Bicycles Hurt the Piano Trade.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2279, 22 September 1899, Page 6

Bicycles Hurt the Piano Trade.

"The piano business," said a dealer, " has had the bottom knocked out of it by this bicycle craze. You don't see the connection between bicycles and pianos ? "Well, if you were a dealer in pianos you would quickly discover it. For instance, T have sold many pianos to young married couples. Sometimes they have bought them on the instalment plan. Sometimes they have saved enough to buy the instrument outright. This has been a good source of business to the piano dealer. Now, what has happened since the bicycle came into popular favour ? Why, the young couple that otherwise would save up for a piano, save up for two bicycles. That Is a fact. Other piano dealers will tell you the same. Two bicycles can be purchased at tlie cost of one piano, and perhaps they furnish more amusement, and perhaps they don't. I am in favour of a reasonable use of a bicycle, but 1 don't like the sight of a woman in bloomers. Jusl stand up on tie- boulevard any fine afternoon and look at the costumes of the women. 1 don't want to see my daughter making a show of herself in the kind of costumes to l>e seen there. It looks as if the piano dealers' only chance for salvation will be in a piano and a bicycle combined." ■-" New York Sun."