The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-01-06
NOW PAWN SHOPS FLOURISH.
DECENT PoTERTY's LAsr RESOURCE
IN THESE HARD TINES.

One Of the best evidences OF the present hard
times Is to be found in the vicinity OF the pawn
shops In this city. II thero IL one class OF
trsdespeopls who do not suffer through the
strIngency OF the money market or to whom
the fluctuations OF the tariff and other evil
measures is as nothing. II Is the vast army OF
money lenders. whose trade sign. three golden
balls. may be- seen on an average Of once in
every three blocks on the business thorough
fares OF the city. just at present the pawn
brokers are in clover They are proAting by
the hard times. and not one who has been Wis
tied by the Sun reporter has been found who
will not acknowledge that his business has In
creased twofold since the crashing Of backs
and the downfall OF supposed reliable business
houses announced the advent Of times than
which worse have not been seen since the
memorable panic Of 1873.
Pathetic scenes have been common on every
side for the past few months. Few. II any.
citizens have not been approached from
one to ten times day for weeks by begRars
and others. whose clothing and general air OF
respcctability are proof OF the fact that they
have been driven to such actions by sheer
necessity. The real psthos Of the present con-
drtion Of things. however. is not to be found In
the streets. Neither is 1t to be found in saloons
or In tho courts or police stations. But it is in
the pawn shops and loan offices that scenes
enough to melt a heart Of stone are enacte ed
daily. with only men lrured by long experience
TO such sights as witnesses. All day long the
pawn shops are crowded. Mon. women. and
children are there. each with some trinket or
garment ~ ikhlch they want to raise few
cents. 1t is not the ordinary crowd The wo-
men are not the same as are usually to be seen
In such places. The men are different. too.
and the regulars. who have made a practice
for years OF rawnina everything they could
lay their hands on. LOOK on these newcomers
with scorn.
On the five or six blocks on Park row between
the bridge entrance and Chatham square
there are probably more pawn shops than on
any similar number Of blocks In the city The
business is not confined exclusively to the
wealthy Simpsons. whose tall white edinces
stand out conspicuously among the tumble
down rooker!es on every side. but there are
dozen or moro little shops right In ;ho vicinity.
each OF which does an enormous business Most
all OF those places have a side door opening on
some back or side street. through which the
tmorous enter These private" entrances
have heen anything but private during tho
past few weeks. and as for the little booths in
side OF the stores. in wtEch those who wish to
transact business without being seen. stand.
they have rarely boen empty during business
hours for moro than q minute at time.
Va talh iONs u HHOtt GlSNhuCe from inc
Bridge. Is q pawnshop which has an entrance
marked private" opening on n side street
Several afternoons AGO a young woman on
whose face the marks OF care and trouble were
plainly to be seen. walked down Park row from
tho direction OF Chatham square. Her cloth
ing was shabby. but carefully brushed. She
wore an old hat with couple OF time worn
feathers and u ruflel artificial rose for deco
rations, while in her arms she carried a baby
not much more than year old. arodnd which
an old and battered shawl was carefully wrap
ped The woman's face was pale aud thin.
Her dark brown eyes were sunken deep
In her head ana she trem bled like Leaf
IN tho cold wind. Reaching tho corner OF
William street. sho strobe swiftly around to
tered. There were number OF people in side
put no one paid any attention to her. Enter
Ing one OF the booths which had lust been
vacated she waited patiently until one OF the
clerks asked her what sh. wanted.
,,Id tmd You ret me haze So on this she
The man looked at II and smiled
Well hardly" ne said not unkindly.
it's real gold; know IT,. said the woman.
"les," replied the clerk but il wouldn't I've
wotn much more than - melted M. III give
~, must Raye S." said the woman. oh. I
The man laughed little. called n GRIM
looking individual, tho proprietor showed hiL
The cerk !o o sr% WIZ" ySn ne Mo%Sn T"Ttsd
make it 50; does that 90: - asked the proprie-
~ ca-cen't do without So" replied tho
woman, must have H. Oh. ny God. what
snail dol" and she burst ont into tears. The
issns;e 'uideniy the woman an WIPE W!pcd ava AVA
her t"nrs, am 4 look Of complete despair and
IN" shawl which covered the baby. she TOOK
ron ne fhiid. meek thin gold chain with
on h % %Ste@ sSs said hai sm dGw
lhke II al and lot mo have 30
certainly" said III" clerk, ana he brushed
nnd handed them with not g TO tho woman.
III" latter then folded the shawl carefully
ami then went out Of the private entrance and
di.anpeared down Park row.
inE near by Kinder tough. Let'F.see. exam
; iyfT the ring; lack to Henrietta. lHI3.'
ycSr asrs9 Ss and aHy
tns wsi hin ring 50 so0n; Then the clsrE
gentleman the contents of the Iocket. q ANAL
tintype Q. an exceedingly pretty girl,
eyes. NJ mistake, there. Tough. by CAD
i2nGh aud he walNed away as tho clerk did
ana placed them in the safe.
l. was only few minutes after this incident
front door OF the place and entered lie looked
Ground him neryonsly aud then walked up to
'' want dollar on these" he said. pulling
pocket.
" Ssvsnty-nvs cents" said tho proprie,or
coming up at that moment. Can't let you
have any more Moneys short. yer know"
" Don't you think MS rather mean to beat a
pan down qnarterE said the old man quiet
IT, God knows II didn't need a dollar I
wouldn't be here pawning what is a necessity
to me. my glasses"
ssyentY-ive cents or nothing Do you
want IL or nOtH' said the proprietor.
Give Ii to me-" said the old man, brushing
away tear The glasses were put away, and
the man received three quarters and q ticket.
lie went out shaking from head 70 foot with
suppressed sobs.
Those were only a few incidents which Actu-
ally occurred IA Park row pawn shop in the |
course OF two hours one day last week, Other |
people pledged things and went away. Most |
OF them were able to Keen down their feelings
however. and many OF them were Regulars
who went In and out as II they were used to 1t. |
as they certainly were.
In another pawn shop which SUN reporter |
entered one day recently. he found nearly fifty |
people standing against the counter waiting |
g. [ 9 attended to. There were men and |
women, and even children there. Soms were |
hard looking, aud evidently felt right at home, |
while others. bJ their embarrassed glancss |
around them. showed how unused they were |
TO being in places Of such character. Some |