Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1883-09-15

| Wdho ooIuctulDS ueW Ill Iu'
lancers' line," said a young country
man as he entered music store tn,
other day. They're going to have
a barn warming at Squire Benton,
next week, and / want the lates
thing out. 1 can't read music, SO
want you to pick out the liveliest sci
you've got for me-"
Gould you tell what you want il
you hear it playedF"
Hear it played?- Why, who's
going to play it? OF course 1 could
tell"
Here, Miss Mollie," called out
the dealer please play these three
sets of lancers for the gentleman"
This way, sir, please" said Miss
Mollie, a very pretty and pleasant
spoken young person, as she walked
toward the rear of the store, followed
by the young countryman. She
opened an upright piano and dashed
off one lancers after another.
"Guess I'll take them all three"
said the countryman, land I guess
the folks would like it if you'd come
up and play for them. That is, all
but Maria Larkins would like it.
She's to play herself, and it would
make her kind of mad like to have
you there. She can't force the tune
as you can. But no matter about
Maria. l guess Benton's folks would
be glad to have you up"
"Well," said Miss Mollie, II don't
want to hurt Miss Maria's feelings,
and Pm afraid Pm wanted here, but
my sister will be glad of chance to
go. She plays for parties"
'Can she swoop down on the tune
as steady as you can?"
"Steadier," said Miss Mollie with a
laugh. And that's how her sister
came to spend Sunday in the country
with Benton's folks.
''Are there many dealers who en-
ploy musical clerks to play the pianoT'
we asked.
"a good many" he replied. You
see great many customers can't tell
tune by reading it from the sheet.
They have to hear it"
But wouldn't they take it on your
recommendation"
"They might. But you see Miss
Mollie has just sold three sets of
lancers to that young fellow. 1
could have sold him only one. SO it
pays to engage some one to play"
just then a young lady entered the
store. II was buying something next
door," she said, ''and heard some one
playing in here. I'd like to buy the
tune 1 heard played"
"Does that often happen?" asked
the reporter of the dealer.
"Very often. SO often that when
business is slack l get Miss Mollie to
play on the piano. That attracts
customers"
"Can Miss Mollie singY"
"No, she doesn't sing. It's very
difficult to find cleik who can play
and sing too. OF course singing
would attract many more, but l doubt
il the profit wouldn't be eaten up by
the extra sum would have to pay a
singer. i think pianist is more sat
isfactory."
"Do you pay clerks who play the
piano higher wages than ordinary
clerks?"
''Oh, yes. That's only just. There's
Miss Mollie. She's worth at least
ten dollars week more than an or
binary clerk. She used to play for
dancing at evening parties. Now
she can make almost as much here
without having to be up late at night.
Her sister plays for parties. and III
summer manages to get good many
engagements out OF town."
Just then somebody asked for a
waltz, and the dealer turned to serve
him. This customer had hardly de-
parted when another entered and
said 10 Miss Mollie:
I'D like the Misery from 'Trova-
tore"
The reporter watched Miss Mollie
with admiration Gs, without mo-
ment's hesitation or the trace OF a
smile, she handed down the "Mis-
erere."
do people often make mistakes
like that?"
"Oh. yes" she answered. "Some-
times they don't come so near the
title. They ask for the Misery
without mentioning 'Trovatore.' You
wouldn't believe it, but some one
once asked for the 'Convict's Song
and they often want the Prison
Tune all of which stand for the
sMiserere.'
"Do they ever get the singer or
PLAYER mixed up with the composer?"
"rve often had them come in and
ask for that pretty song OF Cam
panini's' or 'Nilsson's' called Coming
Through the Rye But the most
ridiculous feature of the business is
that they always seem to think I've
been to the opera the night before.
Can you let me have that song
Galassi sang last night when he put
his head down and butted like a
bullY That's question that's often
asked. Everybody who asks it wants
the Toreador's song from Carmen.
OF course, they think that l saw
Galassi at the Academy the night be-
fore"
'Don't they sometimes get the keys
wrongT
"Well, / should say so. The Other
day a lady came in here and said
Can You let me have the first duet