Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-11-16
Winner of IS Prize
MUSIC AND THE SAMPLE CASE
By Gus A. Shenk1e

NCdIlIlSy CilliSS Valid, Will OllS GHo
customers to call on. | finished with the
first at about ten thirty A. NJ and thought
| should get through with the second in
plenty of time to take the twelve-t thirty for
Allentown, where | intended to spend Sun
day. Ten minutes later | entered the place
of my second customer, whom | will call
George Brown. | found the proprietor
tilted back in his chair reading the morning
paper.
After looking over my card he said gruff1y,
u don't want anything. There's no bust
ness-haven' t had a customer this morning,
and resumed his reading.
well, | said, you are my last one to
see here, and if you don't want to look me
over | hope you have no objection to my
sitting down and resting until traintime at
twelve thirty" Seeing that he had the stub
of an unlit cigar in his mouth, | proffered
him new one and requested permission to
enjoy one myself.
He took the cigar, grunted assent to my
sitting down, and went on reading.
About eleven-ten he laid down his paper
and began a TRADE on what he termed the
cause of dull business, and then calming
down said, II was just reading all about our
Masonic banquet last night; but the only
thing | cared for was the music. Do you
like mus1co'
ICplCu Glltl IL WdS lily SilCl dCllSHI
Without another word he rose and taking
a either from a shelf placed it on table and
began to play.
Well, he first played some tuneful pieces
that were the rage at that time, and then
branched off into the old songs that loved
SO well Stephen Fosters melodies, "Annie
Laurie, some of the comforting old religious
hymns, c,-and sat drinking it in never
a thought of trade, traintime, or anything
except that my very soul, as it were, was
getting bath.
All at once he ceased and said, "How do
you like ito'
Don't stop!' | replied. GO on!"
He played two or three more airs, and
then jumped to his feet and began to yell
Jake, Jake!'
From somewhere in the depths of the eel
lar voice responded.
Come right up herel" Brown Yelled and
turning to me, his face beaming, said, Il see
you are a man after my own heart, and
can't let you go without some kind of an
order"
AS lake appeared he was bombarded with
"How many c. !. &, Co. salvers have we in
stocko' and on his answering Guess we
have enough, y he was awe stricken by being
told that he did not know what he was
talking about. Addressing me, he said,
SellQ Tie Il CdSk eiCn OF D., y, ana ~
inch 1888 salvers, and bring that sample
case back here quick SO | can see your new
styles.
| was now all business, and in a jiffy had
my samples unpacked and spread over the
Office floor. After a brief inquiry as to
prices he again resumed his ordering so that
by twelve-ten he had given me one OF the
prize orders of my career up to that time
Then he said:
Gee. You'll have to hustle to make the
twelve-t thirty and himself helped me to re
pack the samples.
Don't stop to write me a copy of the
order, he said. you can mail it to me, ;
and grabbing up the sample case he ran
out to the street just as horse car came
along, and stopping it handed half-dollar
to the driver and said to him, Drive
like blazes to the depot. This man must
catch the twelve-thirty,7 Hurriedly shak-
ing my hand, he said, "Coodby! God bless
YOU"