Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1883-09-14

Il want something new III I'll
, lancers' line sail Il vn.ng countr,
> man as he entered a music ston. Il,
t other day. They're gong to ..i9
Il barn warming at Squire Benton
, next week. and l want the lates
, thing out. l can't read music, SO
want You to pick out the liveliest Sc
you've got for me-"
Gould you tell what you want
yon hear it played?"
Hear it played? Why, who
going to play it? OF course | coul,
tell"
Here, Miss Mollie," called on
the dealer please play these tlre,
sets of lancers for the gentleman"
This way, sir, please said Mis-,
Mollie, very pretty and pleasant
spoken young person, as she walket
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 corntryman, "and | 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
| m.Ia bor Eipl nf ,,,,l H. - l...a
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 MolIie, Il don't
want to hurt Miss Maria's feelings,
and I'm afraid I'm 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 piano?'
we asked.
A good many" he replied. ."You
see a 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 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 young lady entered the
store. Il 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 sing?"
'No,' she doesn't sing. It's very
difficult to find a cleik who can play
and sing too. Of course singing
would attract many more, but l doubt
if the profit wouldn't be eaten up by
the extra sum l would have to pay
singer. l 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
dinary 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 in
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 Is, without mo-
ment's hesitation or the trace of q
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
'Miserere'
DO they ever get the singer or
player mixed up with the composer?"
I've 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 1 saw
Galassl at the Academy the hight be-
FORE"
Don't they sometimes get the keys
wrong?"
well, l should say SO. The other
day lady came in here and said:
Can you let me have the first duet
between Phyllis and .Str'ephOn in the
first act Of 'Iolanthe' in two flats?'"
81 am sorry l replied, but the
duet is in d major, two sharps.'"
"'That's too bad she said. i
can't sing in two sharps I've only
learned to sing in two flats"
Il suppose many of your customers
buy only dance muslc?"
''Most of them. And it's really re-
markable how rabid those people
are. They think everything ought
to be turned into a dance for them.
They want 'Luc,,' waltzes, Carmen
polkas. .Trovatore ancers."