Arizona republican., 1893-12-09
llTEN ON POVERTY.
Sad Scenes at the Sign Of the
Three Balls.
The Pawnbroker's Shop rs a Resource of
People in Need of Money-A Busi-
ness That Prospers in Hard
Times

corder. l had no notion of pawning it,
but was curious to know what figures
could get on it, if l, like so many 9TH
ers in this sad city, stood face to face
with want.
ooh, l don't know how you do these
things here" said, ''for l have never
pawned anything before"
'Vell, l gif you two thaler und
halluf."
"Mercy on us'' I could not help ex-
claiming. 81 couldn't part with it for
that"
I left the place and turned into the
next one, for there are plenty of them
down there. There are some in the
Bowery, and on Grand street, but they
are as thick as beehives down on Park
row and Chatham square. AS entered
the door a woman in black passed me.
She walked up to the pawnbroker, held
up beautiful diamond ring, and asked
how much he would give her on it. She
said she had to have fifty dollars. MY
husband lies dead" I heard her say,
''and l haven't enough to bury him."
I thought detected twinkle in his
eye, for he knew she would have to
take less money rather than keep the
stone, and it was a beauty.
ssThat stones not worth much" said
the pawnbroker. "You couldn't get
more than $35 for it, and that's all it's
worth
The poor woman was nearly dis
tracted with grief and could stand the
strain no longer. 'My husband paid
S125 for that ring and gave it to me.
when we were engaged. l would
starve rather than part with it, if it
were for myself, but he must be
buried"
Poor thing! she was doubtless on
among many unfortunates who wer
wrecked in the last financial storm.
I could bear this pitiful sight no
longer, and went on to the next shop.
Here l found lot of women, with all
sorts of things. One of them pawned a
pretty pair of shoes, worth 81 or SIS for
so cents.
There was a pretty girl there with
her sealsl1in cape. She had it on, and
| the broker turned her around to ex-
anime the fur.
s'How much do you want?" was his
first utterance.
sob, 1 don't know, how much will
you give?'
''Well how much do you want?''
81 think I ought to get $25 for it
my father paid $50.''
''Tll give you S." and she took it.
While | stood watching, man
peeped in rather sheep1shIy, saw the
crowd of women, and went out. He
had large grip in his hand, and l
wondered what he was after, so l fol
lowed him. | didn't have to go far,
for, as I expected, he turned into an
other pawnshop, opened his grip and
took out one thing after another
''Say, uncle, what'l you give me for
this coat?"
The pawnbroker took it, laid it
down, turned it inside out and felt of
it, then SAID it was out of style and he
would give 81 for it.
''Holy smoker cried the man who
was down on his luck. "Why, I paid
$50 for that Prince Albert
sit makes no differ, dot coat vas
only wort one thaler to me-" And he
. stuck to it.
Then the man offered his watch. II
was perfect beauty. Its works were
ieweled all through, and it was solid
gold 1t must have cost $3.50, but he
got loan of $50.
"Now here's a ring" said the hard
up man, (which once belonged to Ros
coe Conl1ling. He gave it to my ia
Their. l guess the governor woul6
feel pretty rocky if he knew I was go
ing to hang this up. How much fol
it?''
''Tree thaler und half
''Oh, well, I'll keep it then, for 'the
governors sake" Ard he picked up hi'
) treasure and went out.
| After he was gone I ventured to asl
the pawnbroker how much interest hi
; charged?
Tree per cent. a mont
While l was questioning him WON
an came in and took out a pawnticke
and a roll of bills. He produced large
: diamond earring and they began tt
dicker about the interest. Their tall
, was in German, but | managed to re
member that ''alf monaten'' mean
: eleven months, and CLEANED that sl1
, had borrowed $95 She therefore pait
3 $31.65 interest. If she had kept it
S year she would have paid $34.20, NOR
r than one third of what she borrowed
1 Hard? Yes; but all the. same tn
: pawnshop is the only resource of poo
1 people out of work and out of money.
: Never, they tell me, not in recen
e years, at least, have the pawnbroker
e done such rushing business as TO
J, the last few months. They are tn
: banks of the unfortunate. They It'd
over many a bitter period of stress i
n, the lives of those in sight of whose doc
the hungry wolf always fingers.
, No wonder pawnbrol1ers never clos
y down.