Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-01-09
THE MONT-DE PETE.
The G. reat paWuh rocking Shop Of Paris.

The Great FawObrokfn2 shop Of Paris.
This institution, originally founded Ia pro-
tect poor people from the eXactiOns of uSu-
rers, Is something like savingS-bank. for 10
receives small sums from any one who is
willing to lend upon its security, for which
interest is paid at from To per cent. There
is the central office, and twenty-four minor
ones in different parts of the city, and. to
avoid embarrassment, there are always two
departments; in the first, jewelry and small
valuable articles are pawne(i, and in the sec
oDd every diversity Of goods.
Ii may be generally supposed that the work
of the MOnt-de-piete would he much in
creased when commercial crisis takes place
when The wOrkmcn arc in want, or politics
disaTrangeS the culinary course of events
Nothing of the kind; IL is the banker Of all
The little shop keepers and trades in Paris.
and its SUrest and most numerous customers
want money when they can turn il over most
quickly. January and July are the times
when The greatest activity takes place. and
aisO during the month OF December. when
the makers of toys and fancy articles are
preparing Tor opening their stalls on the
tCuitNJTdS for those who purchase New
ntgI EittS: Ihey HIlhS every Inihg ca value
which Is rot wanted Immediately and pledge
II. ard, with the money they receive, par
chase the materials for making the tasteful
boxes. toys and SweCtmpatS which prove so
| attractive To the thousands who crowd the
| bouleNardS durin" the three days sale. When
this Is ended. the articles are taken ont of the
office with great puuctualitY during the first
| fortnight in January.
The masters who can only keep two or three
WOrkmcn. and those who possess a small en- D.
ltal, lend 10 the MOnt-de-picte when a bin
lttllS cue or the time arrives for renewing Il
patent. They 10 not generally pledge their
! watches. clothes, or jcwclTy, but the work
they nave done, which accounts for the i'm
menSe quantity, amounting To q sixth OF the
whole of new goods in the warehouses. Many
| pledge tie materials given by one customer
| IN oFder To finish the work ordered by another
| y dIcSSmakCr. for instance. receives n niece
| OF SILK FOR dress; She i finishing another
which requires the trimming. for which She
cannot pay: the first piece goes To the Mont
ue-plete ana with the money she buys the
| fringe and buttons required, takes the dress
| nome, and with the payment of her bin re-
leases the othcr-a very advantageous ar
fangcmcnt, aS persons closely pressed for
| capital can still pursue their calling.
The really INDECENT classes go very little TO
TINS hughe pawn shOp,a fact which was prov
| Ell during the late war. When the English
| moved by the SufferingS of the people during
| the blockade, sent over money to assist
| them, sum of eight hundred pounds was
especially devoted To release the tools of the
Workmen, who were supposed to have pledg-
| ell them during such time of misery The
managers of the MOnt-de-piete made this
known as wide as possible. for the ware
houses contained above million articles
and how far would that small subscription
! go when the sum total was so great? Yet il
proved 10 be much more than was needed,
| for they were only asked To release two
thousand tools. and above two hundred
| pounds were left 20 apply to other purposes.
If real misery had pledged its goods at thp
MOnt-de-pleie, no doubt u would have made
! its appearance, but most of the clients were
| quite able TO redeem their goods when bright
| er days dawned.
Sometimes those who pledge are in high so
| cial position. About fifteen years ago, before
The decree was passed limiting the sum Dor
rOwcd 10 ten thousand francs, a lady of title,
| belonging to some of the most illuStriOuS
| families in France. pledged in one day some
| sets Of new Jewels 10 the amount of fifty
| thousand francs. Soon after, the mana gers
were much surprised to hear from the police
not believing that any one of so high a rank
| could be implicated i'm a nefariouS trans
| action. IL was. however. the case: using her
own name, which gave confidence to the
jewellers. she had got the gems on credit. and
Immediately pawned them. The creditors
| when tired OF waiting for their money. and
SuSleCtmg the truth. applied to the pOIica
berS of persons of high rank intcrfered in the
| ahalr. hoping 10 hu>h il up. but the lady had
| 10 more money. having quickly spent what
she had got, ana her family refused to pay il
| for her Justice had 10 be called in. whes
the affair was arrested a. il by eHchantmpuf
The project Of police had spoken of il To the
| emperor, who gave a check to pay for the
| articles and return them to the real owners
| The most curious part OF the affair was that
| the emperor deceived by the name, thought
| ne was saving rom disgrace the wife Ofa man
who was in strong opposition 10 his govern
mCnt.
Sometimes there i more tragical end Ia
Such adventures. Some years ago, it seemed
quite certain that forged pawn tickets. bear
ing every mark of authenticity. were sold to
Sh0OpkeeperS, who could not find trace OF
The thing they demanded when they applietl
for il. Strict examination proved that the
clerks were not 10 blame. The police az last
fixed on an individual who led a respectable
life OutWaTdly, held an important office. and
seemed 20 be above suspicion. 1t appeared
that. under Il plausible excuse. he had the
cntTcc To several OF the offices belonging to
the MOnt-dC-pictc. that ne was known bv
two different names. and had three homes
He was arrested. led before the magistrate
where he denied any evil intention: bur
SeiZlHg moment when he was unobServed
Ee drew pair of COmpasSes from his hand
korcLieL and Stmh..L LLIm>nIr IN III. hna.t