The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1899-12-01
LIFE in NEW YORK.
How the Shylocks of To-Day Grind the
Poor and Unfortunate.
[From the New York SUM-

Poor and Unfortunate.
From the New York SUM-
On Park Row, a short distance from
the Bridge, is pawnshop which has an
entrance marked "private" opening on
a side street. Several afternoons ago, a
young woman on whose face the marks
of care and trouble we're plainly to be
seen, walked down Park Row from the
direction Of Chatham square. Her
clothing was shabby, but carefully
brushed. She wore an old hat with a
couple of time worn feathers and ruff
fed artificial rose for decoration, while
in her arms she carried baby not much
more than year old, around which an
old and tattered shawl was carefully
wrapped. The woman's face was pale
and thin. Her dark brown eyes were
sunken deep in her head and she trem-
bled like leaf in the cold wind. Reach
ing the corner of William street, she
strobe swiftly around to the private en-
trance of the pawnshop and entered.
There were number of people inside,
but no one paid any attention to her.
Entering one of the booths which had
just been vacated she waited patiently
until one of the clerks asked her what
she wanted.
Ocean you let me have S. on this?''
she said timidly, pulling PLAIN band
ring from her finger and handing it to
the man.
The man looked at it and smiled.
"Well, hardly" he said, not I'M
kindly.
cts real gold; | know it," said the
woman.
Yes" replied the clerk, "but it
wouldn't be worth much more than s.
melted up, I'll give you $3.50 on it if
that'll do"
II must have So" said the woman.
"Oh, must have it,"
The man laughed a little, called a
grim looking individual, the proprietor,
showed him the ring, and told him
what the woman wanted.
1.-The clerk offered you $3.50, well,
Wen make it 50; does that go?" asked
the proprietor
II ca-can't do without 3d." replied
the woman. 81 must nave it. Oh, my
God, what shall | do?" and she burst
out into tears. The clerk said nothing.
The proprietor looked disguised. Sud
denly the woman wiped away her tears,
and a look of complete despair and
misery came over her face. Throwing
aside the shawl which covered the baby,
she took from the child's neck thin
gold chain with a small locket attached
Throwing them down on the counter she
said: lis that worth 50? Take it all
and let me have So"
Certainly" said the clerk, and he
brushed the trinkets to one side, made
out two tickets and handed them with
81 note to the woman. The latter
then folded the shawl carefully arounC
the child, weeping softly all the while
and then went out of the private en-
trance and disappeared down Park Row
"Hum," said the clerk to gentleman
standing near by. Kinder tough. Let:
see. examining the ring: Jack to Hen
rietta, 1898 Well, there's dozens NOR,
like her-p poor devils. Not year mar
ried | guess, and pawning the wedding
ring so soon." Then the clerk opened
the locket. Gee whiz" he exclaimed
that can't be the same" and he show
ed the gentleman the contents of thu
locket, a small tintype of an exceedingl!
pretty girl.
"1eS, II Is, SAID the gentleman
"Same eyes. no mistake there. Tough
bv cad, tough" and he walked away a
the clerk did the tripkets up in small
piece of newspaper and placed them II
the safe.
1t was only few minutes after thi
incident that tall, dignified old maj
pushed open the front door of the plac
and entered. He looked around hin
nervously and then walked up to tn
counter,
IL want dollar on these" he said
pulling pair Of gold-rimmed spectacle
out Of his pocket.
'Seventy-fve cents" said the pre-
prietor, coming up az that moment
Cant let you have any more. Money
short, yer know
Don't YOU think it's rather mean .
oeat a man down a qua-tery" said tn