The herald., 1895-12-08
PAWN SHOP INDICATIONS


pawnbrokers Windows and, though they
vary with varying times, they for the
most part vary together. They are just
now recovering their cheerfulness after
depression sympathetic with the late
hard times. When times are at their
hardest the pawnbrokcr's window is gar
nished with the nsoessaries OF life as
well as the luxurics, or, perhaps, moro
accurately, with what mon think at Or
binary times the necessities. but come to
regard as Injuries at pinch. The MOST
pathetic evidences OF the recent hard
times, as exhibited in the pawnbrokcrs'
windows were tho workmen's tools. still
showing marks of use. Thsre are always
some such tools o shuw-mason' ham,
mcrs in midwintsr, pawned by improve
dent men Who cannot carry their few pos
sessions over time of idleness, and
must trust 10 luck to obtain tools when
work is resumed. With the improve
ment of the times boxing gloves. musical
instruments, walking sticks, fish hing rods
and like Injuries are again conspicuous
in the windows Of the pawnbroksrs. Be-
tween any two periods of general depres-
sion there arc individual ups and downs
by the thousand that mako possible the
ceaseless flow of iuxuries into the shop OF
the pawnbroker.
it Is mistake to suppose that the
pawhbroker is unpopular in the region
that furnishes him the bulk OF his trade.
On tins contrary. he is often regarded as
friend by that considerable percentage OF
the population that lives upon the edge
of want. Again, it is a mistake to SUD-
pose that .ne pawnbroker rubs his hands
with glee when q pawn is forfeited by
the owner. The pawnbroker's profits are
really tho usurious interest upon loans
and not the proceeds of sales. There IS.
indeeo, a considerable loss often upon
many classes of goods. The pawn broker
welcomes with chser the workman who
comes to pawn his tools, knowing that
in all probability they will DO redeemed.
1t IS the steady customer who comes IRE
quently but hns the faculty of reouDera-
iiun. Frances Power Cobbe IN her delight
full book of "reminiscences tells OF the
desperately poor English women who
managed to start little psdoling busi-
ness by borrowing and pawning day after
day from a good nutured neighpor pair
of linen sheets. rho sheets were re-
deemed with the profits of each days sale
and pawned again whenever q piece of
bad luck or an unexpected demand 70.
duced the capital of the peddlers. The
sneets were probably worth much more
than was loaned upon them, though the
pawnbrokeis of New York often lose npon
their sales of clothing and household
linen. The pavnbroker occasionally loans
ino ore than the value Of an article y 1en
| be is perfectly sure OF its prom pit redsmp-
| ton by the owner. 1t is nJtorious fact
that the pawnbroker is a better man to
| deal with than the old clo' man, though
many bachelor in straits VIII invite in
| the casual old clo' man from the street
and submit to his extortions rather than
{ defy convention by carrying bundle to
| the pawnbrokers.
| One thing tns pawnbroker insists upon
when household linen is brought to his
counter, AMI that is absolute clsanness.
The German pfandbaus of tho east side
| and of the far west side Is OTon late on
Saturday night for customers coming In
to pawn articles to furnish funds for the
coming holidays and to give others time
| to redeem their Sunday clothes in pawn
since tho previous MONDAY morning.
| Some articles neither these nor any other
pawnbroKers will take, unless, indeed,
the occasional pawnbroker who is fence.
1t is extremely difficult to pledge biz
| cycles, because they are frequently stolen,
and the wneelmen's unions Of various
names have employed detectives to look
after stolen wheels. Typewriters OF she
best known manufacturers can hardly be
pawned, because all OF them are reg
| lHteTeu anu many tuo uduuo VI
others than the owners, employers, for
! example. or concerns that rent the ma
chimes. Manifestly poor people lind 1T
| hard to pawn new garments, the pawn
brokers having learned to fear the work
man or workwoman that pawns such
| things sent out from the factory TO be
| finished at the homes of tho workers.
New York is really one OF the best cities
in the country for the gentleman in
temporary difficulties, since the bnstness
OF tine pawnboker is strictly regulated BY
law, and his rapa ity thus in q measure
kept in cneck. The Bostonan hard up
! in Now York is astonisheo at the benev-
| olencs OF the local pAwnbroKer, for the
| heart of the Boston pawnbroker IS -
| the neither N illstone. and nothing inter.
yenes between him and his victim.
New York puwnbrokers fear the casual
| customer and treat him less kindly than
me regulars, for not only Is he m re like
| ly than they to prove thief, but ne Is
much less likely to redeem his pawn.
The richest pawn brokers' have dealings
| with persons whom their neig bors
would never suspect Of such resorts.
Actresses diamonds are certainly more
often pawned than stolen, though the
pawnbroker. is not esteemed In the pro-
fession so good an advertising modlum
as the thief. The pawnbroker, in the
| case of mis- most distinguished customers,
is merely somewhat luxurious money
lender, who is q little ins,stent about
collateral, as Falstaff's tailor was about
securitv.--New York Sun.
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