The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-01-28
IN THE PAWNSHOPS.
QUEER INCIDENTS NOTED BY PRO-
PRlETORS OF LOAN OFFICES.

An Insignia of the Legion of Honor Often I
"soaked"-Trying TO Pawn n Glass Eye.
The Secret Which n Few Half Inch
Boards Kept Dark.
The pawnbrokor, the banker of the
spendthrift and the unfortunate. the
custodian of family skeletons and the
receiving teller of hard luck stories,
runs across a deal of the pathos of life
mixed up with not little that is strik-
ingly ludicrous.
Stories of former opulence and present
need of reckless speculation, of dissipa.
ton, of oppression, are given over to
his safe keeping, along with valued
keepsakes and family heirlooms. Some
of these heirlooms have strange histo-
res.
In the vaults of Clark street pawn
broker is bit of soiled ribbon that was
once pinned on the breast of gallant
general by no less person than Napo-
leon. The ribbon is soiled and crum-
pied, but from the bottom of it, bright
as the day it was first worn, hangs the
insignia of the Legion of Honor. Along
with it are papers giving the name of
its first holder and the fields of battle
on which he achieved the right to wear
it. How it made its way to Chicago is
unknown history, but time and again
has it found its way into the vaults Of
the broker. only to be redeemed again
and brought back. a few doors away is
deposited belt Of fine gold and silver
interviewer, the last relic Of once dis.
tiugushed Russian family.
Not long ago IA woman, past the prime
| of life, tall and stately, and with the
/ dark, imperious eyes and naughty hear
street broker. She said she was Of a
Spanish family which had been COM
PEELED to leave its country for political
causes. She would not give her name.
"If did," she said, ''you would be in
credulous." Then she handed the clerk
casket OF jewels-tiaras, bracelets,
pendants, all set with gems of the first
water. She wanted $50, 000-for only
short while, she explained. Not cent
less would be of use to her. The jewels
had doubtless cost great deal more
than this sum, but the broker feared he
could not realize that amount on them,
and the woman left and never returned.
A few days ago well dressed, digni'
fed man walked into this same estab'
lishment and said he would like to Sc
cure a loan of few dollars. On being
asked what security he had to offer hi
gave the dapper broker fit Of nervous
prostration by calmly removing glass
eye.
"This is remarkably fine eye" he ex
planned, leisurely wiping the dislodget
optic ON his handkerchief. II have beef
told it becomes me better than my own
but if you would let me have few dol
, lars on it think could get along witt
| the other for day or two.
, The broker admitted that he had ono
assisted in putting pennies on the eye
of a deceased relative, but couldn't Sc
his way clear to place dollars on tn
I glass eve of live man, and the visito
: secured the address Of second han
o clothes dealer, replaced his eye, bowe
h stiffly and walked away.
i In the higher class of pawnshops-
z those that restrict themselves solely
: diamonds, watches and jewelry-th
i place loans are negotiated and goods n
o ceiyed are separated from the front show
IS room by partition. To give create
/, privacy to customers there is little ro
j. of stalls along counter. These are fitte
10 with spring doors, giving them Il
r appearance of line of telephone boxe
h Into one Of these person can step al
10 transact his or her business unseen
D. any save the clerk behind the counte
Is Last summer, about holiday time,
fashionably dressed woman was In one
these stalls in down town brokers' {
fee. She wanted to borrow $50 on
a ring. "It's my engagement ring" s.
4. explained, "and / wouldn't have
10 husband know for the world"
IN While this was going on man In
10 compartment next to her was dickeril
le with another clerk over loan OF 500
!" n watch. The owners initials were
re the back Of the watch, and as this LEI
III ened its selling value the clerk hesitat
in advancing 30 much.
"Oh, that's q point in your favor
explained the would be borrower. II
he wife had those put on there when
I'd gave it to me, and I'll be bound to
ee deem it shortly, for II she knew "
st soaking her present there would be
nv somnia in our family till / brought
at home" -,
he BY this time the woman in stall =
liza 1 had secured her money and depart'
ed After q little delay the man did IL
wise. When the usual list was ma
out for police inspection, it was fou
that the names and addresses OF the :
en- tailed, and that they were, In "a
ID. man and wife. The ring and the wa
th have long since been redeemed, .
gs neither guesses that only few d
he inch boards stood between two aw
,ps revelations. -Chicago Record.