Daily Yellowstone journal., 1889-07-09
THE SIGN OF THE THREE BALLS.


Friend Of 'hc Impccunious Who Spout
Diamonds to Fight Fortune.
If you want TO study human ma
ture, don't 60 10 police court, but
take a day off and spend 1t behind the
counter Of Il pawubrokers shop.
There is no more favorable place,
and il YOU don't find out something
about the weaknesses and foibles OF
bipeds there il is because you have
not tie faculty for learning.
The faithful friend Of the impecu-
NOUS, my uncle is found in all the
great cities Of this great country, and
you cannot mistake his place, for
wherever are displayed the three
gilded balls, beacous 10 the stranded
wayfarer, wen there is he. a bejewel.
Cd individual who often doles out pitt.
full loans on collateral two or three
times mGre valuable than the amount
loaned.
In New York pawnshops are seen
with painful frequency. Hardly 4
block on the east side is without one,
and each has its regular patrons.
The profit of the business accounts
for the large number engaged in it,
and this may DO easily reckoned by a
glance OF the law which regulates the
interest which may be charged. The
statute reads as follows: 'On sums of
500 or under, , per cent. per month
for the first six months and 2 per
cent. per month thereafter. On sums
over SlOO, : per cent. per month for
the first six months and / per cent
per month thereafter"
No wonder my uncle" is prosper.
Gus, is Respondent with jewels, owns
lands, houses, etc. With a view 10
learn something Of the class who en-.
rich him, a reporter called at a well
known Bowcry shop yesterday and
stated his object
III you choose to stand here in my
shop for day." said the proprietor,
you would see some queer people,
with queer notions about the value Of
them some cases vulueless-articles
they want Inc 10 lend money on. We
have regular customers, the same as
in any other business. There is one
customer Of mine, for instance, a man
who earns good wages as u mechanic
and spends his earnings in drink. who
has nothing in his pocket regularly
every Tuesday. For the last six
months he las every Wednesday
morning pawued his Sunday suit
here, and as regularly redeemed it
every Saturday night He is an odd
chap, and although earning good
wages, out Of which he might lay by
money each week, he persists in his
visits 10 me.
"A few nights ago man came in
here, well dressed, even handsomely
dressed; he had no jewels 10 pledge,
he said, but he wanted to get an old
suit for the new one lie wore and the
difference IN cash. | need hardly say
| refused To accommodate Linn. This
Is by no means an isolated case, or
even an unusual one. The ubjcct
poor are not Il best customers,
who come from all ranks and the
four points Of the compass.
There is constantly streaming into
this great city an army OF people,
soldiers Of fortune, in search of en-.
ployment or wealth in other channels.
Failing in their quest, they are com.
PEELED 10 part with their watches, say,
or their rings. or any other article Of
value; for they must live.
Then we derive great profit from a
class which is not suspected Of need
ing II asslstance-high toned peo-
pie, who pledge their jewels periodi-
eally, 10 tido over temporary embar-
rassment.
Then, too, the sporting element
among US is "A source Of profit. Today
the gambler may be well hecled,' as
they say, and tomorrow broke, and
then he comes straigLtway TO US. In
the racing season lac meets with losses
on q dead sure winner, and, in order
TO wage more war, up go his diamond
rings and studs, and everything else
hal will fetch him money. New
York Star.