Evening star., 1896-08-15

praise an object low. If they estimate it
too high, and q loss results to the ad-
ministration. the appraisers would have
to make up the sum out Of their private
sary rule, Is at the bottom Of the ticket
speculation.
The lady who has changed her clock worth
fifty francs against ten francs and a ticket
ts confronted on the street by several estab-
lishments Immediately beside the Mont-de-
Fiete. not only by the establishments them
selves, but by their agents and runners.
These establishments look exactly like the
have the same dirty show windows, in
which lie exposed a mass of miscellaneous
3eweiry. opera glasses, bric-a-brac, re-
voivers' knives. fans and such strayed
Valuables. These things are all for sale.
All have been pawned some time or an
other at the Mont-de-Piete all have come
mere from the official French loan office.
money has been loaned on their tickets
the original articles. The poor woman of
the gilded clock either knows this or it
Will soon be told her by one of the rival
ten e francs ol Oh course; our she wants more than
10 get twenty. The Mont-de-Piete has
gwen her only ten. This pawn shop in the
second degree will lend her three or four
francs more on the ticket, or they will
buy her ticket from her outright for a
sHghtly larger sum. They prefer to lend a
back.
Cause and Eject.
The system of the Mont-de-Piete is ad-
mirable. complete and perfect yet It could
scarcely hit off better the convenience of
these rapac:ous spectators had 1t been
designed specially to please them 1t seems
to be the fact that human greed and neces-
slty combined with human laziness and
un1althfulness, can injure every phi,an-
throp.c plan which human judgment can
build up. The appraisers of the Mont de
Plete can scarcely be blamed for being
what they are-unenthu5.astc and lazy
government clerks. The poor man who has
not received as much on his article as he
expected can scarcely be blamed for yield
!ator. And the latter naturally brings to
MS business more painstaking and acute
ness than can be expected In the daily
routine Of the Mont-de-P:ete
Thus the appraisers sit all day beside
their tables. andlirg dirty mattresses and
second-hand garments. not to speak of
dlamonas' diamonds 1eWelry, crockery, household
rest. They lend money on pension papers,
on stocks and bonds and on insurance pol
lcfes. Their spokesman is always calling
9u, Grante, TO the wasng pusc NO 1888 Five
dred francs. Accepted?"
Small md Large Loans.
A'O
ct. They do not even ask your name when
1t is under five francs. But when No 139 is
calied-iGO francs on diamond ring-he Is
put through an inquisitcn. Suppose 1t be
an actor from New York, caught short on
his summer European trip AS he does not
speak much French the conversation is all
the longer. To be brief, the rule Is that for
every sum above five francs the pledger Is
! required to give substantial evidence of his
identity. Sometimes passport is sufficient
Tor foreigner. Old letters are hardly evi-
dence in the case OF a large sum. The
French themselves are regularly required TO
hand in one or the other of their papers
their registry OF birth. certificate of mil
itary service, marriage certificate, or, at a
pinch. a rent receipt other stamped doc
ument which has passed through the hands
| OF third parties. There is another differ
ence between small loans and large loans
On pledges of two, three and four francs
If they be redeemed before the expiration of
two months, no interest or other charges
whatsoever are demanded by the Mont-de-
Piete. This Is a great boon to petty bor-
rowers who are always taking things in and
cut.
Conditions of the Transn ctiOn.
Examining a ticket OF the Mont-de-Piete
the folloT'ing conditions appear, which show
the workings of the institution on its best
side. namely, when people use 1t properly:
l. The length of the engagement Is for
one year.
2. The administration takes per cent in
terest and per cent for expenses per year.
the charges to be proportional to the num-
Der of fortnights which pass. Each fort
night once begun must be paid for entire.
Pledges of less than five francs, not staying
more than two months in pawn, pay no in
terest or expenses.
g. There is fixed state tax Of per cent
On the amount Of all loans.
t. Every pawned object which is not re-
newed or withdrawn within n year is liable
to be sold in the course Of the thirteenth
north. However, 1t is permitted the
at the official auction within three months
Of the date of pawning. The bonus realized
at such sale. Of course, goes to the pledger.
8. If the sale of a pledged article brings
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