The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1903-02-26
Pawnsbop in a Chapel.

In the heart of the exclusive Back
Bay under the very caves Of aristocrat-
ic Trinity Church, a little pawnshop
fourishes, remarkable not only, for it's
environment, but in that it undonbted-
ly is the cheapest in the world, the only
one conducted by church and the
only one that is run solely on philan-
thropic basis.
Four per cent year is its rate, so
cheap that every other pawnshop in
the city, and in the world, in fact,
would be plunged into bankruptcy if
run on similar plan.
i From tool to jewel, and from a
bit of silver plate to your salary, can
you go to Trinity Chapel Pawnshop
and raise the money for your emer-
gency.
This philanthropic pawnshop is open
every day but Sunday, two hours daily,
| from IL to 1.
| The sexton at the chapel door said:
Eyes, they do lend money here" and
he pointed out little room in the
rear of the church, where the money is
lent and pledges received.
1t is plain, uncarpeted, bare little
room, big enough to hold small book
case, desk, a chair and settee, and a
very few persons.
Miss Mitchell, the lady in charge, sat
behind the, desk, a book before her.
1 with only,4 cents interest on loan
of dollar for whole year, I shouldn't
think it would pay to keep this place. .
the reporter interposed.
ct doesn't" she answered.
Tho am very busy here, and es-
pecially so on Saturdays, when many
come to redeem their pledges, the
profits barely pay my salary, but then
| it's philanthrOpic, not money-mak-
ing scheme"
The business originated during an
extremely hard winter a number OF
years ago, when there was great suffer.
ing among Boston's poor. 1t was the
idea of several of the prominent mem.
bers of the Trinity Church, who ad
vanced the money to open and carry
on the business until it might be self
supporting.
.sIn its ten years of existence" sale
Miss Mitchell, hundreds of men anC
women of all ages have been helped
out in and tided over their hour O.
trouble by the Trinity Chapel Pawn
shop.
: "Persons who come here are almos
! invariably those who have known bet
{ ter days. Our own poor of the parisl
we care for in secret way, and w
also provide coal for many who are no
of our parish, and who, tho in actua
need, are too proud to ask it of tn
city, even when they get down to thei
5 last shovelful.
/ "This, however, is for persons not s
] badly off as the others, or only temper
arily Inconvenience, perhaps; who ar
sick, out of work, or hard up just TO
the time being, who have sometime
1 which they can and which they ar
4 glad to be able to offer as security.
: "On their tools many workmen OF
tanned money the awful winter tina
the business was started, and now W
q loan money on anything small, j
fact, that can be bought in here and
, of any value worth mentioning.
eve scarcely ever give more tina
$40 as a loan on any one object" sal
: Miss Mitchell, "tho in times past W
) have.
"We used to advance money o
, . salaries quite good deal, but nov
only do it infrequently. If person
I really deserving, can furnish goo
d recommendations and will pay som
of the loan from week to week none
is advanced on his salary; but, as
have said, we do not do much in th
line now"
Like all places of the kind, it has il
L drawer full of unclaimed articles, bu
II the number is small compared wit
that of the shops where as much inte
est is charged for weeks as in th
4 Trinity pawnshop is charged for
year.
II Nothing less than months interel
is accepted, even tho family hei
loom be in hook but day; but tina
]. on a loan of So, for instance, is but
= single penny, and offers no example
the usurer's greed Boston Post.