The Washington times., 1915-07-08
To the Editor Of THE TIMES.

I have been deeply interestd In the items
In the local papers devoted to news OF
the loan sharks" and their so-called
victims"
l am sending this article to your
paper because thereby / can reach the
people," and can thus inquire Of them.
and particularly of the distinguished
legal lights" appointed by our phiian-
thropic District to fight these rapacious
Sharks" In behalf OF the poor "vic-
Tins" is there not, by any chance. an
other side to this loan shark aues-
tion7
II such be the case. no one has ever
seen At even to ms much as hint at 1t
in any article hitherto written on the
subject that has appeared in any of the
papers I have read.
Now, by way of variety. which, as you
know. is "the spice of life.' and espe-
cially of newspaper life, i would IKE
to convey to the public generally the
astounding fact that there really are
two sides to the question. as well as to
all others. have made 1t my business
to conduct inquiries in various directions
some of which would amaze you. l
have found out dead loads Of interest,"
l have deduced that, In the majority OF
cases. these so-called loan sharks.
and pa wnbrokers' shops against which.
too much war has been wagedD, are In
reality the best friend OF the poor.
am in honor bound not to go into pub
lie detail as to the cases l have per
sonally investigated but / am not thus
bound so far as my own experiences
are concerned. which l find 80 V,taliy
similar to hundreds Of others. And 60
as proof of my contention. I have de-
cided to relate them.
polorr to JIudar (Noya
First Of all. let me state that belong
In the ranks OF those known In siahs
parlance as THE Under Dogs. ana
now that have slowly and paintuhy
advanced from the deep-most depths oi
this state to the top layer, wherefrom IL
will be but a step to gain nip upon
the bottom-most rung of the LADDER oi
success. / am more keenly alive than
ever to the misery of my comrades.
more bitterly regretful OF my limited
ability to help them. and more abso-
lutely determined. In event OF real sue.
cess crowning my work, to devote my
entire life to their alienation. But
| there's many a slip 'twixt the step
and the nip with apologies to the au-
thor of the noted duotation), so here $
hoping that other and ADLER hearts. ana
ha nds, and brains, may in the interim.
10 to the rescue.
Well, about five wears ago l had gone
through the terrible ordeal OF the death
| of a precious little daughter. and yet.
mingled with my grief was an intense
feeling OF complete resignation. or re-
| lief. in the knowledge that she was
forever saved from all chances or Ire
| of sordid tragedy. and disa ppointment.
and disiusionmsnt t, snSh q as mn m'ne sorroW nSS
had to plan for the defraying OF the
| expenses entailed during the long Ill
| ness. and then the funeral. I explained
my position to my pastor. who had been
| the recipient. in palnier days. OF many
donations: but when he found the ma
! ture of my errand. he became as sweet
| iy acidulated as a large freezer OF lemon
| sherbet, regaled me with all the cases:
| bogus and otherwise. they were caiteo
charity fund in consequence, and nnaly
| after making me realize very fully that
| IL is indeed more blessed to give than
to receive" he bowed me out. saying
| "I'll pray for you, my child
| Restraining an hysterical impulse te
retort. bray for me, you jackass'
left the rectory
Advice at the Bank.
| then went to bank. where. upor
making known my errand. l was re
ceived with much condescension. anc
given a lengthy but instructive dis
| course upon business procedure. ant
told that could get the amount neeo
ed by havin~ some one of financia
prominence indorse my note.
l reflected upon whom TO ask, an
finally decided to go to a business ma
Of great success, for whose family. i
days gone by. many favors had bee
done by our family. He received m
most effusively, and was expansiFel
sympathetic. He expatiated upon IN
tragedies of my life, and finally woun
up by delicately informing me that
could have any amount OF money
wished II would but do myself tn
honor of becoming his Mistress
broad desk, and had been toying wit
the top of a huge cut-gass inkwell:
will ever be the happiest memory or m
, eventful career that | picked up IN
/ inkwell and hurled 1t in his face oa
, Of the sharp corners cut the side or NJ
nose, and he was be-splattered with In
from the crown Of his luxuriant LOCK-
. to the beginning OF his ponderou
paunch. / then left.
Then the Loan Shark.
, Going back to my little home.
racked my brain for a way out. l the
? decided to try one Of the loan companit
whose advertisements had OCCASIONAL
: and curiously read. / went to the
OFFICES. was politely greeted by
: lady shark. and told to enter the pr
vate office. I did SO, and waited expe
. tantly for the next step. In momei
4 there entered man shark, decent
= his appearance and manner. ! told nj
= | desperately needed 500, and why
Q needed II.
0 He was kind and comprehensive to
remarkable degree, but In no wise onel
= siye. l described my household effect
e one of his representatives called Il
n next morning to appraise them. l weI
e down to the office again the afternot
= of the following day, signed series =
notes, and got the money MY enec
o we're the security; at a public auctio
g | do not believe they would have broug'
;. $50 For the use of 500 for one year
!. paid back notes amounting to aoo
Il Sl42. Very dear, you say? Yes, | gra
YOU It is in a sense: But, when W
consider my urgent need. the nature
the security offered, and the length
+ time l took to return 1t, 1t was not
= bad after all. And. please note, 1t WI
, the first place had been to in two day
where l was not received with frig.di
Il and condescension, or rankly lnsulted.
d have had FIVE additional TRANSACTION
Il with various companies since. In cac
Q case l have had the satisfaction OF ge
y ting my money promptly. Of having N
It condolences respected, and of not ha'
ing to be beholden to relatives ar
ss friends.
e Courteous Treatment.