. The
rate habitually charged for loaning money is three per cent. a month, or
any fractional part of a month, or thirty-six per cent. a year,
regardless of the amount. Many laboring men and women pawn the same
articles regularly on the first of the week, and redeem them on Saturday
when their wages are paid them.

"The following is a schedule of charges made on articles irrespective of
interest: On diamonds, watches, jewelry, silverware, opera-glasses,
articles of _vertu_, ten per cent. on the amount loaned, over and above
the interest, for what is called putting them away in the safes. On
coats, vests, pants, dresses, cloaks, skirts, basques, from twenty cents
to one dollar is charged for hanging up. On laces, silks, velvets,
shawls, etc., from twenty-five cents to one dollar for putting away in
bureau, wardrobe or drawer. For wrappers from fifteen to fifty cents is
charged. Persons offering goods done up in papers are compelled to hire
a wrapper, or the pawnbroker refuses to advance. The wrapper is simply a
dirty piece of old muslin. The hire of one of these wrappers has been
known to have amounted to over five dollars in one year. Upon trunks,
valises, beds, pillows, carpets, tool-chests, musical instruments, sewing
machines, clocks, pictures, etc., etc., in proportion to their bulk, from
one dollar to five dollars is charged for storage. A still greater
profit to the pawnbrokers is the penny fraud. They buy pennies, getting
from 104 to 108 for one dollar. These they pay out, and on every $100
thus paid out an average gain of six dollars is made. This amounts to
something with the prominent ones, who often pay out many hundred dollars
in a day. Another source of profit is the surplus over the amount loaned
which the pawnbroker receives from the sales of unredeemed pledges. This
surplus, although belonging to the depositor, according to law, is never
paid. In fact, not one in a thousand who have dealings with pawnbrokers
is aware of his rights."

As a rule, these wretches grow rich very fast. They are principally Jews
of the lowest class. They allow their wives and children to wear the
jewelry, ornaments, and finer clothing placed in their keeping, and in
this way save much of the ordinary expense of the head of a family. In
the case of clothing, the articles are frequently worn out by their
families. They are either returned in this condition when demanded, or
the owner is told that they cannot