The Portland daily press., 1869-05-26

A LOAN OFFICE.-We will suppose that a
gentleman from the rural districts has been
lmprudent in his expenses, and desires to use
his watch as a collateral for a small loan-say
fifty dollars. As he saunters up Broadway
wondering how his desire may be best accom-
plished, and with more than little half-con-
ccaled nervousness concerning the business
in hand, his eye falls upon sign which an
nouuces that "So-and-So, Diamond Broker"
makes advances on precious stones, watches,
ect. Evidently here is his man. As he steps
into the office, The dapper young man behind
the counter reads him at a glance, and his
application for thirty-day loan is at once as
sented to, as a matter OF course. The money, +,
trlfle less perhaps, than he had expected,
owing to the somewhat old-lashoned char
acter OF his time piece, is counted out to him,
and he again descends to the street, with his
receipt in his hand
Now let him examine that same paper. No
mention is made of any deposit or sale by
himself to the gentlemanly 'broker," but he
holds In his hand an agreement from that
person to sell him thirty days from date, at
price named, watch whose number and
description are only too familiar, while the
barest trifie of simple arithmetic enables him
to see that the transaction nets the "broker"
ntteen per cent per month for the use of his
money. There is no use whatever in storm
'h5s AzfCA tuC idWJClo anu bAC pOilCc Cdu
not help him. He has sold his match, and
though he can buy it back again at any time
within the thirty days, he can not hope to OBJ
tain it for one dollar less than the price speci-
lied in his written contract. If his necessi-
ties continue, and the contract expires, he
has no help whatever in the law against lille
gal pawlbroking, and bis watch is gone. But
he may have been an old customer of that
same broker. He may have brought in many
watches, OF various patterns and values.
Some OF them he may have redeemed, and
Others not. His very personal presentation
oil security may be a reason for q speedy dis
appearance on his departure. Nothing need
be said but on his failure to redeem, that
watch will hardly find its way agian into the
regular channels Of trade. The cases 90 to
the melting pot, and the works make their
second appearance long afterward in such
guise that their own maker would not know
them. W ~
With diamonds and other precious stones
there is even less difficulty. the settings are
ofcomparatiycly little account, and are mel
ted up at once, while the gems themselves
are promptly invested with new clothing, un-
less any peculiarities render trip beyond the
seas advisable-and is there net good mar
ket in Europe? Does not Europe find Amer
lea equally convenient for similar purposes
But, as the diamond brokers and watch fan
clers can not properly attend to all the de-
Partments of this interesting business, a good
deal remains for the "auctioneers."-W. O.
SToDDARD, in Harper's Magazine.
A MAN OF NERvE.-A Washington letter.
writer remarks OF Mr.. Greeley that "the con-
troll he has of his countenance is nearer what
is related of Talleyrand than anv man I'VE
wot Oft being said of the latter than If anv
man were to kick him behind, a man in front
could not tell from the expression of his face
thst anything unusual was occurring.D This
reminds a correspondent of an incident that
occurred. in Omaha: A gentleman who had le-
ceived an insulting missive determined to re-
sent it promptly. Next day, thinking he saw
his man ahead, he hastily overlook him and
administered several pedal salutations. The
kickee remaining passive, the kicker went
round in front to see the effect, and discover
ed to his regret that he had kicked the wrong
man. He apologized, and was answered:
Don't mention it. From the frequency OF
such little episodes in my experience was
sensible of your demonstration, but was not
aware you had made any mistake"
AT which M, of the Omaha Herald,
admrlngly remarked, "Oh, hasn't he got the