The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1902-08-14
THE POWER OF MUSIC.
How . Clever Salesman Sold am Organ
to = Lady who Had Little
Use for II.

In one Of the local music stores the
| other day several statesmen were relat-
ing experiences connected with the
craft. when one Of the party. who had
been a dealer in organs in a small way
In a western state. where he had acted
as agent for big concern in supply
ing the local trade. grew reminiscent,
relates the Washington Star.
81 remember an incident connected
with the sale of those cottage organs
that has somewhat the flavor of the
David Harum boss trade" said he.
my rival in the organ business In the
| western town was one Of the Slickest
statesmen that ever cajoled the elucive
currency from a folded fist. The fell
low-his name was Bishop-sold or
gans to nearly every family in three
counties. We got our instruments for
| about $2S net. and the regular selling
price was $50.
Bishop had a light wagon con-
structed especially for carrying a cot
tage organ, and he would load in one
OF the instruments and, together with
his assistant. who was a fine musician,
would start for the country.
Zone day he drove to farm owned
and managed by a wealthy old Irish
lady who couldn't tell a music score
from baseball tally sheet. As Bishop
and his assistant drove up to the house
with organ in the wagon the old lady
| came out before the door, and with
| her arms akimbo struck a Dels1 rtean
pose suggestive of the naughty deci-
sion. and said:
"'Take thot thing out Of me yard!
Move on wild yez. l won't have no
| music boxes around me. Don't We
dare to take it out ay the wagin, or I'll
| break 1t open wild an AK
"'Oh, didn't intend to take the
organ out, Mrs. Murphy said Bishop,
i only wanted to water my horses
ut was warm day and, after
| watering the animals. the two began
cOnversing pleasantly with Mrs. MUIR
ply until her aggressiveness relaxed.
Bishop declared it vas too warm to
take to the road for = while and that
they would have to rest. He present
| ly induced the old lady to let them
| put the organ under a shade tree out
! of the sun. The two conspirators
| against the peace Of the household
strolled aimlessly about the yard, and
after awhile the young fellow opened
up the organ and began playing lively
airs with the Irish sticking out all over
| them. He was an excellent performer
| and he coaxed all the Irish out of that
| instrument there was in It, and pres
emily Mrs. Murphy peeked out at the
| door. The assistant played through
his list OF airs and started on some OF
the old songs dear to every native of
old Erin, using the stops and pedals
with great effect.
land phwat do yez ask fer thing
like thotT the old lady presently
asked Bishop.
Awe usually get s75 for that organ,
he replied indifferently, and went on
sauntering about the yard
THE music continued, and after a
few minutes Mrs. Murphy asked:
Would We sell 1t any cheaper fer cash p
mo says Bishop, that's the low
est cash price
Mrs. Murphy walked back to the
house. Finally the young man closed
the organ with snap and backed up
the wagon preparatory to reloading.
| Mrs. Murphy came out with unmistak-
able interest visible in her counte-
nance. She looked the organ over a
| moment and then said:
"'Now. Mr.. Bishop. couldn't We
throw off five dollars If I'd give ye ca sh
| money!
"'No, said he, this organ Is the one
] am using for a sample, and it's one
| OF the best. I don't care to sell IL
anyway. but I have some down at the
store and he went on reloading.
| "The old lady's Irish blood was up.
| She couldn't let an instrument that
could express the sentiments of tn se
old melodies SO sweetly escape her,
so she said: y don't want any other
one. Just be aisy now and wait a
minute and she lodged into the
house. where the family bank, con-
sisting OF an old stocking, was opened.
and she counted out SIS for the lucky
salesman
1.-THE organ was placed in the parlor,
the assistant taught the old lady a
chord. and as they drove away they
could hear her hammering on the
organ with excruciating results.
| Down the road for half a mile thew
could hear 'tum. tum-tum, tum, tum-
t'm, as she endeavored to get her
moneys worth. The only time 1t at
forded her satisfaction, however, was
when some visitor who could play
dropped In, and then the music Of old
Erin could be heard from the roadway
for hours"