ve a wider field for comparison.

[Illustration: XCVIII.
Old Manor House, Lythe Hill, England.]

+Notes.+

Attention has already been called in these columns to the efforts of
the Henry F. Miller Piano Co. to foster the designing of artistic piano
cases. Their later designs are a long step away from the conventional
and hopelessly ugly piano cases that have been put out by the piano
trade universally. They reason that the piano, as an artistic
instrument, should have an artistic setting, and it is to draw the
attention of architectural designers to this point that they have
already given prizes for one competition, and purpose offering another
prize, probably of $100, for a second competition. The making of
special designs for piano cases has fallen largely into the hands of
custom-furniture makers simply because the work of piano factories has
for years carried its own condemnation. The furniture maker often is
forced to buy a new piano, from stock, and build it over as best he can,
charging a price that is almost prohibitory. Since the Miller factory
has been equipped with the best facilities for special case work it has
become possible for architects to have their own designs intelligently
executed without unreasonable expense, or to secure unfinished cases
should they wish a cabinet maker to execute their designs. The Miller
Company is one of the few piano companies in a position to undertake
this departure. The character of their pianos as superior instruments
was established years ago, and every succeeding year has added to their
reputation. The fight for a front-rank position as instrument makers has
been won. Now they begin to fight for artistic case building, and they
deserve the sympathy and encouragement of every American architect. The
work of the pioneer is always hard, and it is seldom the pioneer who
gets the benefits from this work. Should this move of the Miller Company
prove that better designed cases will be appreciated by the public,
every piano maker in the country will follow suit, but none seem to have
the courage to strike out independently with the same aim. The piano
shown on this page is the Wagner Grand exhibited at the World's Fair,
while their Colonial design is shown in their advertisement. They are
the two extremes.

[Illustration.]

One could hardly get a more attractive case for ordinary purposes than
the Colonial pattern.

[Illustration: XCIX.
Old Farm House, L