The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1876-11-30
Centennial Awards.


The newspapers have been lately
teeming with ingeniously-worded ADVERTISE
ments regarding the awards. These publica-
tons have been skillfully prepared, so as to
convey the impression that this or that exhib-
itor has really received the highest and best
award. Thus, instead of informing the public
as to the true state of affairs, they have simply
NAL find themselves bewildered by the adverse
claims to distinction which they ind placarded
on every hand, and they do not know which
way to turn to discover the trnth In no de-
partment has this system OF Misrepresentation
been carried to SO great an extent as that de-
voted to piano fortes. There has been "a
war; between piano exhibitors since the Ex-
OF placards since the awards were officially an
nounced. They have Wed with each other in
the use OF extravagant language to prove
ther respective claims to distinction. The
most ingenious methods have been devised !;
disinterested correspondents, whose sole OBJ
volunteered their services llor considera-
tion); ex-judges of awards, in the interest of
certain piano manufacturers, have made pre-
tended revelations Of the secrets of the Jury
room, tor the sake of supporting the claims OF
their particular tavorites, and lightning cal
culators have beenappealed to and have found
convenient mathematical rules by which to
clients, on the pretense OF the so much abused
maxim that figures cannot lie. All these eff.
forts, while ridiculous to those acquainted
with the subject, have been attempted to in
fluence the uninitiated. In fact, the piano
men have lett nothing undone to mislead the
public, and by their efforts have caused every
thing relating to pianos to be looked upon
with distrust, and have made themselves the
laughing stock of the public. BY these means
Injustice is not only done to the public, but
to those who are not only entitled to the lead
ing position, but who were awarded it by the
judges. Your correspondent has uaken the
trouble to submit all the various reports
which are the basis of the awards, to careful
scrutiny and comparison, and the result is
that the pianos OF VIM. Knabe & Co. are
found to head the list. This house, from the
commencement of the Exhibition, relied solely
upon the merits Of their instruments to secure
them @ just award; and since the official an
highest honors in the Piano department, they
have modestly remained in the background.
It is fortunate that the judges in Preparing
the Knabe report, SO framed it as to leave no
doubt about their -eminence. They
especially commended all their four styles
ofpianos, concert grand, parlor grand, square,
and uprights, and accorded them the praise Of
unequaled excellence in all the details Of per-
feet instruments. The report is plain, Straight
forward and comprehensive, specifying all the
elements Of merit which it is possible for the
best piano forte to possess-pOwer, richness.
and singing quality Of tone; ease and elastic
ity OF touch; effectiveness of action; solidity
and originality Of construction, and excellence
other reports in the same department, even
the most skeptical will acknowledge that no
stronger Language could have been used to ex-
press the unanimous approval of the Judges.
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. II, 1876.