The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-11
AMONG THE PAWNBROKERS.

sang out dapper little man OF five and thirty from
behind the counter Of a pawn once yesterday
afternoon. as representative Of the HERALD,
accompanied by Detective Lyon, entered an east
side establishment, on the frosted window of
which could De seen in CHASTITY transparency the
tempting announcement, "Money Lent" The
speaker was the clerk. The party addressed a
little girl wan and starved looking, who, in pushing
her bundle forward, cast an imploring look at the
young man as he cheerily tossed 1t open and SUBJ
mitted the contents to critical inspection.
Mother" replied the little maiden timidy,
another told me to get 81, SIR"
Cant be did, my h0ney-not taking them
things now;'' and as the clerk proceeded to roll up
the quilt the poor girl looked dejectedy at the
bundle, unable, apparently, to utter WORD. But
Just The clerk was moving on, she called to him
in feeling tones, ''Oh, SIR give me something on
iii We've eaten nothing since yesterday. Mother
will blame me-"
..Eh give you dollar-it amt worth two shil-
Inns" In q twinkiing the ticket was made out,
and, tightly cutching the BILL the girl sped forth
like deer.
Iu order to ascertain the extent OF poverty in
the Tenth and adjoining wards, as illustrated by
the increase decrease Of business in the derent
pawnbrOker shops, HERALD reporter. with Mr..
Lyon, the able detective so well known in connec-
ton with the capture OF the masked robbers,
visited nine ten establishments ofvarious grades
on the East side. The tour was full OF interest,
and good deal Of useful information was OBJ
tanned. 1t may as WELL however, be stated in the
beginning that the pawn Offices furnish no satis-
factory criterion Of the actual condition of the
really destitute people in their vicinity,
since, In the first place, they have nothing
to pawn, and in the next the articles with
which they might be compelled to part, are value
less. True many OF the poor IN the Tenth ward
have gradually arrived at their present state OF
dire distresS-have disposed Of article after article
until now gaunt starvation stares them boldly in
the face. But, as general rule, the pawnbrokers
do not thrive on this class OF business Their
profits are mainly derived rom customers who,
partly fascinated by the Inducements held out,
rarely fail to redeem their pledges. 1t may be
mentioned, moreover, that the prevailing distress
is by no means confined dIed to what Is known
Tenth ward particularly there exists
to do. or the really starving portion OF the com.
munty the pawnbrokers knew but little II was
more in relation to the small storekeepers in the
neighborhood that they were able to give infOrma.
ton, and from all that could be learned there is
reason to believe that many are actually suffering
from the want OF those necessaries to which they
have until recently been accustomed. But OF the
utterly destitute people Of the ward Detective
Lyon spoke from personal knowledge and, describ-
ing the nightly scenes at the Tenth precinct station
house, drew picture misery and starvation truly
SAID Mr.. Lyon, "and have seen some pretty rough
spectacies In my day, but cannot call to mind
anything Ike what may be seen every night at the
station. They come there In droves, men Of all
descriptions, from the habitual drunkard to the
respectable tradesman or clerk, unable to find en-
poyment or bite to eat. or course there's not
room Tor them all, but tell You it's mighty hard
to turn them away hungry and houseIess.n
Entering the establishment OF Messrs. Simpson
d Greene in the BOwery-one Of the largest OF its
class-we were courteously conducted through
the building and nd, beheId countless variety OF
tion," which had been deposited for loans.
In the course OF conversation Mr.. Greene stated
that while there was great deal OF poverty in the
ward the pawDbroking business did not seem to
be much affected by IT. Our pronts," he con-
people-that is those who obtain temporary loans
and quickly redeem their pledges. There is an.
other class who pawn goods on Monday morning
and redeem them on Saturday night. Latterly,
however that class Of custom has fallen or-owing
to their present inability to pay But. you
PRESTON css or people
We receive daily baskets OF silver ware
from the residents Of fashionable localities
and our store Is literally crammed with jewelry OF
every description" In verihcation OF tins we
descended into the vault below and there was ex-
posed to view an array OF diamonds and watches
which would think would take years to collect
This however, Is not the case, as explained by Mr.
Greene, who stated that OF the $50 or 800 pledges
day more than twenty-five per cent we're redeemed
cura theft loans but at Ssf the oOn present.
poor people, said Mr.. Greene, 'sgeneraliy
go to the small Offices, as the articles they wish to
dispose OF are ValuelesS 10 large establishments.
For instance, we rarely ever take pledge under
81. though assure you that sum has repeatedly
been given TO many poor person on an article
which, II sold, would not bring twenty-five
cents. II Is almost impossible to resist the appeals
OF some, and, though 1t might not be thought so,
there Is many charitable act done In a pawn
Office. The HERALD representative next pro-
ceeded to the establishment OF Messrs. Simpson
Co.. also on the Bowery, and learned sub
stantially the same story-to wit, that bust.
ness was not much affected by the present
destitute condition Of the poor. This was virtually
explained by the fact that poverty had already
made such rapid strides that those who heretofore
had derived some relief from the pawnbrokers,
having parted with everything, had now nothing
left to dispose Of StrOlllng down Grand street. sew
era pawnbrokers' establishments were entered,
all presenting somewhat similar appearance. In
conversation with one OF the most prominent bro
kers in that locality to the condition OF the poor
ne SAID that during the panic loans were linn
tied TO &c. but That now az matters
had taken q change, business proceeded
as usual. When" said he, "there IS a. good deal
ofpoverty, we suffer as well as Others for, strange
boating our business increases accordingly.