The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1900-05-30
CHAT WITH A PAWNBROKER.

The oldest Thing Ever Offered to
Him-The Business Not All PROFIT.
THE oldest thing ever had offered
to me-" said a pawnbroker, "was q
skeleton, and 1 didn't take it. l
hadn't any doubt that it was all right;
that the man that offered it owned 1t
and had right to sell 1t. suppose he
was a medical student who wanted
money just then more than he wanted
the skeleton. But didn't know any
thing about the value Of skeletons and
how much to advance on 1t, and so
didn't take it. But that will give you
some sort Of an idea Of the variety Of
things that the pawnbroker has offer
ed to him.
"Of course, you understand that not
all pawnbrokers take everything; there
are men who advance money on moth
ing but watches and jewelry and dia-
monds and pictures and that sort of
thing and who wouldn't give anything
on the handsomest satin lined overcoat
that ever was, because it isn't in their
line They have no place to put such
things, no conveniences for taking
care Of them And then there are
wnbrokers doing a general busines)
who take all sorts Of things-watches
and banjos. boxing gloves ard silver
spoons. practically anything and very
thing that offers. They might occa-
sionally run across something that they
wouldn't take, as did with the skele-
ton. but not often. There's practically
nothing but what they will take and
practically nothing but what is offered
at one time and another.
ION some things the amount advanc-
ed Is very small, but still I've got
things In safe that l never should get
my money back on If had to sell
them. You'd suppose it would be easy
for the pawnbroker to give on thing
no more than he could get for ft-if he
had to sell 1t, and so it would be. but,
as a matter Of fact, he may give more
than he could get back. He would be
governed by circumstances and By his
Judgment Of the person offering the
goods.
81 might have a customer bring In
diamond ring that | would lend so
much on. whatever it was. and that
would be a safe loan. The ring would
be good for it If it was never reclaim
ed. But maybe the next week the same
customer hard up and needing money.
would bring in pair Of trousers, spot:o
ted and worn. not worth much II you
had to sell them. And very likely |
would lend more on those trousers than
l could ever get for them, lending that
because he's q customer and | want to
accommodate him and I want to keep
him as a customer and because the
chances are that he'll take the trousers
out again, but if he doesn't, why. then
I'm out.
THE question Of whether man who
wants 4 loan is likely to redeem what
he offers Is often taken into account.
1t IS a common thing for the pawnbro-
ker to look at the man. maybe stran-
Ger. and lend on his Judgment of the
man as we'll as on his knowledge Of the
value Of the thing the man puts down
on the counter. OF course he makes
mistakes In this, but he takes the
chances. and suppose he oftener gets
1t right than not. There might come in
here you or anybody needing money
with an old fashioned key winding
watch, that could not get SO for. and
want to borrow SIS. and very likely I'd
lend it. though / know | never could;
get my money back II the watch was
not redeemed. But l know, or I think