The Greenville times., 1889-12-14

One Feurth sf An Cola watches Fsad
Their WAy 20 my Uncis."
"Do you know said one OF the
most prominent pawnbrokers in the
city to me the other day. that over
forty per cent Of all the gold watches
purchased find their way eventually
into pawnshopi Well. it is so. And
believe 1t would be safe TO say that
over fifty per cent of them do. or
high-priced watches the percentage Is
much higher. Just 90 around to the
irst-class iewelry stores. Find out
how many gold watches they sell In q
year. and then come back here. will
give you some figures that will startle
you. Here you see three large safes.
Every one OF those safes is filed to
overnowing with gold watches Some
Of them are almost new. How do l
account for itP will tell you. Most
gold watches are purchased by young
men when they commence to roll high.
They believe that they are not In the
fashion unless they have fine gold
watch with an elegant chain attached.
The chain. however. Is not regarded
as necessity. The watch shows for
itself. Naturally. as all young men just
commencing to feel their oats do. they
get in with high-rollers and learn TO
play poker or become fascinated with
some equally alluring game Of cards
What Is the resultP In every case
eventual loss. What can be relied up
on to raise some money! They hate TO
ask friends; 1t is too far of until pay
day. so they fall back on the watch.
Repairing TO some respectable pawn
shop. they put IL up and generally
for good sum. Sometimes they rally
enough to redeem It. 0ftentimes they
do not That Is Why almost 10000
watches are pawned in Chicago every
year" ,
"You think the figures 10000 to
highp Listen to me. I average three
watches day the year around. That
Is about i,i00 watches. Now figure
out the number Of pawnshops In the
city. the number Of private bankers
the number OF private loan Offices.
and the number Of sharks engaged in
the business on the quiet, with no IL
cense, and 10000 is nowhere Gcner-
ally less than half the value is loaned
on good watch. although to person
who Is supposed to have abundant
chance 10 recuperate and who is
looked upon as good more Is advanced.
We keep the watches for two
years and never find much diol-
Guilty In disposing Of them 10 good ad-
vantage. Men seeking bargains fro
quently come here looking for them
and then again we sell good many 10
the trade. We get hold once In awhile
OF q grand Jurgenson Swiss watch and
can dispose Of this class Of goods To
high-toned customers AZ tempting hg-
urcs. Next TO watches, diamonds arc
most frequently pawned. but there ara
not so many Of them In circulation.
have known the ssmc diamond pin "a
be pawned and redeemed by Ave dlf.
fercnt men inside Of twelve months.
But that is nothing. know Of dia'
mond which has been presented 70
three different aldermen and two coun'
ty commissioners. in stars II came back
here every time. II Is out again, now
and ! suppose will be back In time V
figure In another presentation. Dt
pswnbrokers get richP Invariably
when they take care Of themselves ant
their money. When they do not, the.
fail. One thing that this business he
taught me Ia the very small amount 0
capital possessed by the average man
But then, how many more havonD -
ital at allp"-Chicago Times.