The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1876-12-01
Centennial Awards.

centennial Awards.
| From the New York Tribune Nov Is
Inc newspapers have been lately
| teemlng with ingeniously- worded advertise
ments regarding the awards. These publica-
| lions have been skilltully prepared, so as to
convey the impression that this or that exhib-
ltor has really received the highest and best
| award. Thus, instead of informing the public
as t9 lac true state of affairs, they have simply
conius ed the reader. Visitors at the Centen-
| NAL fnd themselves bewildered bv the adverse
| claims to distinction which they lind placarded
| on every hand, and they do not know which
| way to turn to discover the truth. 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-
| hlbltion 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 eXtravagant language to prove
Their respective claims to distinction. The
most ingenious methods have been devised
dlslnterested correspondents, whose sole OBJ
! Ject was to instruct the ignorant public, have
| volunteered their services for considera-
| tlon); 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 fayortes, and lightning cal
culators have beenappealed to and have found
convenient mathematical rules by which to
establish absolutely the supremacy OF their
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
tluence 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 q just award and since the official an
nouncement, although they were decreed the
highest honOrs in the Piano department. they
have modestly remained III tie background.
1t IS fortunate that the judges in preparing
the knabe report, so framed it as to leave no
doubt about their pre-eminence. They
especially commended all their four STYLES
of pianos, 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 compre hensive, specifying allthe
elements of merit which it is possible for the
best piano forte to posSesS-power, richness
and singing quality OF tome ease and elastic
ity of touch; effectiveness of action solidity
and originality CT construction and excellence
OF workmanship. By comparing it with the
other reports in the same department, even
the most skeptical will acknowledge that no
stronger language could have been used toex-
press the unanimous approval OF the judges.
PHILADELPHIA Nov. H. 1876.