The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-08

StenWay house has been emblazoned with one long series of first honors, which have been invariably granted to it wherever it exhibited, their American ca Ieer, in fact. duplica cating the history of their German business life, for the house was transplanted to America by the ami grafton to this land of Henry Engelhard Stenway. the founder; Charles, Henry, William and Albert Steinway, and in 1851, less than year after they started the humble little plant on Walker street, New York, from which the present vast fac tories have grown, they received the firsC premium at the Metropolitan fair in Washington. D. C., for the best two and three-stringed instruments and in the fall of the same year they secured the ilral prize q gold medal, at the American ln- stitute fair in the Crystal Palace in New York
 "No other house in the world has re- ceived such universal recognition or such high honors as Stenway X Sons. By royal warrant they have been appointed piano makers to these sovereigns and their courts:
 Royal Appointments.
 His Majesty William IL, German Elm peror and King of Prussia.
 His Majesty Edward VII. King of Great Britain and Emperor of India.
 Her Majesty Alexandra, Queen of Eng
 land ana Empress or lnuld,
 Her Majesty Victoria, Queen of Eng land and Empress of India.
 His Majesty Nicholas IL, Czar of Rus sia.
 His Majesty Franz Joseph l., Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary.
 His Majesty Oscar H.. King of Swe- den and Norway.
 His Majesty Umberto l., King of Italy.
 His Majesty Albert King of Saxony
 Ills Majesty Mousaffer-ed-Dm, Shan of Persia.
 Her Majesty Maria Christina, Queen Regent of Spain.
 His Majesty Abdul Hamid H., Sultan l of Turkey.
 "Thelr Royal Highnesses the Prince | and Princess of Wales I His Royal Highness. the Duke or l Edinburgh.
 His Royal Highness Alfonso, King of Spain
 Besides these formal commissions of l the house individual members or the firm have received pre-eminent honors through the bestowal upon them ot these decorations: The Order of the Red i Eagle, by the German Emperor; the Or l der of the Liakat, by the Sultan of Tur- kcv. and the Cross of the Legion of Hon or, by the Republic of France.
 Stenway Traditions. ''rhe Stenway traditions are nobIy maintained It would be impossible to l uphold the Steinway criterion In US original purity and force If these tradi- tions were not religiously observed and ! preserved. If ever a true word was ! snol1en if is that the Steinway traditions lie at the bottom of Steinway achieve i ment. m che present as well as In the l past.
 .'rhis is the potency that has sustained the idealistc existence of the Stelnway piano in spite of the trend on every side in the direction of materialistic gain. "Irrom generation to generation from father to son. and sons son these tradl- | tions have been transmitted and are virile force in the Steinway life or today : as clearly defined and as cleaniy cut as the gem that comes from the hands or the slllful lapidary. "'The descendants of the founders nave beea imbued with the genius of these tra- ditions, inspired with pride for the su- nerb excellence of the Steinway instru- ment put to their tasks at the bench 10 learn the full significance of perfection in detail: so that when the direction or the Steinway business fell upon their shoulders they were masters of the art and Fully able to preserve and secure un- impaired the original artistic intent of the SteinWay house. The young men Of the fourth generation of Steinways are now preparing themselves for the responsl- bilities of the future. The Stenway was and is now the standard of piano quailty throughout the world It will be kept so.
 SteinWay Fruition. "'rhis emoulous and punctilious course has won for the Steinway institution and tl,e Steinway piano the confidence and the admiration of the world of art; indeed, this sentiment extends into the practical life of the community. The liberal in- terest that the Ste.lfways have manifest ed at all times in music and its gifted exponents and the substantial aid they have always granted to both have had a stimulating and broadening reflex infiu- ence upon the Steinway supremacy in the musical world"
 Hear This Old SteinWay.
 But if you are really interested in mu- scal instruments or pianos in particular vou should visit the Jesse French com panys establishment and se this wonder ful old Steinway of 1870. If you play touch the keys and you will realize that 1 have not exaggerated the facts. If you do not play listen U some one who does and youll recognize that Stenway tone the same that comes from everyone of the l27OOo Stelnways that have been man. ufactured up to the present time.
 Manager Holcombe tells me that he will keep this instrument on exhibition for some time although several lovers of the uniaue and beautiful have already signi- fled a desire to purchase this rare old Steinway.