The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-01-28
THREE GOLDEN BALLS.
A TOLEDO SCRIBE PAYS A VISIT TO
HIS MUCH ABUSED UNCLE.

They Are Necessary EVll-An Ala TO
! Justice-A Convenience to Nearly All
! Glasses, Especially to the Poor.
/ A reporter promenading one of the clean
/ and mud free avenues. and watching with
| inward delight the rain drops pattering
| gently down on the pavement, CHANGED TO
see engraved on a window pane, In bold,
| white type, the following delusive words,
/ "Unredeemed pledges for sale here cheap"
| and hastily mounting the marble steps
was soon breathing the perfumed air OF
/ the pawnbroker's sanctum. With search
| ing glance the broker said emphatfcaAy;
well, your story7 How much do you
want?"
/ well, guess I won't pawn my UNI
/ brella today, my friend. just dropped IN
to have a little confidential chat about the
people you see."
"Oh, that's it, is it? Excuse me. Yes,
of course pawnbrokers are in position to
see many amusing as well as touching in
cidents. It's queer business.
Many people think pawnshops are but
little better than a robbers roost, and that
pawnbrokers have close affinity with
thieves. They think that if we have our
clutches on a watch, and 1t runs minute
over time, it's good-by TO that watch; but
they are greatly mistaken. We always ex-
tend time if it is requested" and he got out
a book showing where he had extended
payment three times.
HELPING JUSTICE.
"Instead of standing in wi III thieves we
stand in with the detectives" he went on.
Now, for instance, Saturday night burg
lar entered the room of a lady living on
Superior street. Not daring to make any
resistance, she sat there while he gathered
up her watch, ring and breastpin and
walked out. She came to me this morn
ing, described the goods, and we are on the
lookout for the thief. Here is her address.
A plush cloak was stolen the other day,
and returned to the owner by a pawn
broker. Whenever a suspicious looking
party comes in with something to pawn
we look up our description Of stolen goods.
and if it taIlies we call up the police station.
The party gets back his goods and the
thief takes a trip to the stoneyard.
'Pawnshops are necessity. Travelling
men often arrive in town dead broke, ex-
pecting a remittance from their house.
They don't get it. Can't get trusted, SO
they come here, pawn some article and re-
deem it when the remittance comes. They
are like circuses Have TO be in a certain
place at given time and can't wait. Then
they are necessity to the poor man who
is obliged TO pawn his coat to buy bread
for his children. Here is sad case" he
said, pointing to a roll of carpet.
Il loaned man money on that to bury
his child. have had men come in here and
call down blessings on my head-men that
were obliged to pay their rent or be turned
into the street. i couldn't face my wife
and tell her had given her the last cent
said one, and you helped me out by loan
God bless you
''It isn't only the poor class that frequent
the pawnshops, either" he continued.
Some most prominent merchants often
come here to borrow money.
PATRoNIZED BY THE RICH
MANY elegantly dressed ladies come
here. They always go to the private office.
It's an embarrassing position for lady
with fine and tender feelings to find her
self in. Sealskin cloaks and diamonds are
usually pawned by these women. It's no
disgrace to be hard up, but it's mighty in
convenient"
How about society young men?" queri-
ed the reporter.
Society young men? Why they are the
best customers I've got," was the reply.
why, they will pawn their winter over
coats and 90 out with a linen duster on,
with a brickbat in each pocket to make
'em feel heavy" he laughed. Young fel-
lows come in here, dressed within an inch
of their life, to borrow money. One of this
stamp came in here not long ago, and slap
ping his fist down on the counter, said
with a confidential air: Say, by Jove, old
fellow, I've got three girls out here, and
they want ice cream, and, by Jove, I'm
dead brokel Lend me V on this ring,
will youY And if one of the girls notes
the absence OF the ring, he has just loaned
| it to his best girl or left it at home.
"A prominent actress, on the eve of be-
| ing stranded, left some valuable diamonds
here. The loan helped her on to the next
town. when she redeemed them"
You have got great collection here"
said the reporter, looking around at the
rows and cases of watches, rings, raZors,
wringers, spoons, shotguns, bicycles, vio-
lins, dictionaries and Bibles, and a thou
sand and one other things.
MONEY IN THE BUSINESS.
Yes, we keep almost everything" said
the broker. A pawnbroker in England
once made n wager with friend that there
wasn't anything that he could mention
that he couldn't produce. Thinking he
had easily won the wager he mentioned
coffin. John, go up stairs and bring down
one of those coffins,' he said, and one was
speedily forthcoming"
is there much money in the business"
We'll, people think you have only TO 20
into the business to become a second Croe-
sus, but there isn't so much money as that
in it. Whenever stolen goods are recov-
cred we don't get a cent back l lost Sl35
at one time in this way. We don't get
any sympathy from the people. We have
/ the reputation of being thieves and vii
/ lains, but guess we can stand it. II isn't
every one who is adapted TO the business
/ The successful pawnbrOker must be thor
I oughly posted on the value of everything,
must be good Judge of human nature
and it's necessary to have good physical
ability
II wouldn't advise man OF delicate
/ proportions or of timid nature 10 go into
( the business Why. we have rackets here
that would make your hair stand on end
/ sometimes That's when We sell an arti-
+ eIe on which the time has expired" said
I the broker, g. the reporter bade him good
/ morning Toledo Blade.
Abraham's Birthplace.