New-York tribune., 1903-07-20
THE CITY2S PAWNSHOPS.
III Sorts and Conditions That Visit
the Sign of the Three Balls.

.Iu DOTJS ana L OIl0JLIOnS HdL J ISL
the Sign Of the Three Balls,
Between the two statements that the closing Of
the pawushops Of New-York City would be the
greatest calamity that could befall the poor and
that 'the cltys pawushops are responsible for more
thriftlessness and poverty than any other
cause except the saloons stand the impartial
facts. Both % the above views are held by men
well informed each in his particular line. men Of
Affairs whose opinions have weight and influence in
the community IN which they move. and may be
considered TO a great extent as representative. It
is the simple urvarnished facts In the lives OF
those with whom the pawnshop is q household
word and e lifelong experience. e large percentage
u whom are women. that must count in the com
mon balance.
There amt no back door 20 the poorhouse," an
old woman was overheard 70 humble the other
day IS she toiled up the rear stairway Of a down
town shop gazing gloomiIy once and again on a
tightly clasped trinket, the last OF its tlk-
It's q square business, man to man" the
comment OF q wrinkIed old crone huddled together
IN disconsolate heap on the rtCkety wooden frame
she called bed. the last article OF furniture IN
the room. Nobody else 'ud buy my bits Of stuff.
can't eat 'era. 7 get little enough for EN-, God
knows. but it's as much more'n III get when
they come 70 auction. II couldn't get the money
on 'em from him Td NV been on the Island this
long time and anyhow they're my own and no
charity"
THE BULK OF THE BUSINESS.
In q percentage Of the pawnshops. Of which there
are something ike one hundred and fifty IN this
city. the bulk OF the business consists Of family
bundle" trade This means that money IS
loaned anything from pair OF stockings TO
brass bedstead. The pawnable horizon includes
diyulge pathetic secrets Here the fringe OF some
cheap towelling has burst through its wrapper:
there the edge q baby's hood, g. collection OF
tine toT the next Young hopef Rgaia two tooth
brushes. t-1re C1sColOred be held
on an eight-cent pledge. parcel Of partly worn
r1sed that they were put 1 the day before Christ
mas, and then he half contents himself with the
hops that they were an uptown Donation 10 a
chldless family. Groceries. pound OF coffee,
quarter OF pound OF tea. bag OF -four have como
% ms helerogeneous hosJeIry OF human possessions
n some emergency where the need for cash over
Ias sums that pass oveEr. the pawgonshoP go counter
- I., on ne Genus 70 S-92 QL $@10 NnIID pes
during their summer Talgrati6ns They are as safe
II the pawnshop's keeping as in the hands Of the
banker, argues Inlladi and meanwhile she VIII
have q few hundreds for summer frilIs and fur
An illuminating sldeught,. however. IS thrown on
popular sentiment n regard 70 pawnshop traffic by
The fact that even the hunblest loan Office" IS
PROVIDED wiki e rear or side entrance and booths
---cL ellIe-y screen the customer anG that POT
uon q The counter on which his goods are dis
standing II was satd nat .:plaving the races7
brought the majority Of its wealthy women custom
teW-el 1or day. Few hours. Their ''ttp' proves
bona hde one, and their gems are back again in
resort 70 fictitious purchases at the Jewelry de-
partrneTTt IN stores TO make Up the shortage. This
s usually employed as last resource, however. to
prevent inoUiring husbands and brothers from com
60 80 possession ot the facts TO this END gooos
are purchased wherever the pawner has an account
firms VIII cash Manv ? wei 70 AZ woman whose
lsuanc allows her accounts a. all the big stores,
"a raise r1o~e eo- oF-its 80 ~ -s4 ' E IEIeg 90 cb -
subscriptions mean certain social prestige; TO buy
eTtravseant sons. 10 DO any one Of the countless
things women want cash for when that cash IS
not forthcoming from legitimate sources. and the
poverty. Sts o. 'As Pa"fShoP Is not always that o.
LITTLE TRICKS OF THE TRADE
Dealers have 10 be or the alert for g dozen ruses
mat are daily foisted upon then-stolen goods, art
cles bought on the instalment plan and not yet
paid for. the substitution on the counter OF bogus
article for the genuine one which they have Just
examined. and which they have agreed 10 make
a certain loan And. again, II is the other way
Iss enc 94c tne loan maker IS asked 10 furnish
.e 80 ~nlch the money IS obtained. to outwit OBJ
eInlo 70 me priest perhaps. IS the tertium oud in
staietss ssscrets; 70 MN is conhded the household
tLinost lntalliole judge Of human nature too and
these peoples bo-roori- ~ counter II one OF
ne pl.se ~ the little community Of customers fF7at
frl-es .4i -s 4o one else 10 look 70. often
article and anothsr on one a9 ne 'i ne ASKS on an
= eleTleI or q third o. its worth He axes his
4elees q = getting his money back. and ais
man the sort who is likely 10 redeem fis 1Is5gas
80 ne oiner not FaWubrokers are always on the
io2EolL Ior good customers" " men and women vbo
Lta5la5ly redeem. and for such d customer goods
zI+ Aeit lonE atter the expiration of a loan and
S.-oon 7 ever md their was TO auction The last
resort ot the ur-ede=ul4d " -1NN
= ehrelFL aLc TWO skulls were re~s~rIr- raLysv
q peNIs1oP II Manhattan. and because The Cv-,av
y -ltse lrcafUT articles had aI8avs before Come
- me me re received the amount be asked for on
--,, tlols1 the proprietor OF the three ba led
- a --s s-i5el could scarcely have realized q third
-s y forced 10 sell In both Manhattan and
fl4l-l51 Lf@ SHOPS OF this are largely IN the
taiitE - me bridge. auc the reason for this saw
ret -ts of them IS that of their custom ers
$3.50 TO pc seen entering such place in their own
t-Ei- lleterrlns ~ cross E1e bridge 10 do
business Of this sort
TIE CHINESE PAWNBROKER
'1iy IN China is the profession OF pawnbroker
tl'eA any prestige There the strongest and most
imposing buildings IN tfe cities are the paWnshops
iheF take the place ~ safer- deposit vaults Bor-
,PP@--e theTe IS TIE essence II All trade. and set
80 - 70 bankruptcy law EUt debt desceuds
---l- -athef - son 10 anE number Of generations
-tli u rs pald. and even debtor eating his bowl
II ilef may % joined by his creditor whom the
- =. @iA uphold in demanding share II the meal
s-ss t-s 1lestlal may borrow and lend and borrow
an because ne always pays. ana the keeper Of