Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1894-04-05
AWNBROKERS' SHOPS.
They Are Very Numerous in the
National Capital
Disappointed Omce-Seekers Are the Best
Clients of "Your UncIo"-How the Bust
ness IL Conducted-Wh olosomo
Loyal Restrictions.
Especial Washington Letter


Pawnbrokers In this city make
great deal Of money. They get rich
rapidly and retire from business Com
sequently there are no old established
firms Of legalized freebooters here.
This city has floating population
which can be likened unto nothing
upon the continent save the popn1a-
ton of q Mississippi river town forty
years ago, when our native-born and
imported yeomanry were following
the star of empire westward As an
example Of that period it may be said
that Keokuk, then called the Gate City
of Iowa, had floating population of 50,-
600 people, nearly all of them arriving
and departing daily in the canvas-cov-
cred wagons called prairie schooners."
The floating population of towns then
in the Midway Plaisance of the CONT
nent consisted almost wholly of honest
people seeking homes beyond or be-
meath the western horizon.
The floating population Of Washing
ton consists mainly of genteel and re-
spectacle adventurers who imagine
that they are seeking their fortunes,
but who are really seeking federal of
fees. They bring with them money,
fine raiment, watches and jewelry
They follow the official will o. the wisp
until'their money is all gone, and then
some Of their superduous clothing goes
to the pawnbroker. AS the wardrobes
Of the oficeseekers grow smaller, and
as the money obtained thereby dimin-
ishes and vanishes, recourse is had to
rings, watch chains and watches which
are almost never redeemed. Inasmuch
as the ideal pawnbroker never loans
more than one-tenth of the intrinsic
value of these things, the profits at
''clearing-out sales" must necessarily
be very large. Consequently the ra.
diant smiles OF the pawnbrokers are
very wide, In inverse ratio with the
peakedness of the features of the un-
happy members of our floating popula-
ton.
The business here is subject to strict
laws Of congress, and rigid rules and
regulations by our commissioners
Every pawnbroker is required TO keep
a book in which shall be written, at
the time of each loan, an accurate ac-
count and description of the goods, ar
ticle or thing pawned or pledged, the
amount Of money loaned thereon, the
time of pledging the same, the rate of
interest to be paid on such loan, and
the name and residence of the person
pawning Or pledging the said goods,
article or thing, together with par
ticular description of such person, in
Guiding complexion, color of eyes and
hair, land his or her height and general
appearance.
The law provides that goods in the
hands of pawnbrokers shall not be sold
until after the expiration of one year
from the time the article is pawned,
and then only after being advertised
for six days previous to the date of
sale. A section unknown to many per-
sons who pawn articles is section ten
of the act, which provides that the
surplus money, if any, arising from any
such sale, after deducting the amount
of the loan, the interest then due on
the same and the expenses of the adj
vertisement and sale, shall be paid over
by the pawnbroker to the person who
would be entitled to redeem the pledge
in case no such sale had taken place.
But, at the expiration of year, near.
ly everyone of the unfortunate and