. 10, 1867.
My attention has several times been called to
paragraphs and extracts in American Jour
nails, stating that the Legion of Honor, which
was conferred upon me on the first of July
last, as the representative of the firm of Chick
ton Uniyerselle, was mere personal COM
pliment;" that "had bought it," that sit
had nothing to do with the Exposition that
"the order had been obtained by Mr.. f. Chick
ering. who procured it personally, and upon
personal application for the same, from the
French Governments" that ''it is personal
matter, outside of and without the slightest
connection with the official awards of the Ex-
positions" that II did not receive it till sew
eral days after the 1st of July;" and MANY
other remarks of fha m
Knowing full well the source from which
these statements emanate, and as the facts
with official proofs had already been publish
ed, had up 20 this time considered il unnec-
essary to make any denial of these rep )rts; but
as | find that such statements are still being
extensively copied and reproduced, feel it
duty to myself and to the interests of the
firm of which am member, to make a posi-
bre denial of all such statements, which are
evidently written and published for the sole
purpose of giving to this award false and de-
teriorated value in the opinion of the Ameri-
can public; and in making this denial beg
leave to call attention to the following facts:
4 never in any way, either directly or indi-
rectly, asked for, nor did 1 ever use any influ-
ence, personal or otherwise, to obtain this high
distinction.
My official notification of the award is dated
June 80, 1867, and was received by me on the
1st OF July. Its connection with the official
awards of the Exposition can be understood
from the following extract from the official or
gan of the French Empire, LIE Moniteur, of
July 2, 1867, which, in the list of awards, un-
der the head of "Chevaliers of the Legion of
Honor, places, among other names, that of
Monsieur ChickeriRg, Factor de Pianos Expos
ant, aud its relatiUe Udlue can be seen from
the following extract of the report of Mons.
Rouher, French Minister of State and Vice
Preslfent OF the Imperial Commission, read
before the Emperor and the Pu lie, at the dis
tribution of awards on the 1st OF july
Thanks to an activity which had surmount-
ed all obstacles the decisions deman led of the
jury for the first of July are all rendered, and
the result can be proclaimed to-day before
your Majesty The jury has distributed to the
exhibitors GA grand prizes, S83 gold medals, o.
565ibronze medals, 5801 honorable mentions
The present solemnity is crowned by the
proclamation OF still higher rewards.
Your Majesty has deigned to award to the
most eminent of the exhibitors, of this pacific
strife The Imperial Cross of the Legion of
Honor"
1t may be that the friends and cores
pondents who write in the interests of
other exhibitors, who did not receive this
award, know more Of the value of tle
different recomI enses than do tho.e who c.
cupy high positions in the management and
government of the Exposition; but while |
have the power to base my claims upon facts
and proofs as well founded as the foregoing ex-
trac S, L shall still continue to claim and to an
of the Legion of Honor is the Highest
Award" awarded by the Exposition Uniyer-
selle," and that Chickering & Sons are the
only Competing Exhibitors of Pianos who
have received tine double recompense of the
" Cross of the Legion of Honor and First
Gold Medal.
(Signed) CT. CH1cKER1NG.