The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1900-10-26
"UP THE SPOUT" IN CHINA.
PecuIiarities of Pnwnshop business
In the FIowery Kingdom.

Peculiarities of PuWnShop business
In the Flowery Kingdom.
What the public house or hotel is to an
English town the pawnshop is to Il Chi
nese community.
Its lofty, solid building rears itself
above the houses and forms the most
prominent feature of the birds eye view
of any city or town. They are now ma
tional institutions and were known to
exist in the days of Confucius, over 1900
years ago.
In those days usurers charged eXorbi-
tant interest for money lent, and very
frequently the borrower disappeared
with his booty for good. To one ingcn-
iUus lender there came an idea. As
hostages We're given in war as a guaran-
tee of good faith, why should not Dor
rowers deposit pledges for the money
lent themI Thus originated pawnbrokiug
in China. The pawnshop is a square
building, towering to some 40 or 50 feet
above the ground. The first 20 feet are
built of solid granite the remainder of
best brick. As precautions against fire
and thieves they are most solidly built.
No woodwork is allowed on the outside,
and the walls are raised several feet
above the roof The windows are very
small and tightly laced with thick iron
bars, and inside are iron shutters to repel
flames.
The eight or ten storied building
stands several feet back from the street
line. There is a small doorway. and be.
hind it stands a wooden screen bearing
the name OF the pawnshop. Instead Of
the English three balls" the Chinese
pawning sign consists of two. This rep
rcScnts the bottle gourd, used in China
as Il natural life buoy, and thus pro-
claims the pawnshop as the life pre-
server"
Behind the signhoard is small court
yard, where all business is transacted.
The front of the shop is fenced off with
iron bars like lions cage. six feet
above the ground. The Chinese coming
to pawn his winter clothes hands up the
bundle to the broker behind the bars.
The Chinese uncle" fixes the price,
gives the nephew a ticket and the
money, and the pledge is tcketed and
packed away just as in England.
The rates of interest are high. On ad-
vanccs of less than 10 shillings SO per
cent per anuum is charged from 10 shil-
sums slightly less.
But during the winter months articles
can he redeemed at a reduction of one
third in the interest, as Il concession to
the needs of the poor.
\ pledge may hold good for three years
After that time it cannot be redeemed.
Periodically the pawnshops sell off their
unredeened pledges to secondhand shops,
sales direct 10 the public being forbidden.
On migrating to Australia, America or
elsewhere, the Chinaman pawns his i'm
plements Of worship-ccnscr, urn, tripod,
etc, thus leaving them in security till his
return. Pawnshops are also used as
banks.
A man having saved some money con-
signs it to the pawnbroker for safe custo-
dy, paying small fee for the privilege.
From time to time he is admitted to see
that his treasure is intact or to add to it.
There are three classes of pawnshops in
China. The largest are, of course, the
more respectable, while the smaller
houses are more graspng in their bust
ness. Both are duly licensed by the gov
eminent and pay an annual fee. There
are also small secret pawnshops existing
outside the law and only by connivance
with the officials, whose complacenCy is
purchased. In China the business of
pawnbroking is followed by the highest
men in the kingdom.
The Chinese "uncle's" great enemies
are fire and thieves. If fire originates in
the shop, the proprietor must pay the full
value of all pledges destroyed. If the
building is wrecked by fire starting out
side, the owner is exempt save for a
small percentage. AS to robbers, cart
loads of stones are stored to repel an at
tack, prompted by the rich booty Of the
pawnshop. The attendants are also arm
ed, but not infrequently the places are
wrecked by gangs of robbers.-London