davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-27
WE DON'T LIKE MAJ sY1vEsTERs F1NGER1MPR1NT SCHEME.

looked like a circus ground to him. He
takes the watch and hands me his card
and tells me to let him have all the
dross that / can spare. What? Yes,
that's what he says. Dross.
Il gives him $50 and he picks up the
watch
ALAS. poor Yorick' says he, sad and
mournful knew him we'll
Its none of my business 1 says.
but I'd like to know whether that
watch's name is Caesar or Yor!ck'
He didn't pay no attention 10 me. He
walks out yellin: A drink! drink! my
kingdom for a drink" And l amt seen
him since.
Then there was the time that I bucked
into the proposition with four young men.
They'd been playing poker. learned
afterward.
I'D just opened shop one morning
when a fellow lookin' red-eyed and
weary waltzes IN carryin' what looks to
be whole female wardrobe on his arm.
what can I raise on this stuff?" he
asked.
Il looked it over and told him what I'd
give He took 1t and hurried away when
another man came wandering In lugSin'
another complete outfit for ladies. l
commenced to get scared. 1t looked like
somebody'd robbed seminary.
Women's Clothes and Poker.
"'What can 1 raise on this?' he asks.
1 tells him and he takes the money and
scoots.
Then comes another one fully equipped
in the clothes line to start a harem. /
don't give him a chance to ask me the
question.
1.-The ladies' notion department 10 on
the second floor 'front.' I says. but he
dumps the stuff right down and pleads
with me to take 1t. I always was soft
hearted, so l let him have his money and
he runs joyously out OF the store. leavn
me with a full line Of ladies' furnishings
and not the least idea Of how I'm goin'
to get rid of them.
Two or three hours passed away when
a meek harassed lookn' little man walks
in and asks me II I've seen Jack and Bill
and Jim About the time I had him
spotted for another female clothes seller
he blurts out:
Those fellows with all the wimmens
Clothes
wish I hadn't. I bought all their stuff
and it'll take me a week TO get rid OF
it
His face lights up.
I'm so glad he says. want to re-
deem all of them clothes right now
You amt got no ticket. l says.
But he did. He pulls out the three
tickets and turns 'em over, to me, to-
gether with wad of money!
You see he says, four of US were
playin poker at my house last night an
the bunch trimmed me of all my money.
Well, my wifes away at the country and
so I got out her winter clothes and
started to bet them / bet clothes against
money until 1 couldn't see. The fellers
didn't want to take my check and didn't
want to embarrass EN- by offering It, So
I bet clothes until everything was gone
They gave me the tickets on credit.
- But, gee, I'm glad 1 got EN- OF 8:
hook before my wife came back
This is certainly funny business
The pawnbroker sees some queer thcss
certainly.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-27

walls and showcases, the reporter found
a proprietor who. after delivering his
TRADE against Maj Sy!vester's new
scheme. became somewhat sociable and
gave the reporter an Insight into the
character of his trade.
The pathetic side Of the pawnbroker' S
business is often evidenced: in the course
Of a day in Washington's underworld.
Dope fiendS. booze artists" and just
plain ICON men besiege these places
when they have anything to pawn. They
bring in everything from baby ring
TO a diamond stud, from a washtub to d
crayon picture of father" or mother.
It doesn't make much difference TO them
what they get on the article. ana lor
this reason much of the stuff that today
crowds the pawn shops is bought for little
or nothing. This class of people would
not hesitate to have their finger prints
taken if they could obtain the loan they
desire.
Pawns Bible to Buy Dope.
Just about closing time the other day
a dope fiend, evidently much under the
influence OF some drug, walked into a
local pawn shop. CHANGING cunningly
around the store he dived his hand
down in a covered basket he was carrying
and brought out large copy of the
Bible, on which he wanted TO borrow 81.
AS the book was In good condition, the
pawn man threw a dollar on the counter
in exchange for the book.
in a case like that the broker re-
marked. "a dope fiend will do anything to
obtain little money. and a question Of
getting him to give you his finger prints
would m AXE but little difference. In my
opinion il is a Godsend for some one To
give the man a little ch~rge so that
he can obtain the price of drug. His
system Graves II.
To US it is almost impossible to detect
the crook They come in all guses and
can't very well be told from the person
who Is hard up and really needs the
money. When we know a crooked deal
has been pulled off somewhere or that the
person before Us looks Ike some one
whom the police want we tip head
quarters off and a policeman is imme-
dately dispatched to arrest the man. In
fact we do everything 10 protect our
selves from being panhandied in the first
place and to lend any aid in our power
to detect criminals who are trying TO dis
pose of their loot.
Some time ago. said another broker,
Tho favors Maj. Sylvester's plan, "a man
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-27

covered copper plate and address my eli
ent after this fashion:
Sir. ii gives me great pleasure to
make you the loan. but first dig your fin
gers down in this gooey mess Then
make a finger impression on this piece of
paper which the police provide so that
they can keep tabs on you. If you ever
decide to become a desperate criminal
they will be able to hunt you down-or II
you have stolen this stud Maj. Sylvester
will send you down to the penitentiary.'
Wouldn't that be a nice line of talk to
and out to an honest man? ! am sat
isfed there will be nothing doing on the
majors proposition.
Just then customer entered with the
manner of one who had been there be-
fore
Pawning the Silver Pitcher.
Let me have 81 on this. will yer?
Ne old woman is down with the hay
fever and I got TO get some medicine
Polling out what at first glance purport-
ed 10 be a silver water pitcher. the I'M
fortunate looked earnestly into the eyes
Of the man behind the counter. hoping
that the amount asked for would be
coming to him without a murnur.
The paWnbroker who conducts one of
those shops patronized by the poorer
classes. closed his hands over the article.
after feeling Of It's weight, and, eyelng It
critically gave It back to his customer
with the remark that he thought he
would be safe in lending him 30 cents
on the pitcher.
Fifty cents" Numbered the out
ragged man. why. 1 paid S. for that
pitcher last March, and it was guaran-
teed 10 be solid silver Stamping out of
the store and muttering discontentedly,
the up-against-it' man. as the broker
termed him. began making the rounds or
the pawn shops in search of more lib
eral loan
OFTEN" said the broker. 1--WE are
forced 10 lend money on junk on which
we take great chance. We may get our
money back and we may not. On dia-
monds and other jewelry Of value
greater amount can be loaned than on
stuff which might cost more for work
manship Take that mans case who
was Just in here. I know him. He is truly
up against IT What possible use could
Mai. Sylvesters order be in a case Ike
that? Nothing"
Walking into another pawn shop. where
lnk of every description aGornS the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-27

M Al. SYLVE E. T E R
As4 Would Eliminate
Fences, Protect the Pawn
broker and Prevent Crooks
From Disposing of Stolen
Property in the District
With Few Exceptions
Pawnbrokers Hold That
the Finger print Plan
Would Be an Insult to
Their Customers and Work
an Unnecessary Hardship
for Them Hunor and
Pathos AS Seen by the
Pawnbroker-The Society
Woman at Times a Gus
toner - The Little Girl
With the Cheap Clock
A shakespeare" Watch in
Soak-Heard and Seen in
the Pawnshop.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-27
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT HOLDS
STUMPINC RECORD.

rooms on the parlor floor. In Chi
cago also. Chairman Hitchcock has es-
tablished western headquarters In a suite
of light and airy rooms in the Harvester
building. where Secretary William Hay
ward will be permanently in charge
while Mr. Hitchcock is on his rowing
commission about the country.
The democrats have long regarded Chi
cago as the center of hostilities and so
did Republican Chairman Hanna. but
Chairman Cortelyou regarded New York
as the vortex four years ago and re-
manned there.
Every center Of population must contin-
uously ring with oratory during the month
prior to the final balloting. In the last
campaign 400 representa- tives and other
orators served the republicans in the
east without pay. but the more. notable
speaking tours of both parties are always
in the west. In 1904 Senator Fairbanks
was sent over a route OF 1900 miles in
which he made from five TO fifteen
speeches day, besides one long speech
each evening. He kept this up for six
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-27

representing himself to be DR.. Blank
walked into my store and asked:
VIII you please give me some money
for this II was about SO worth of Gen
t!st gold and about $50 worth of teeth.
] looked the man over He was a gentle
man in appearance and looked like d doc
tor / gave him a liberal loan
Fixing his fingers in the reporters lapel
the broker continued: THAT man. mister.
was a thief He gained my sympathy by
telling me that his wife and his little girl
Were sick and that he must have money
at once. As I was about to take an in
ventory of the goods detectives came INTO
my store and told me OF big robbery or
a dentist office. My money was gone
and the police took the goods.
Now. if l had obtained that mans fin
ger prints. ] would never have lost the
money. Mai. Sylvester knows what he IS
talking about
In some OF the better class pawn shops.
where the storeToom is partitioned off into
little booths, tales of a different charac-
ter are told. Surprising stories of how
society folks send their va!uabies to pawn
so that ready money can be gotten and
how the sport who is temporarily up
against it, holds his own for while unit
he can land are told. During the races
the better places are Geluged with all
kinds of real ieweIry and the big safes
that line the walls contain thousands OF
dollars worth of gems. Some of the art
treasures and iewelry that form part of
the stored pledges are world famous.
Ren1branGt's pictures. Grecian statuary,
old mosaics and numbers of priceless val
liable form part Of the pawnbrokers'
treasure houses.
Where the Elite Pawn.
A lady of society. of position and re-
fnement. finds herself temporarily en-
barrassed. She may send d trusted serv-
ant to the paNnbrolZers. or if she can
not trust her servant. she will come her
self. heavily yelled. OF course. She OBJ
tains a loan Of from 500 to 81 800 for a
couple OF weeks. after which she will re-
deem the pledge.
Not Entirely Dross.
The sleek and prosperous citizen is
apt to look on the pawnshop as a
dirty little place where the great I'M
washed visit to part with what they do
own The proprietor. he imagines is
d, Combination Fagin and Bill Sykes with
ou- heart a person willing to rob and
run the chance of being robbed. Some
times he is and sometimes he isn't.
The pawnshop is a haven o. refuge for
many a hard-prcssed thief but it IS also
the resort OF many whose lives are none
the less hlameleSs because they are
forced by circumstances TO live in the
novels Of the city.
Many 4 tale Of heroic self-sacrifice. OF
martyrdon as brave as any that today
emhlazons the pages of history, the pawn
shop man could tell if he only chose
While the visitor at the sign OF the
three balls was gracefully trapping him
self over an old table young girl en-
tered the place. Want and bitter strug-
Cling for an insufficient existence had
pinched her features and prematurely
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-27

aged her but even the grim wolf could
not entirely destroy her beauty:
Delicate and fragile. she timidly entered
the office as though she momentarily
feared arrest and imprisonment Her first
questions showed her pathetic ignorance
of he place. Catching sight of the re-
porter, she turned and would have fed had
not the pawnbroker called her back in
a voice so gentle that il would have sur
prised the sleek citizen had he been there
to hear it Blushng and stammering. sne
drew from her frayed shirt waist small.
notwithstanding clock and laid it on
the counter.
The Old Battered Clock.
The pawnbroker picked it up and exam
ined it critically. Even before he spoke
his face told the child-she was little more
than a chld-that the tawdry gilded
clock was valueless and that she could
raise but pittance on 1t.
How much?" faltered the girl.
I'm sorry" said the pawnbroker af-
fably, but you won't be able to raise
more than $3.50 on it."
Everything was quiet for a moment.
everything save the poor little clock that
licked as bravey as though 1t was de-
termined to save its little mistress from
want.
sound, half sob, half laugh. came
from the girl as though wrung from her
through torture. She turned to the pawn
broker.
lin able to repay you she said
Let me have a little more on the clock
I can pay you back. Oh!'-and her voice
traled off in silence.
But the pawnbroker. though evidently
kind. was obdurate. He could not. he ex-
planned. afford to lose money by advanc-
ing a large sum on such pledge. The
girl turned and she reached the door
a cry escaped her.
'Oh, mother why can't save you she
cried-and was gone.
It's queer what kind of people come in
here remarked the pawnbroker. The
visitor unwrapped himself from the table
and aSSented.
The people that come in this place"
continued re pawnbroker," would surprise
you I see more different kinds Of peo-
pie here than you ever dreamed OF. L
didn't know that there were so many
different kinds OF human beings until l
got in this business.
The "Shakespeare" Watch.
yesterday morning, just after I'd open
ed I'D. a man came in here. and of all the
wild-eyed. uncanny looking men 1 ever
saw he was it.
He walks up to me and says: 1 come
to bury Caesar, not to praise him. I told
him that this wasn't no undertaken shop.
but he didn't listen to me. He was
dressed in the worst clothes I've seen in
six months and I've seen some of the
blamedest get-upS tEat -Aas ever run IN
on the public.
"Just about the time I was getting
ready to call for the police he pulls out
a watch. 1t was a gold diamond stud
ded affair with magnificent works and a
case that must have cost Sl23. II was
beaut I was leery at first, but he opened
the case and showed it to me. 1t was a
watch that had been given to him by the
members of his company, he told me. be-
fore he started to get drunk. Seems he'd
been playing Hamlet
We'll ! could see with one eye that
he was SO drunk that the pawnshop
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-27


prints, in order to run them to earth
! when they dispose of their "swag" through
I the medium OF the unsuspecting pawn
broker.
Maj. Sylvester has discovered new use
/ for Puddin' Head Wilson's idea and plans
to adopt it for the better protection of the
people OF Washington. so that crooks may
sbe deferred from disposing of stolen prop
erty within the limits of the District of
Columbia The superintendent of police
believes that the scheme would greatly
aid in the suppression of crime and would
likewise rebound TO the benefit of the
pawnbrokers. they would be protected
from crooks and swindlers, who often
dispose OF their loot to the unsuspecting
broker The major believes the system
would also be valuable adjunct to the
efficiency of the police.
On the other hand, the pawnbrokers in
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-27

and submit them TO an .;.......s, COM
mittee.
Now the national chairman is to the
candidate as the theatrical manager is 70
the star actor and the editor is to tn
author Good discipline demands TIL :
authority, and the only recent candidat
to break il was Grover Cleveland. Aim Isl
from the first hour Of his campaign OF
1854 he uuarreled with Senator German.
his national chairman. who became SO
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-27

tunes. and Weed made a special trim to
Sprin gheid 20 get Lincoln's promise not
to talk Since Parson Burchard's rum
RonlaniSm and rebellion speech in
Blaine's presence lost New York to the
Plumed Knight republican national chair
men have required that orators speak
ing formally in the presence OF candi-
dates submit copies of their speeches in
advance and candidates also have been
REQUIRED to write their formal speeches
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-27

tober. Their hesitancy was doubtless out
Of respect to old-line politicians. who, one
and all, believe that a hoodOo fits IN the
. wake of the presidential campaign tour.
Mark Hanna believed in this hoOdo0.
which blighted the hopes of Clay. Doug
las, Greeley and Blaine. who before Bry-
ans coming were our only presidential
candidates who went on big speechmak-
ing tours. Hanna on this account kept
Mckinley at home in both campaigns. as
both chairmen did their candidates four
years ago. This has been the hoodoo's
swath: Lincoln in 1860 did not stir out of
Douglas made to speeches. travelled 2.1J0
miles and was defeated. Lincoln III 1864
made one Campaign speech in New York
and spoke briefly TO four visiting delega-
tons: Mcclellan made five speeches in
New York and was defeated. Grant in
1865 made no political speeches: Seymour
made > speeches, travelled J. 100 miles and
was defeated. Grant in 1872 made
neither campaign tour nor speeches;
Greeley made 10 formal speeches. ITav-
eled 2,:2.i miles and lost. Cleveland in
1854 Travelled 3l2 miles and made : speech
es. while Blaine travelled 400 miles, made
$50 speeches and was defeated. Bryan
beat Blaine's record on bOtn Of his for
mer campaigns, while Mckinley stayed at
home and won Hayes and GarneId how
ever both deAed the hoodoo and won out.
Tilden made no tour and only one short
speech, but there are many who believe
that he really won. Garfield. then. is
the only notable exception. He travelled
300 miles and made % speeches, while
Hancock made no tour and only two brief
SpeecheS.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-27

hit. 1908. by John Elfreth Watk!ns.)
WHIRLWIND campaign is as
sured now that both Taft and
Bryan. after hesitating, have dc
cided to tour and stump tie
doubtful states throughout Oc-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-27

ZOE to the crooks. confidence
men, deft-handed gentry and
plain, ordinary thieves. for
Major and superintendent of
Police Richard Sylvester is
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-27
Putting on the MUzzle.

The greatest danger OF the campaign
lies in the candidate" said the late Sen
ator Barnum. Campaigning as We know
IL was unknown until Jackson ran. There
were no national conventions. platforms.
parades or mass meetings. Men with as
pirarions for the presidency were spoken
FOR bv their friends in stately and digni-
fed ora1ory. Jackson in ISIS started the
new order of events. and thereafter can
didates were allowed TO do and say what
they pleased until 1S4i. when henry Gay
defeated himself by an unfortunate utter
ance His election was almost conceded
in that campaign until he made ms uhe
fortunate allusion TO the admission OF
Texas a state. winch iost nm New
work After that experience shrewd
campaign managers tried to keep 'neH
candidates in the background Thuriow
Weed and Gov. Morgan OF Ne" 1orh'
Lncolns first acti.e campaign managers
were in constant fear that their candidate
; would say something to wreck his Ior-
The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-02-04
FOUR YEARS FOR ARSON.

NEW YORK, Feb 3,-~-Mrs, Annie
Ackerly, the FIRST woman ever ae.
cused OF arson in Brooklyn has been
sentenced to service four years in
prison. According to the evidence,
Mrs, Ackerly in order to collect on
a $1,000 fire insurance policy, set fire
TO The contents OF her apartment, in
Brooklyn tenament house, endang-
ering the lives OF scores OF people
living in the same building. The evil
dence showed that oil soaked rags
had been spread about the rooms and
candles set where when they burned
down they would light this combusti.
BILE. Beds and furniture we're also
soaked with oil and blankets were
tackled over the windows to screen
the light OF the fires from passers on
the street.
The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-02-04
DOLLS JUMPER cosruMR--SsOs.


developing many of these coats, and
Its soft. black, glossy skin Is very at
tractive and not extravagant In price.
The proper way to wear the boa this
winter Is little to the right Of ones
chin instead OF one end being jauntily
thrown over the shoulder, as they were
worn last season.
The most sought after fur garments
are the little coats which have the
virtue Of capes, They are loose and
easy OF adjustment and boast the
square sleeves and sloplng shoulders.
All brown and black furs are fash
ionable, particularly pony and Persian
lamb. White lamb is rlvaling ermine,
which. however, maintains a consider
able place.
Long furs. such rs silver fox, lynx
and tipped fox. are very smart pelts
for boas and muffs.
Mistress Dolly must have a pretty
indoor dress rs well as street cos.
tune, and the one shown In the cut
is certain to win approval. There Is n
plated skirt trimmed with bands and
jumper waist with the mandarin
sleeves that are 80 much IN vogue
JUDO CH0LLET.
The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-02-04
HIDDEN DANGERS.
Nature Gives Timely Warnings Tha,
No Astoria Citizen Can Az
ford to Ignore.

DANGER SIGNAL NO. comes
from the kidney sccretions. They
will warn you when the kidneys are
sick, Well kidneys cxcrete a clear,
amber fluid, Sick kidneys send out a
thin, pale and ioamy, or thick, red,
Ill. smelling urine, full Of sediment and
irregular OF passage.
DANGER SIGNAL NO. 2 comes
from the back. Back pains, dull and
heavy, or sharp and acute, tell you
OF sick kidneys and warn you OF the
approach Of dropsy, diabetes and
Bright's disease. Doan's Kidney Pills
cure sick kidneys and cure them per
manently.
p. J. Ritchey, living on Seventh St,
Ilillsboro, Ore, says; "For long
time ] suffered from an acute attack
Of kidney trouble. My kidneys were
very irregular and secretions passing
very frequently and were attended by
severe pain. They were also very
scanty and my bladder seemed to be
very weak. | tried number Of
remedies that were said to cure kid
ney trouble but received no relief.
At last | saw an advertisement OF
Doan's Kidney Pills, and procured a
box, The pains left and as ! con-
tinued to use them the trouble entire
ly vanished. gradually grew better
and now ! am without a sign OF kid
ney trouble. recommend Doan's
Kidney Pills at every opportunity"
Plenty more proof like this from
Astoria people. Call at Charles
Rogers & Sons drug store and ask
what their customers report,
For sale by all dealers. Price, 50
cents. Foster-M Milburn Co, Buffalo,
New York, sole agents for the United
States.
Remember the name-Doan's-and
take no other.