Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1894-10-11
THE PIANOS TONE.
So me Theories ON the Piano That
Arc Probably Hypercritlcnl.

So me Theories ON the rtnnO THAI
Arc Probably Hyperceitlcnl.
"rhis instrument" said the piano
dealer. MS he ran his fingers lightly over
the keys, is uneven in Tone 1t IL
somewhat worn. You ask $500, but I
cannot give you more than $780,"
IAN absurd Offer" exclaimed the
owner Of the instrument, indignantly.
THAT piano Is not yet u year old, ana
its tone, 1t is better to-day than 1t was
when bought It," -.
There is where YOU are wrong"
respond d the deale". "Why. there Is
not Il piano made that holds its tone
for longer than six months, II 1t has
been used to any ext>nt. or course
you, having heard this instrument cv-
cry day, cannot detect any difference
in its tone. As it has gradually de-
Perforated in quality, your ear has grad
ualiy deteriorated with 1t. All musi-
clans know that the ear can be edu-
Gated down as we'll rs up. An artist.
or a competent piano salesman, for that
matter, could tell immediately that
your Piano was the Verse for wear
4 triilr wCrn.'
But l have written guarantee
that this instrument would last for five
years. and do you mean to tell me
that 1t Is worn out already?"
"'To ali intents and purposes 1t Is as
good as new. and will probably remain
so as l:ng as your guarantee holds good
tone. nevertheless. although the change
70 =.
ed ear. Pianos are said to last life
time, and for ordinary uses good ones
do. blt for artistic purposes they last
but five OF six months, as have said.
No tirst-class pianist would give pub
lie recital on an old instrument, nor
will IN artist use All nd piano even
il. this country he used UP new piano
i'll practice every month. He realized
than even an err as educated rs his
would lose it's fine perception of tone
if he accustomed 1t to the gradual
piano.
The ear for tone is such a very deli
cate sellse that it can be deteriorated
without the knowledge Of it's roAsessor.
Custom eNerts IL powerful influence in
the matter. TO employ familiar H.
luStration: You have observed that
those in daily intercourse with the sick
fail to mark any material change for
weeks at q time. But the changes have
taken place. nevertheless, and are plain
ly noticeable to outsiders.
1T is exactly so with pianos. Those
who play upon them every day fail
to mark the gradual falling Off of their
tone that time effects. The deteriora-
ton has taken place in such impercep-
tible degrees that the car has failed to
distinguish it. Hence a piano five or
six years old is as satisfactory to the
ordinary player as it was when he
first bought it, and it was new.
Pianos are at best, but imperfect
instruments. continued lne dealer.
'"The chamois skin caps that cover the
hammers in the middle octaves are
worn down soonar than those in the
upper and lower, because they are
brought into play of tenor, and an I'M
evenncss of tone in the instrument re-
suits. Even the sounding board wears
out in time. The constant vibrations of
sound to which it is subjected cause q
disintegration of particles in the wood
Of which it is made and it becomes
porous, losing its resonant quality. So
you see when 1 offer you $3.50 for your
instrument | am making you a fair bid,
esp. cially when you take into consider
alton the fact that shall have to sell
it for 5000 or more to rccompense me
for my pains