River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-09-21
FORFEITED PLEDGES.
Scenes at the Sales of the Pawnbroker
Tnredeemed Goods.

Scenes at the Sales of the Pawnbrokers'
Unredeemed Goods.
There are many strange sights in a
big city, and some of these are hidden
from the gaze of the public, and only
visible TO those whose taste or duty
leads them into out-of-the-way corners.
Anyone NAV read the legend. Pledges
by auction" which is writ in large let
ters above many store in a Scottish
town, but few well-bred or we'll
dressed folks explore the scenes behind
these mysterious words: Pledge" is a
pretty word. and reminds ms of
''troths- and love tokens and many
other tender, brittle things. but 'auc-
ton" takes away the romance and re-
calls us from poetry to very stern
prose.
We wandered upstairs one day lately
lbeing lured by the mystic legend afore-
said to one of the halls where these
poor pledges were to be seen. At the
foot two men stood bearing great bills,
whsreon were catalogued many pre-
eious gem and jewel. So, feeling as il
Aladdin's cave were near, we assembled
the somewhat grimy steps. prepared
for an effulgerice at the top. But, alas!
we were met by nothing mysterious or
grand: only a dapper little man with
pen behind his ear. who pointed the
way along a dark lobby to an empty
room-empty. but neither swept nor
garnished." A long table occupied the
middle space, and a screen was at one
end, above which desk rose like
secular pulpit of some sort. On this
desk was tiny hammer; and we walked
about in solitary state, waiting for pro-
ceedings 10 commence.
by and by woman came IN, oldish
and respectable looking; then young
black eyed Susan; then a young man,
wearing a large amount of brilliant
stones i'm front: and a rcd eravated.
elderly artisan, who despised collars
and cuffs; then some women with
baskets, and some with exuberant
figures. all of these wearing faded
shawls and bOnnets, plentifully
bedizened with artificial flowers And
now twelve o'clock struck. and behind
the screen a movement seemed to be
felt. A suave, shining visaged gentle
man mounted the pulpit and lifted the
little hammer playfully, as if to see
what it was put there for. Then a
smart Young man handed something
up, and the hammer gave vicious lit
tie rap. TO say that business was now
commencing in earnest. A boy handed
| catalogues to the motley company who
crowded round the table and stood in
thick ranks behind the fortunate few
who sat comfortably leaning their
arms on its bare surface. "A gold lever
watch" is held up to view, and
then passed round swiftly from
hand to hand among the sitters, after
which the bidding begins; and in less
time than il takes to tell the hammer
falls, and the happy artisan pockets
the shining circle and moves out of the
hall with his red cravat, glowing with
pride. Let us hope his purchase will
please his wife-for it is lady's watch
and bring no bad luck, though it is
an ''unredeened" thing-a dreadful
word 20 religious ears truly, yet, quite
familiar TO the keen buyers and sellers
at this strange sale. We see some jew
ish faces around, faces that would be
fortune to model" who posed for a
Joseph or Daniel. they are so deli
cately chiselled and so pure. Some
how they do not seem to be out of place
here. for they are dealing with what is
bright and precious and rare; and are
they not engaged in as honorable deal
ings as the members of the iron ring"
In the exchange, who sit in as ami
mated conclave buying and selling
iron. which is not honestly visible and
tangible as these poor pledges are?
"A lady's diamond ring" comes next
and the plump matrun who smiles as
she hands over the money for il will
never wear the shining circlet on her
fingers, for there is an inherent fitness
in things that forbids.
An old hair brooch. set with wonder
full dim pearls and jet. is next, the
whole expanse of its oval expressing
old-time grief and respectable regard
for appearance 4 set of teaspoons
with initials finds many bidders, for
silver is silver at all times, and even
when broken can be melted down to
new forms of beauty. A tea pot also
excites competition. and concertina
is carried off by the young man with
the brilliants in his studs. One or two
women seem unsuitable buyers of all
sorts of goods, and we are told that
they have a dealers" shop in the east
end. dealer" seems TO be an under
stood word here in little sense; but
we do not ask for more information. A
bunch of plain gold weddings rings are
handed about with great interest. and
tried on slyly by some bonnet
less maids who are business
like enough. Poor rings the symbol
of love and purity. that have been
pulled off, maybe, in despair or anger,
maybe in bitter want of daily bread.
1t seems sacrilege to touch them: and
if we knew whose they were we would
gladly buy them back and restore them
to their owners. But they are forfeited
as so many of our best things are; for
we all have forfeited pledges in this
world, and can not redeem them.
though we gave all we possess.
'HOnor," ''chivalry," truth" have
we not now and then forfeited them
all. and taken in their stead The poor.
base coin that the world that terrible
old pawnbrolIer) lends us on their
value? But we have not quietness
enough to moralize among our shrewd
bargalners and our young Jewish buy
ers with the angelic faces; so we leave
the hall somewl t sadly, and seek the
street, breathing a cooler and purer at.
mosphere as we go homeward. Men
are strange creatures, and need and
greed lead them into strange company
such as we have met with to-day
Boston Herald.
BARON HIRSCH'S COLONY.