The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1876-11-30

From the Ncw York Tribune, November I}.
Tine newspapers have lately been tccming
with ingrniOusly wordcd advertisements re-.
gardins the awards. These publications haye
been skillfully prepared, 50 as to convey the
impression that this or that exhibitor has
really received the highest and best award.
Thus, instead Of informing the public as to the
true state of affairs, they have simply confused
the reader. Visitors to the centennial find
themselves bcwiIdercd by the adverse claims
to distinction which they find placarded on
every hand, and they do not know which way
to turn to discover tie truth. In no depart
mcnt has this system Of. misrepresentation
been carried to 50 great an extent rs that de-.
voted to piano fOrtes. There has been "a war"
between piano exhibitors since the EXhibi.
ition opened, and a regular skirmi,h line of
/ ]placards since the awards were officially an
/ nOunred. They have Wed with each other in
the use OF eNtrayagant language to prove
their respective claims to distinction. The
most ingenious methods have been devised
distinguished correspondents, whose sole OBJ
jtct was to instruct the ignorant public have
volunteered their services flor 4 considcra-
TOM cx-iudgcs of awards, in the interest of
certain piano manufacturers, have made pre-
tended revelations of the secrets of The Jury
room, for the sake Of supporting the claims Of
their particular favOrites, andlightning calcu.
lators nave been appealed to and have found
convenient mathematical rules by which to
establish absolutely the supremacy OF their
clients, on the prctenSc OF the so much abused
maXiUm that figures cannot lie. All these
efforts, while ridiculous to those acquainted
with the subject, have been attempted to in
tlucnCc the uninitiatcd. In fact, the piano
men have LETT nothing undone to mislead the
.,,ll.. ,..I L., ,l,.... n,vt- lao ,ta n,tt4,.I .p..,,
thing relating to pianos to be looked upon
with d]istrust, ana 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 Thy the
Judges. Your correspondent has taken the
trouble to submit all the various reports,
which are the basis of the awards, to a careful
scrutiny and comparison, and the result is
that the pianos of VIM. knabe & Co. are
found to head this list. This house from the
commencement OF Exposition, relied solely
upon the merits OF their instruments to secure
them Il Just award and since the official an.
nOuncement, although they were dccreed
the hOnors in the Piano department, they
have modcstly remained in the background.
1t is fortunate that the judge, in preparing
the knabe report, so framed it Is to leave no
doubt about their pre-eminencc. They es-
p~ecially commended all their inut styles of
pianos, concert grand, parlor Grand, square
and upriglts, and accorded them the praise Of
unequaled excellence in all the detail'o OF per
feet instruments. The report is plain, straight.
iorTardand comprehensive, specifying allthe
elements Of merit which It'll possible for the
best piano forte to poSsess-power, richness
and singing quality Of tone; ease and %ellS,ici-
ty of touch Effectiveness OF action; solidity
and originality Of constriction,and excellence
Of Workmanship. by comparing it with the
other reports in the same department, even
the most skertical will acknowledge tina; no
stronger language could have been usc, To ex-
press the unanimous approval Of the judges.
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. II, 1876.