The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1883-08-07
PLANO PLAYING CLERKS.
Artractin9 Customers and Getting
Invitations to Country
Parties.

GSeW VIZ CUM
81 want something new in the Ian
GERS line" said . young countrymar
% he entered . music store the othel
day. They're going to have . barr
warming at Squire Benton's nex'
week, and / want the latest thing out.
I can't read music 90 I want you to
pick out the liveliest set you've go'
for me-"
could you tell what you want i
you hear it played :"
Hear It played : Why, who.
going to play it, Of course l could
tell"
Here, Miss Nellie" called out the
dealer. "please play these three sets Of
lancers for the gentleman"
This way, sir, plesse." said Miss
Mollie, . very pretty and pleasant
spoken young person, a. she walked
toward the rear Of the store, followed
by the young countryman. She
opened an upright piano and dashed
of one lancer after another.
"Guess I'll take them all three,
said the countryman, land l 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 to have you
there. She can't force the tune as
you can But no matter about Maria.
I guess Benton's folks would be glad
to have you up
Well said Miss Mollie, I don't
want to hurt Miss Mariais feelings.
and I'm afraid I'm wanted here. but
my sister will be glad of a chance to
60. 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 piano?'
we asked.
"A good many he replied. You
see, q great many customers can't tell
a 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 lust sold three sets of Ian
GERS to that young fellow. / could
have sold him only one. So it pays
to engage some one to play.
Just then q young lady entered the
store. I was buying something next
door, she said, and I heard some one
playing in here. I'd like to buy the
tune I heard played
Does that often happen asked
the reporter of the dealer.
Very often. So often that when
business IL slack I get Miss Mollie to
play on the piano. That attracts GUS
TONER'S.
Can Miss Mollie singr
No, she doesn't sing. Its very
difficult to find q clerk who can play
and sing too. Of course singing
would attract many more, but I doubt
if the profit wouldn't be eaten up by
the extra sum would have to pay
singer. think pianoist is more
satisfactory
DO you pay clerks who play the
piano higher wages than ordinary
clerks p
"Oh, yes. That's only just.
There's Miss Mollie. She's worth at
least ten dollars a week more than an
ordinary clerk. She used to play for
dancing at evening parties. Now she
can make almost as much here with
out having to be up late at night.
Her sister plays for parties, and in
summer manages to get good many
engag, ments 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 to Miss MolIie
''Pd like the Misery from .Trova-
tore"
The reporter watched Miss Mollie
with admiration as, without a mo-
ment's hesitation or the trace of a
smile, she handed down the "Mis-
erere."
"Do people aften make mistakes
like that?"
"Oh, yes" she answered. Some
times they don't come so near the
title. They ask for the Misery with
out mentioning the 'Trovatore.' You
wouldn't believe it, but some one once
asked for the Convict Song and
they often want the prison Tune all
of which etond for the sM;sororo