The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-01-07
IN THE PAWNSHOPS.
QUEER INCIDENTS NOTED BY PRO-
PRlETORS OF .tjAN OFFICES.
An Insignia Of the Legion of Honor Often
"soaked"-Trying To Pawn a Glass Eye.
The Secret Which q Few Half Inch
Boards Kept Dark.

|
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-
ries.
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 a 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
tinguished Russian family.
Not long ago woman, past the prime
Of life, tall and stately, and with the
dark, imperious eyes and naughty hear
ing Of Castilian, called on Clark
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
a casket of jeWels-tiaras bracelets,
pendants, all set with gems of the first
water. She wanted $50, 000-for only
a short while, she explained. Not cent
less would be of use to her. The jewels
had doubtless cost q 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 loan of few dollars. On being
asked what security he had to offer he
gave the dapper broker fit of nervous
prostration by calmly removing glass
eye.
"This is remarkably fine eye, he ex'
planned, leisurely wiping the dislodgeo
optic on his handkerchief. 81 have beer
told it becomes me better than my own
| q 1 Ia 70 n nj
lars on it think could get along wit
the other for a day or two. !"
The broker admitted that he had ono
assisted in putting pennies on the eye
of deceased relative, but couldn't Sc
> his way clear TO place dollars ON tn
glass eye of a live man, and tie vislto
secured the address of second ham
= clothes dealer, replaced his eye, bowe
stiffly and walked away.
In the higher class of pawnshops-
} those that restrict themselves solely {
. diamonds, watches and jewelry--th
place loans are negotiated and goods re
ceived are separated from the front show
room by partition. To give create
y privacy to customers there is little ROY
of stalls along counter. These are fitte
with spring doors, giving them tn
appearance of line of telephone boxes
70 Into one of these person can step an
transact his or her business unseen b
. any save the clerk behind the counter
10 Last summer, about holiday time,
fashionably dressed woman was in one
j. these stalls in down town brokers o
Is fee. She wanted to borrow $50 on
o ring. cts my engagement ring. 81
Is explained, "and / wouldn't have IN
% husband know for the world. A"
. While this was going on man IN II
i compartment next to her was dickerin
O. with another clerk over a loan OF $50 c
7, a watch. The owners initials were c
IL the back of the watch, and as this les
III ened its selling value the clerk hesitate
Il in advancing SO much.
Oh "Oh, that's point in your favor.
III explained the would be borrower. IN
wife had those put on there when 81
W gave it to me, and I'll be bound to r
deem it shortly, for if she knew w
~ soaking her present there would be II
ne somnia in our family till l brought
home.
KS BY this time the woman in stall n
ht 1 had secured her money and departe
~ After a little delay the man did lik
W wise. When the usual list was ma
eo out for police inspection. it was -four
nt that the names and addresses of the tv
OF tailed, and that they were, In fat
n man and wife. The ring and the wat
have long since been redeemed al
neither guesses that only few nj
inch boards stood between two avn