The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-11-30
Centennial Awards.
tFrom the New York Tribune, November

tFrom the New York Tribune, November.131
Tue newspapers have been lately teeming
with ingeniously worded advertisements re-
gerding the awards. These publications have
been skillfully prepared, so as to convey the
impression that this or that exhibitor has real
ly received the highest @id beat award. Thus.
Instead Of informing the public as to the true
state OF sffairs, they have simply confused the
reader. Visitors at the Centennial find them
selves bewildered by tho adverse claims to
distinction which they fad placaroed on evtry
hand, and they do not know which way to turn
to diecover the truth. In no department has
this system OF misrepresentation been carried
to 80 great an extent as that devoted to piano.
fortes. There has been "a war" between
piano exhibitors since the Exhibition opened
and regular skirmish line Of placards since
the awards were officially announced. They
have We'd with each other in the use OF ex-
trsvsgant language to prove their respective
claims to distinction. The most ingenious
methods have been DEVISED disinterested
correspondents, whose sole object was to in
struot the ignorant public, have volunteered
their services for q coDideration); ex-judges
OF awards, in the interest Of certain piano
manufacturers, have made pretended revela-
tions of the secrets Of the juryroom, for the
sake OF supporting the claims of their partition.
lar favorites, and lightning calcuators have
been appealed TO and have found convenient
mathematical rules by which to establish
tho pretense OF the 20 much abused maxim
that figures cannot lie. All these efforts
while ridiculous to those acquainted with the
subject, have been attempted to influence the
uninitiated In fact, the piano meu have left
nothing uudons to mislsad the public, 'aud by
their efforts have caussd everything relati, &
tn piauca TO be locked np2n with dietrust. ant,
have nlado themselves the laughing stock OF
the public. 3: these means injustice is Mo;
only done to the public but to those who ar,
not onlY entitled to the leailing position. bu,
who we're awarded it by the judges. Your
correspondent has taken the trouble to submit
all the various reports, which are the basis of
the awards, to careful scrutiny and compari-
SOD, aud the result is that the pianos of W,o,
Knabe d Co. are found to head the list.
This house, from the commencement Of the
Exhibition, relied solely upon the merits o.,
their instruments to secure them Just award ;
and since the official announcement, although
they were decreed the highest honors 10 the
Piano department, they have modestly re-
mained i'll the background. II is fortunate
that tho judges, in preparing the Knabe re-
port, go framed it as to leave no doubt abou!
their pre- eminence They especially com
mended all their four styles of pianos (concert
grand, parlor grand, square and uprights),
and accorded them tho praise of unequaled
excellence in all the details Of perfect instru
ments The report is plain, straightforward
and comprehensive, specifying sll the eie-
ments of merit which it is possible for the
best piauoforte to possess-power, richness
and singing quality of tone; ease and elasticity
of touch effectiveness OF action solidity and
originality Of construction, and excellence of
workmanship. By comparing it with the other
reports in the same department, even the
most skeptcal will acknowledge that nc
stronger language could have been used to ex-
press tho uuauimoue approval OF the judges
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. H. 1876.