The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-06-06
A PAWNBROKER'S TALE.
Some of the Curiosities of Peculiar Lin
of Business.

Some of the Curiosities of Peculiar Line
of Business.
Not one-half of the articles that are
deposited in a pawnshop are ever re-
deemed. 1t seems that really only sport
ing men or gay young men use their
collateral to make raise from their
uncle" with the idea of redeeming the
articles again. In nearly all of the
other cases the pawnshop is visited as
last resort, and the owners realize that
in parting with their goods they see the
last of them.
The principal collection of the pawn
broker consists of watches, rings, re-
volvers, jewelry, musical instruments
and clothing, although. they have re-
quests, many of which are granted, for
loans upon every conceivable article
that man is possessed of.
One of the sights of the pawnshop,
back of which there is many sad tale
is the children's clothing. Some of the
garments are brought by Incorporate
parents, who have become so utterly
degraded that they will resort to any
means to crafty their Unsuitable ap-
petite for liquor. Said a pawnshop pro-
prietor to the writer: 81 recall the case
of man who at one time brought me at
frequent intervals children's clothing,
on which / advanced him reasonable
sums, thinking that he had either sick
ness among his little ones or perhaps
had lost them in death. The supply,
however, appeared to be inexhaustible
and l finally made an investigation, the
result of which rather shocked my faith
in human nature. 1t appeared that the
man had a pretty little child, whom he
sent out begging for clothing. Her ap-
pearance was we'll calculated to enlist
sympathy and she was generously re-
membered. The dissolute father would
appropriate the garments and bring
them to me, and you can bet that when
found it out gave him piece of my
mind and shut down on him at once.
''Some of the goods brought here
would make you smile, while others
would start train of thought in your
mind if you are given to soliloquizing
on the ways of this world" said the
broker. 'For instance, there's that bum
de-" pointing to something wrapped up
in a newspaper. You couldn't guess
what it is if you tried week. SO 1 will
tell you. 1t is an artificial leg. The
man who left that here obtained loan
on it saying that he wanted money
enough to get home with. / gave it to
him and he hobbled away on crutches,
promising to redeem the limb as soon as
he reached home. presume he hasn't
reached there yet, for I have heard
nothing OF him since. If you know of
anybody wanting one good leg send him
around
Here is kit of carpenters tools,
costing quite sum of money when new.
They were left with me, few at a time,
by carpenter who was out of work. He
claimed to be looking for job, and sup
porting his family on what l gave him.
l was very liberal on that account, as
the fellow would naturally redeem the
articles on obtaining work. Instead of
hunting work, however, the fellow
loafed around bar-rooms and spent all
his money for liquor, while his wife
worked hard to support the family. /
didn't discover it until had got about
the whole kit, and then 1 had to ac-
knowledge myself fooled for once.
Liquor, my boy" concluded the
speaker, ''leads many family's goods to
the pawnshop. tits the cause OF break
ing up many home, and there's no
place that affords better proof of it than
the pawnshop." Especially after what
he had just seen and been told, the re-
porter could not doubt the truth Of the
assertton.-CipciupaH Times-Stsr.