Sword and shield. (Clinton, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1885-09-05
CARE OF THE PIANO.
Useful Hints and Information for Owner

In these days of universal culture,
when the study of music has almost
ceased to be considered an accomplish
ment, and has become part of the ordi-
nary routine of an educational course,
when there is hardly a house in the
country without one or more musical
instruments, and when piano is con-
sidered an indispensable adjunct to the
/ furniture of at least one room, it is
marvellous how little care is bestowed
upon these valuable aids to our social
enjoyment and qualification.
A few hints on the subject may be
useful. The first thing to be remem-
bered is that sun, damp and dust are
the pianos worst enemies. To avoid
the former, place it in a part of the
room not reached by the SUMS rays, but
well out of the draught. Do not allow
it to stand between the door and win
dow. For fear of damp, do not keep
it during the Winter months in room
where there is not often fire. 1t is no
uncommon thing for persons to give
from $500 to $1,000 for grand piano,
and then leave it to perish in the best
drawing-room, which is seldom used,
and where fires are the exception.
Soon the strings grow rusty and give
out an ugly, rasping sound, instead of
their former mellow tone. Then the
owner begins to entertain an unjust
suspicion that the instrument must have
been inferior or imperfect, and blames
the manufacturer instead of his or her
own thoughtlessness in allowing so
costly possession to spoil, to save a
few dollars worth of coal.
Then as to the dust The piano
should always be closed when not in
use, and cover kept constantly over
it. A covering for the front alone,
placed inside between the panels or
fretwork and the top, is worse than
useless, as it only strains the woodwork
and allows the dust free entrance. 1t
should be made the size of the top of
the piano, with a border all round
about six inches deep. If fmade of satin
or cloth to match the furniture, with
crewel work and fringe, it forms a
pretty ornament instead of an unsightly
appendage.
If it is an upright or cottage piano,
it should be often moved from its place,
ard the back and sides carefully busted.
There are other reasons, besides keep.
ing it free from dust, that necessitates
its frequent removal A lady residing
in the country, who has been i'll for
some time, was much concerned on her
recovery to find her piano, an excellent
and much-valued friend, completely
spoiled as to tone and touch. Upon ex-
animation it was found that an enter
prising mouse had made nest inside,
and she and her young progeny had
gnawed the leather off the hammers
and otherwise destroyed the interior for
Sustenance.
The piano should be tuned once in
three months at least; should always
be kept locked when very little children
are about, and the owner should be
very chary of invitations to such per-
formers as have heavy touch, or in
common parlance are likely to "thump
on the keys" An annoying incident
occurred at musical party where the
hostess had not guarded against this
latter contingency.
Two sisters were playing a duet
which might we'll be described as ''full
of sound and fury, signifying nothing"
each trying to outdo the other in noisy
execution, when crash, crash! went two
or three of the principal treble strings;
then there was a ludicrous silence or
dull thud during the rest of their per-
formance, and, what was worse, every
other piece was spoiled for the remain
der of the evening, although the host
ess had been particularly careful to
have her instrument in perfect order
for the occasion. Some people think
that this kind of hard usage is good for
the piano; they might as well think
their boots improved by long walking
in them.
1t is only necessary to look inside at
the delicately cut and covered little
hammers, and observe the force with
which they strike on the strings, and to
remember that well-made instrument
has already tension of nearly sixteen
tons on its strings in a grand, and nine
or ten in an upright, to convince the
most obtuse that very violent perform
ance is destructive in the highest de-
gree, for "the power of blow in the
hammer is thereby weakened, andFthe
delicacy of touch and unfailing prompt
ness of repetition, SO essential for the
requirements of the modern school OF
pianoforte playing" for the production
of those subtle and delicate harmonles
of Beethoven, Chopin, and all the
glorious host of great masters and
composers, becomes impossible with an
oyerstrained and ruined instrument.
Do not clean the keys with soap, or the
beautiful white ivory will soon become
yellow. A clean, soft duster, very
slightly damped, if dry one will not
take any stain or tinger-marks off, is all
that is required for a new piano; but if
the keys are discolored by age, spirits
of wine and whitening, very carefully
applied, may restore them. The owner Z
should clean the keys; if left to sery-
ants care they are apt to be quickly
by the use of Soiled busters
or rough busting. 1t is surely well
worth little extra care and watchful-
ness to preserve SO faithful friend as
a piano is to the lover of music, cheer
ing alike the long, cozy Winter nights
and the soft twilight of the sweet Sum-
mer evenings. Springfield Union.
II f