Connecticut western news., 1876-12-01
Centennial Awards,
From the New York Tribune, November Ia

[From the New York Tribune, November 13
 The newspapers have been lately teeming with ingeniouely worded advertisements re- garding the awards. These publications have been skillfully prepared, 80 as to convey tho impre ssion 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 at the Centennial find themselves bewildered by the adverse claims to distinction which they find placarded every hand, and they do not know which way to turn to discover the truth. In no depart ment has this system of nlisrepr es. nj atinn been carried to so great an extent that de- voted to pisno fprtes. There has been "a war " between piano exhibitors sipce the Ex- bition opened aud & regular ekirmieh line Of placards since tho awards were officially an- nounced. They have yied with O. oh other in the use of extravagant language to prove their respective claims to dIe tinction. The most ingenious methods have been devised i; disintorested correspondents, whose sole ob- ject was to instruct the ignorant public, have volunteered their servlces (for a considera- lon); ex-judges of awards in the interest oi certain piano manuf Acturers, have made pre- tended revelations of the secrets of tho jury room, for the sake of supporting the clsims of their particular favorites, aud lightning calcu- lators have been appealed to and have found convenient mathematical rules by which to establish absolutely the supremacy of their
 
 maxim that hSures cannot lie. All these efforts, while ridiculous to those acquainted with the subject, have been attempted to iu- huence the uninitiate0. Ill fact, the D quo men have left nothing undone u mislead tue public, and by their efforts have caused -every- thing relating to pianos to be looked upon with distrust, and have made themselves tho laugh hing stock of the public By these means injustice is not only done 10 the public but to those who are not only entitled to the lead ing position, but who were awarded it by ths judges. Your correspondent has taken the trouble t submit all the various reports which are the basis of the awards, to 8 careful scrutiny and comparison, and the result is that the pianos of Wm. Knabe & Go. are found to head the liet. This house. from the commencement of the Exhibition, relied soley upon the merits of their instruments to secure them just award and since tho official an- nouncement, altaough they were decreed the highest hol ors ill tho Piano department, they haVe modestly remained ill tue background. It is fortunate that the judges, in preparing the Knabe report 20 fre med it as to leave no doutt about their pre-eminence. TEey especially commented all their four styles of pianos, concert grand, parlor grand, square and uprlghts, and accorded them the praise of feet instruments The report is plain, straight forward and comprehensive. specifying all the elements of merit which it is possible3for the best piauo forte to pon ess-power, richness and singing quality of toLe ease and elasticity of touch effectiveness Of action soidity and originality of construction, and excellence of workmanship. BJ comparing it with the the most skepticai will acknowledge that no stronger language could have been used to ex- press the unanimous approval of the judges.
 PHILADELPHIA, Nov. II, 1876.