New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-08-18
NEw-YoRK IN SLICES.
Slice XVI. The PAwSBRoxERs' SHoE

luxury from the broken frying pan TO the diamond
necklace Il has seemed 10 that ii was easy TO group
the various articles which originally belonged together
and thus make each group tell ts little domestic or
personal romance These pretty halfworn dresses for
example of rich material but long exploded fashion
and next them this costly but old fashioned bonnet-ths
dainty cradle whose former inmate If living, must now
he grown TO mans estste-these rich silver teaspoons
this bracelet this massive gold.wstch-s these are
eloquent memorials of a happy and pros
porous family, driven by reverse Of fortune TO
poverty and want. The father was few years ago
known successful merchant in Front~st and his
family resided in handsome house uptown, surround
ed by everything TO make life pleasure. But a. he
grew more and more prosperous he became also more
ambitious. and gradually all the energies of his soul
concentrated in the consuming desire-to be-
come millionaire. series OF speculatons, at first
promising but he grew boder disastrous at length
left him a ruined man, unless he could raise large
of money by certain day. Every legitimate effort
completely failed and maddened at the speedy and in
evabe destruction of his credit and hopes OF fortune
he committed tremendous forgery-raised the money,
saved his credit-and was the next day arrested snd
thrown into prison a mslefsctor Then came forth
the real and inherent cowardce Of the man who had
possessed courage to sacrifice his honesty and the bread
of his wife and family TO the demon OF Financial Ambi
bition secretng knife from the supper brought by
the taller he waited till the old prison sunk in the
tOnbke silence Of midnight and then cut his throat
The results of all his mighty scheming lie here. His
poor wife and daughters psrayzed by the fearful blow
found no courage look their destiny in the face until
everything was swept away from them--homer comfort
and s-and their very dresses and household treasures
the cherished cradle where little brother used TO
sleep-were carried to the pawnbrokers to procure
food Then when this resource had failed they had but
one way left that and dreary hope OF destitute and
virtuous Woman-the needle. How have they sped ;
Alas the poor pale mother in the grave, and the
two tender daughters fighting bitterly yet patiently
with bitter world for bread and shelter. Thus far
they have conquered--but when think how un-
scrupulous is the tempter with his dazzling promises
and how weak is poor, hungry unfriended Woman, We
tremble for the fate of these poor sisters
Here is q magnificent diamond necklace, with
rings and bracelet to match-tulya costly and arsto
cratic casket They were deposited but few hours
ago. and directly after the following had takel
place at a fashionable icecream saloon in Broadway
spenddly attred in the prime Of life and love
lncss and bearing unmistakable traces of that easy in.
science which marks the Upper Ten, sits at one Of
the little marble tables resting her bonnet with be-
witchng head in m on her head and patting her foot
rapidly upon the floor. Opposite, and leaning across
until his curling hair waves in the anbreeze che is
beckonng into existence is gentleman belonging very
decidedly to that interesting variety Of the species
Poodle known handsome men"
"My dear madam" the gentleman lie going on to say,
if there be any one punishment than another
such horrd monster deserves that it should be in
Hicted upon him. What forbid them to credit you at
Stewards"
eyes land for the paltry amount Of $500. But
my dear Charles let speak of your embarrass-
ments. How much do you want p
Generous, noble creature intended TO have ac-
cepted loan for sthoussnd-I am morally certain to
break the bank with that but
Enough. Take these jewels-they are worth twice
the amount Ny husband gave them to me the day be-
fore my marriage. shall manage him well enough
Madam angel of woman dearest Clara =
Hush, hush Don't attract attention--good heavens
what are you about Sir
In am hour afterward Charles" had spouted the cas-
ket and contents for fifteen hundred dolars-the old
shekelite groanng in spirit at the hard bargain the
young reprobate droye-and was dining with plump
little actress from the - Theater on woodcock and
champagne.
"Ha Ina, LA :" laughed the little witch that WAS
nicely DONE to he But Charles, you cey sure
you don't love this fine goose that lays you SO many
golden eggs spoken of in the wellknown fable of Esop
Well amt anything else, girl But she loves me
enough for the whole family She a trump though,
and ere her health and fat speculstons TO her silly
old husband"
"Yes-if an old fogy like him will marry young and
dashing wife, why, ceeeat emptor is my motto
There That internal redhesded lawyer has been
here again III wiring his neck one of these days, and
send him travelling with his fiery head in his own green
bag"
"Oh. hot Jealous again Then m of. Beside, it is
time for me to go and dress. 4 repsd1ci! y
So we will return to the pawnbroker's.
Whom have we here very pale, timdlooking
little man-thin TO diaphony and with large lustrous
eyes that seem like jets yelling up from some deep
hidden source He stsggers in under load of books
al want little money these books, Sir They
are invaluable to me- and shall be sure to redeem
them as soon as my book is out
Don't want books my good fellow-they don't
pay"
But, sir here ia Byron and Shelley, and Bacon, and
Jeremy Taylor
Who ish Cheremy Taylor If it wash sachary
Taylor, now =
Go away, good scribber snd lug back your precious
books You will get nothing for them here The good
gentleman who presdes over this very respectable
establishment has no need of Byron nor Shelley nor
Bacon nor Jeremy Taylor Indeed II would injure his
business if he were to know anything about them.
But the most interesting part Of the pawnbroking
business the stated sales at auction OF such articles as
have not redeemed by the owners and which are
put up on the day of sale in lots to suit purchasers
and generally sold for quite their value. The pawn
broker cares mostly however that they bring the
amount of his principal and the usuous interest which
be is entitled to charge upon his money for the rest 1t
is all clear gain The rate which he is authorized to
charge by law is % per cent but he generally manages
by OF another to double these rates at least
upon the poor laborng people who constitute vast
majority of his These poor people are ire
quenty compelled to pawn their furniture and their
very wearing apparel, to procure bread-hoping that
something will turn up TO enable them to redeem thsr
property before the time out In this, however,
they often disappointed and they go with heavy
hearts and fearful eyes 10 beg little indulgence from
the impassye broker, who listening very patiently till
they tell their story, raises his speetacles TO let the
glasses cool and with shrug and smile that need no
cooling, goes with cyphering up his gains and ar
ranging everything for the sale Sometimes poor
widow or orphan comes to plead for some little pre-
Iii. 81 the dad and will down