796 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



most time-honored names of American harp manufacturers — 

 names best known to persons interested in this artistic branch. 

 Comparatively little in the way of radical inventions has been 

 introduced into the instrument since Southwell's and Erard's im- 

 provements were adopted, but a gradual development has taken 

 place, the present concert harp being capable of larger and more 

 extended tones and art possibilities than those instruments used 

 in past years. Many native artists, among whom Miss Maud 

 Morgan and Miss Inez Caruzi may be mentioned, have already 

 appeared in America, while in the leading conservatories through- 

 out the country j)rofessors of the harp are also engaged, and this 

 educational work is steadily widening the circle of its admirers 

 and patrons. James F. Buckwell, of New York, has introduced 

 some improvements in the instruments of his manufacture ; these 

 can not be very readily described, however. Lyon & Healy, of 

 Chicago, have also begun the manufacture of harps containing 

 many patented points of improvement. One of the chief points 

 of originality in the Lyon & Healy harps is the adjustment of 

 tlie pedal-rods. These work in solid metal bearings in the column, 

 and are a remarkable improvement over ordinary methods. In 

 these instruments many other original features in the action and 

 parts are also evidenced, and these permit the performer to make 

 the most perfect mechanical adjustment of the scales in the vari- 

 ous pedal positions ever made possible in the harp. A comparison 

 of American harps on the whole with foreign instruments will go 

 to show that they are equal in every respect, if not superior in 

 some details. 



Orchestral and Band Instruments. — The violin and in- 

 struments of that order rule in the orchestra. Although bow 

 instruments somewhat similar were known long before Christ, 

 the violin of the familiar shape only came into use about the mid- 

 dle of the sixteenth century. One Baltazarini gave performances 

 to wondering listeners in England in 1577, which is the earliest 

 record known. The elder Amati began business in Cremona, 

 Italy, in 1 600, and is said to have founded that famous school. 

 The Stradivari and Guarneri families subsequently appeared and 

 bequeathed to the world instruments which are famous to-day. 

 Germany, which claims to have first produced the violin, is rep- 

 resented by the names of Klotz and Steiner, who flourished dur- 

 ing the same century. The violin became the leader in the orches- 

 tra, and still holds the foremost place there. The violoncello and 

 other larger forms of the instrument were evolved between the 

 middle of the sixteenth and the end of the seventeenth century, 

 but nearly all efi'ort has been concentrated on the violin, or " little 

 viol," from which the familiar title came. 



Dr. F. W. Adams, of Montpelier, A^ermont, was perhaps the 



