Brigham Young and Sunday.
A good story the agent of Gilmore's band tells about his visit to Salt Lake City. During the recent transconti-nental tour of the band, the agent, who is a clever Frenchman, went ahead to make engagements. As soon as he reached Salt Lake, he set his eyes upon the Mormon tabernacle. Every one told him that the band must play there or be doomed; and then added that the agent could not get Brigham's assent.
So the agent posted off forthwith to Brigham's mansion, and solicited the honor of an interview from the patri-arch. As soon as he had made known his business Brigham refused to allow a Gentile and profane band to play in his tabernacle.
"But," said the Frenchman, "al-though we wish to give the concert on Thursday, and not Sunday, we will give sacred music only if you will overcome your scruples." "In that case," said Brigham, "I might listen to you. But the price of the tabernacle will be $500 and—and one hundred passes."
Brigham wanted to take in his family, you see.
The Frenchman immediately made a low bow and said :
"That is too little; I could not think of asking you to accept so little."
Brigham stared and asked the ami-able foreigner what he meant.
"You must have one-third of the re-ceipts," he said. "We must give the concert on shares." To this Brigham would not give his consent until after much urging. Finally he yielded, and the Frenchman, radiant with triumph, went to telegraph his success to Gil-more. But this was not all. He deter-mined to make Salt Lake City devote its entire attention to the concert. So he sought another interview with the now thoroughly interested patriarch, and asked him to use his influence to have the principal stores closed, so that all the employees could attend the con-cert. This was also done. The day arrived. The Mormons, under the bid-ding of their elders, flocked in from far and near, and at the close of the musi-cal entertainment the Frenchman paid $800 into Brigham's hands. This, in view of the fact that he had also passed in one or two hundred members of the prophet's family, was generous treat-ment. The agent knew that the surest way to Brigham's heart lay through Brigham's pocket.
