The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-03-16

business, the scribe entered his store
and opened q short conversation thus:
swell, uncle, how's businessH Has
that tidal wave OF trade struck you
yetW
swell, sir, business has began TO pick
up little."
"What are your good seasonsw
"Our spring and fall trade is the
best. In the fall we depend on selling
the goods that have been "soaked" DUR
ing the months previous. Then, at this
time, too, a great many goods are re-
deemed, and there's where the profit
comes in. But there's not much profit
in the business just now; we're taking
In too much stuff and not disposing Of
much. There's plenty Of goods in the
market just now that pawnbrohers
would be glad to dispose Of at very
small advance. Our stores are tull
and running over, and II times don't get
better soon, We'll have no room left to
stow away any more. But when the
spring work opens up our customers
will either take out the goods, or else
pay up the interest, and That will help
us out"
"How does the business pan out now
this week for instancer
swell, l could have loaned out from
5000 to $500 day this week If had
wanted to; but didn't want to. l want
stamps-want to get rid of some Of this
plunder."
"Who are your customers, anyhow
what class of peoplew
"All classes; the mechanic out OF
work, the laborer minus job, the clerk
on small salary, few professional
men and even some business men. ALI
Kinds OF grists come to our mill"
"Now, you don't mean that men in
mercantile pursuits-in business for
themselves come TO you Tor cash?"
"Don't theyp You can bet your sweet
life they do, my boy. Ips nothing
strange to have one OF them come in and
say, Here, want to turn you over my
watch and chain for, say, thirty days; I
need small amount just now, and
Thought I'd step in and get accommo.
dated! They get it, and when the times
up they come and settle promptly and
get back their tickers. But then in dull
times like we've had lately we're not so
anxious to advance money-that is, we
give now $50 or $65 only on an article
that in flush times would bring $780,"
"How does this year compare with
last In your lineW
"Well, have loaned more money this
year than | did last, but have made less"
"How's thatw
"Simply because have sold less, and
fewer goods have been redeemed"
"What is the run of goods mostly with
the different classesW
"rhe poor and proud class bring
clothing; the middle class, jewelry and
merchandise, such as pistols, opera
glasses, guns, musical instruments,
books, furniture, and things Of that
kind"
"What about the sporting class, men,
bers OF the demi-monde and the gam
I blersW
"There's not so much business done
with them by us as one would naturally
think. When they do come to raise a
stake,' however, they want, as general
thing, more for their goods than any
other kind OF people. and want to pay
less tor what they buy. Alter leaving
articles with us and when settling time
comes, there's good deal of 'squeal-
ing' But they don't patronize our guild
as much as the poor classes do, and
amt sorry"
elf real good times come again-if, in
fact, that revival Of trade strikes US
squarely-youll nave 10 shut up shop,
won't youW
"Now there's where you make mis-
take. L am aware the idea prevails to a
SlC1U oAUShp bAdI WHeu SeueTdl DuSl-
ness is good that the paWnbroker's is
duA, ana vice versa; but it isn't So.
The better the times, the better for us,
tor this reason: Say you have watch
sin' Tor 500, which you left with me
when times were hard. Times getting
good, you call round, pay up the inter
est and take it out. Then the flush
times enable us to sell the goods that
have accumulated on our shelves DUR
ing business prostration, and which
have been forfeited and will never be
called for by the owners"
"To whom do you sell clothing?"
"To nearly ali classes and conditions.
You'd be surprised to know the names
OF some men who come here for Sec
ond-hand coat. Some of 'em wouldn't
want you to know, either, but as gem
eral thing we sell to the same classes
that apply to us for small loans, clerks,
mechanics and the like, and they get
bargains, tell you. Get a No. 1 sec
ond-hand coat for less money than it
would take TO buy new, but CHEAP
shoddy suit"
"Is there much trade in this line"
81 should think SO; why, you could
hardly get your nose in my store on
saturday nights. Filled up with fell
lows VINO come to get rigged out"
Wv neie w you BeI al IueSe pistols ~
"From young sports mostly, who get
hard up. Pistols are seldom redeemed,
| sell good many though, and manage
to keep the stock down to reasonable
amount. But Pye had very few buyers
lately"
"Why, here's some first class furniture
too"
eyes, sir, one of those pieces cost
originally 5000.
''Do you do much in that lIne?'
"Not much-and don't want to. [
have plenty of applications, however,
and from apparently w.ell-to-do people,
but they generally want to give a cnat-
tel mortgage on their goods and retain
them in their own possession. That
don't suit us, you know. We let the
auctloneers monopolIze that class of
| trade"
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