Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-17

door. a liveried servant stepped to one
of the boxes and offered jewelry case.
1t took some time to settle this business,
but the jewelry was placed in safe and
several large bills went into the purse of
the lady who occupied the carriage.
II have always found that people make
the most fuss when they pawn musical
Instruments" said the pawnbroker in re-
ply to a question. 1T seems that after
everything else is pawned they bring in
the guitar or other instrument It's a
family relic maybe, or love token, and
it's like pulling eye teeth to part with it.
They can pawn family Bibles and wedding
rings a great deal easier and without
shedding tears. Speaking of rings, here S
one. sir. on which the interest has been
seems the poor fellow will never get the
money to redeem it.
In picking out the ring the pawnbroker
drew out an immense tray from one of
the large safes. in which there must have
been fully a thousand rings-rings of
every character and description. Rings,
the symbol of love and purity, that were
pulled off, maybe. in despair or anger,
maybe in bitter want of daily bread. 1t
seemed sacrilege to touch them. In the
same safe were other trays filled with
pledged rings, while not less than 1900
watches were in fifty drawers. Three of
these large safes were almost filed with
jewelry of every kind, to say nothing of
silver cups, ladies'. knives, forks, spoons,
etc.
While. of course. the most valuable
pl edges are placed in the SAFES and vaults,
yet they do not represent one-tehth the
bulk of articles pawned. Hundreds OF
shelves and bins are arranged on the I'M
mense floor space. and in and on these are
thousands of articles properly numbered
and tickated. The shelves overflow with
guns, pistols clocks. musical instruments,
;,J.e Of Int hnl6
chanics' toos-a perfect museum. Thls
department is sty'ed the mechanics
depot" Another or or section is set
apart for bed clot. ~, wearing apparel,
cloth material of G, y kind. boots. shoes
and hats fifty iousand articles or
more are in this d p1rtment.
From Rome to London. and from Wash
ineton to Siam, my uncle Is pretty
we'll known. but a glance at his birth and
pedigree will doubtless prove interesting
to those who are forced to come in con-
tact with the old gentleman.
my uncle" is said to have been born in
the wear OF grace II in the city of Padua
in the states of acknowledgements. Times
were hard in that city. as they were
through all Italy, and the money changers
we're reaping a harvest. There was great
distress among the poor who could not
afford to pay the interest demanded. one
day at high noon, in the year aforesaid,
Minorite friar in the quaint garb of his
order and standing barefoot among the
great multitude. called down anathemas
upon the heads of the usurers ana prok-
ers. The padre prayed the wealthy mer-
chants who listened to him to lend their
efforts to further scheme he had mapped
out 70 save the poor wretcheS about MN
from misery and starvation. His scheme
was that the rich should lend gratuitously
to the poor on pledges or pawns. and re-
lieve their wants without risk or sacrlhce'
tn 10 u-aV Clnn
ing vampires. The padre was listened TO
with attention and satisfaction. and on
that day my uncle" came into existence.
state conference of charities and correc-
The establishment 6f the pawn shop at
that time caused great trouble, and 1t was
necessary for the pope to take hand
before the money lenders and their friends
would cease efforts to put them out of
business. Pawnbroking shops were soon
established in the cities of Italy. and they
spread into other countries. Germany,
France and Russia adopting them. These
establishments were known as Lombard