Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-16

Washington could not then have been called
a musical center but in recent years it has
kept pace with the remarkable growth of
the country In general. FreebOrn G.. Smith
had something to do with this advance
ment He was one of those who had an
abiding faith in the future of Washington
and from his very first acquaintance with
the city contended that 1t would, sooner or
later be the educational and artistic hub
of the universe.
The business of the company, due not
only to the intrinsic merit of the instru-
ment manufactured but to the popularity
and energies of Mr.. Van Wickle, manager
of the Washington branch, soon outgrew
its old quarters and moved TO the present
handsome building The building Is as
complete a piano warehouse as could be
made. 1t is artistic in design, with five
stories on Pennsylvania avenue and four on
F, street depth of 20 feet and ground
floor space of 5000 feet. The height of the
ceiling of the ground floor. eighteen feet,
combined with depth of 21O feet, makes
an ideal place for showing the superior
quality of tone of the Bradbury instru-
ments. On this ground floor alone there
is ample space for the displaying in the
neghborhood of leo pianos, and this, too.
without any suggestion of crowding. The
upper floors used for displaying up
rights, baby grands. quarter grands and
the Webster, of which piano the Brad
bury people are the District agents.
The claims made for the Bradbury piano
are fully justified. 1t is the result of the
Mfework of William B. Bradbury, who, in
his day was a celebrated composer of
church music and a singer of merit. In
undertaking the construction of piano it
was his expressed determination to secure
an instrument that would combine the mel
low holding tone of the organ with the
vibrant incisive effect of the best pianos
That he succeeded in this ambition was
quickly demonstrated for his Bradbury
piano jumped into almost immediate popu-
larity. So successful was he. in fact, that
shortly after the war he was able to retire
from business, being succeeded by Mr..
Smith The latter took up the thread where
Mr. Bradbury had left 1t and did his work
nobly, for the Bradbury piano of today is
"a thing of beauty and a joy forever" 1t
is an instrument of beauty of tone as well
as of beauty of design, constructed that
II will stand the severest use.
Life Like a Romance.
The life story of Freedom Garretson
Smith reads like a fairy tale. 1t is
story of journey from cabin to palace
from poverty to millions. from the ignor-
ance of untutored youth to education, from
mechanics to the arts and science. 1t is a
notable fact that in this country our great
est men, particularly those who have made
their success In commercial life, were rear
edsin humble surroundings Very few men
deserve greater circuit IOI Tic suSCcSS OD-
tanned than does Mr.. Smith, now the multi
millionaire of the piano trade. Born seven
ty-f1ve years ago in log cabin just out
side of Baltimore. his first work was in as
sisting mis- father at blacksmithing, work
so dista steful to him that he shortly secured
a position in a printing office in Baltimore,
where he remained for four years Mr..
Smith often refers to the great benefit his
experience as a printers devil was to
him. But his love for music naturally led
him to a piano factory, and he wanted to
learn how to make one, and so became an
apprentice to a piano maker, where he first
learned the rudiments of piano construction.
The work appealed strongly to the young
artisan, and so earnest and studous and
persistent was he that his employers be-
came interested In him and declared him,
even at the early age of fifteen, to be one
of their best experts. So rapid was his i'm
provement that the young mechanic quickly
shops of Baltimore. But he thought the
field there too contracted. and his natural
tendency being one of expansion. he boldly
set out for New York and Boston with I'M
limited confidence in himself. bunch of
hope and IS In cash His IS in cash went
for small room in French's Hotel, on the
site now occupied by the New York World
building. in Printing House square. His
first position was with Horatfo Worcester,
at the munifcent salary Of 50 per week. So
skillful a workman did he prove himself
that his wages were voluntarily raised three
times within six months. At the end OF
that period he was made superintendent OF