Of all the music-publishing firms for whom Mr. Holland has written, I believe the only ones that know him personally, and know that he is a colored man, are the Messrs. Brainard and Mr. John Church. On this point of color, a little incident in his life is well worth recording. One day, in 1864, Mr. Holland went into a large music-store (not in Cleveland) to purchase an instrument. The salesmen present seeming disposed--no doubt on account of his color--to give him no attention whatever, he quietly left, and made his purchase elsewhere. He has since been employed by, and has received large sums of money from, that very firm, as a writer of music for them. He does not even now personally know any one of the firm; nor is it supposed that the latter know him otherwise than by his reputation, and through correspondence with him. It is almost certain, that had it been generally known, as it was not outside of Cleveland, that this gifted and accomplished musician was a member of the colored race, his success would have been much curtailed, so greatly has the senseless, the ignoble feeling of color-phobia prevailed in this country. To the Messrs. Brainard and Mr. Church, who proved themselves superior to the low prejudices of the times, all honor be given! To them the brightness of the artist's genius was not obscured by the color of his face. As another evidence of the esteem in which Mr. Holland is held by one of the firms just mentioned, I append the following extract from a letter which I received a few months ago:-- S. BRAINARD'S SONS' MUSIC-PUBLISHING HOUSE, CLEVELAND, O., April 2, 1877. _Dear Sir_,--... Mr. Justin Holland is one of our finest practical and theoretical musicians. He has written two large methods for the guitar, besides being the composer and arranger of a large amount of guitar-music, both vocal and instrumental. He is a refined and educated gentleman of very modest and unpretending character, but is a thorough musician and student. Yours, S. BRAINARD'S SONS. A few years ago, on his return from a visit to New Orleans, he stopped at Leavenworth, Kan. The editor of the leading paper in Leavenworth, supposing that Mr. Holland intended to remain there, thus spoke of him editorially:-- "PROFESSOR HOLLAND. "We had the pleasure of a visit yesterday from Professor J. Holland of Louisiana, who is an eminent music teacher and writer of thirty years' practical experience. He purposes locating in Leavenworth, and giving instructions on the guitar, flute, and piano. He has made an especial study of the guitar, and has written a work on it which is pronounced the best in print by competent critics. We need just such a man as the professor in this city, and are glad he has come among us, and hope he may receive a liberal patronage."