Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-07-30
ADAMS CAREER IN TOPEKA.
Former Rock Islander Cuts u Wide Swath
in the Kansas Town.


Charles Pietro Adams. formerly of
Rock Island. seems to have cut a wide
swath in Topeka, Has, where he has
been engaged in the retail piano bust
ness for the past several months.
The Topeka Mail devotes 4 couple of
columns of its space in relating the
operations Of Adams there. The Mail
says:
1t is said that Charles Pietro came
here with the intention of securing a
position as teacher in one of the
parochial schools of the city, but
failed to pass the required eXamina-
tions to do so. Failing to get the po-
sition desired. Charles Pietro branched
off into the musical business. How
he managed to make Kansas City
house believe that he would make a
competent and reliable agent ut To-
peka for the sale of pianos is not gen
orally known. He did so, however.
and opened up piano parlors on West
Sixth street and began to insert page
advertisements in the dailies and sell
pianos i'll a manner which caused the
old piano men of the city to open
their eyes in amazement. 1t was no
trouble at all for him to sell piano.
Quick sales, regardless of profits or
really how much was paid for a piano.
providing something was paid which
could be utilized, was apparently
his motto. Marvel is hardly the
word to apply to his Topeka
career; mcteoric would come nearer
expressing it. He ilourished but for
four months, but he scared high dur
ing his brief career One SJ25 piano
went to Artist NJ. l.. Campbell in pay
ment for one life-sized portrait of
himself and smaller portraits sufli-
cient TO cover the balance of the cost
of the piano. These portraits were
to he used i'll advertising himself. the
life-sized portrait, as he claimed, be-
ing destined for place in Crosby
Bros. show window. In order to
properly advertise himself in the
Dewey day parade, Charles Pietro
concluded he must have team of hi.
own. Another 800 piano went to
Charles w. Gould, the marble man.
for his ponies, enough cash being re-
ceived in the deal to make a partial
payment To Warner a. Potter for a
fine $50 Stanhope carriage. During
the parade the professor drove the
ponies in tandem with white ribbons
stretched over them. 1t is unnecessary
20 say that the professor thoroughly
advertised himself, if it did cost a
piano.
But the professor is gone and. 50
far rs we know. did not leave many
debts behind him in Topeka, but the
Kansas City house is behind some
80, 600 TO $1,000, as many people sup
pose. Ii is true he gave his piano
tuner a check in part payment for his
services. which was unhonored at the
bank. and still owes him about $50,
and it is alleged that the checks given
the daily papers for the last adyertis-
ing were not paid for want of funds,
but it must also be said to his credit
that the professor left with the IN
derstanding that he was to obtain
money from his rich uncles in the
east and return and square up with
everybody, even the Kansas City
house. Many of his Topeka acquaint-
ance appear to believe that he will
keep his promises. He is said to
have been in Kansas City Saturday
and to have left for Chicago for the
| purpose of going into business again. =