The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-11-29
Centennial Awards.

From the New York Tribune, Nov. Il;
The newspapers have been lately
teemioS with inSenjously-worded advertise
mems regarding The awards. These publjca-
convey The impression that This or ;,,lat exhib-
itor has really received the highest and BEST
award. Thus, instead Of informing the public
as 10 the true STATE OF affairs they lave simply
confused Che reader. Visitors at the Centen-
NAL find themselves beWi]de"ed by The adverse
claims TO distinction which they lind placarded
on every i2nd, and they do not know which
way 70 turn 10 discover the trnih. In no de-
partmeni has this system of Misrepresentation
been carried 10 SO great an extent as that de-
voted 70 piano }ories. There has been "a
war; between piano exhibitors since the Ex-
hloltion opened, and regular skirmish line
Of placards since the AWARDS were officially an
nounced. They have We'd with each other in
The use of ex.ravagant language TO prove
tller respective claims to distinction. The
most ingenious methods have been devised;
disiilteresied CORRESPONDENTS, whose sole OBJ
ject was 10 Instruct the ignorant public, have
volunteered their services flor considera-
tlon); ex-judges OF awards, in the interest of
cer,ain piano manufacturers, have made pre-
tended revelations Of the secrets Of The jury
roonl, for the sake OF supporting the claims of
their particular iavoriies, and lightning CAL
culators have beenappealed to and have found
convenient mathematical rules by which 10
establish absolutely the supremacy OF their
clients, on the pretense OF the SO much abused
mayim that figures cannot lie. All these e.
to<ts, While ridiculous 10 those acquainted
with The subject, have been attempted 70 in
tiuence the unini.iated. In fact, the piano
men have Lett nothing undone 10 mislead The
public, and by their efforts have caused every
thing relating 20 pianos 10 be looked upon
with distrust, and nave made themselves the
lau3 hing sock ofthe public. Ely these means
Injustice is not only done TO the public, but
20 those who are not only ertitled 10 the lead.
ing position, but Who were awarded it by the
judges. Your correspondent has ua&en The
trouble TO submit all the various reports
which are the basis OF the awards. 10 careful,
scrutiny and comparison, and the result is
found to head the listt. This house from The
commencement of the Exhibition relied solely
upon the mel its OF their instrumenisto secure
Them a just award and since the official an
nouncement, althoua III they were deCreed the
highest ionors in the Piano department., they
have modes.ly remaiDed in tie BACKGROUND.
Il is fortunate that the judges in preparing
doubt about their pre-eminence. They
especially commended all their four styles
of pianos, concert grand, parlor grand, square,
and upriShis, and accorded them the praise of
ousled excellence in all The details Of per-
feet instruments. The report is plain, straj ght-
elements OF merit which it is possible lor the
bes. piano tor.e 10 possess-power, richness,
and SIT ging qualify Of tone; ease and elastic
ity Of touch effectiveness of action; solidity
and originality of construction, and excellence
Of workmanship. BY comparing it with the
ovher reports in the same department.. even
the MOST skeptical will acknowledge that no
Stronger language could have been used to e,z-
press the unanimous approval OF the judges
PH1Lt DELpH1A, Nov. II, 1876.