Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 January 1885 — In a Pawn-Shop. [ARTICLE]

In a Pawn-Shop.

“There,” he said, leading the way into a little crowded side office, off from the main room, and placing his hand on the combination of an immense iron safe, “there is something valuable. That would interest you. You like jewelry—old jewelry ? There are valuables representing many hundred 1 thousand dollars in the safe. I have hour safes altogether, but this contains the most valuables. Time-lock, see?’ ! And he swung the huge iron doors-open. What a sight ? A miser might have fallen on his knees, and, running his arms up to the elbows into jewels and gold, have died for joy. There were at least two bushels oJ handsomely set rings, bracelets, brooches, diamond studs, pins, and gold watches, some of old and some oi new design. Some of the diamonds and other precious stones were exquisite. There were diamond rings of antique and curious pattern, and there were settings of rubies, carbuncles, and other precious stones. There was one ring set with a cluster Df very large diamonds which filled the reporter’s finger up to the first joint, and was so heavy as to bo uncomfortable. There w.as a jeweled necklace of hammered gold which was worn by one of the favorites in the court of Louis XIY, and a pair of Etruscan gold ear-rings of fine filmy texture more than two inches long, whioh Was once worn by an empress. So the proprietor of the “shop” assured the Star man, and their appearance bore out his statement. Then there were manyj many old gold watches, some of them very curious. There was one little hunting-case watch of hammered gold, hand-made, not more than an inch and a quarter in diameter and about as thick one way as the other, a unique and curious little thing, which the Star man was assured belonged to Martha Washington, having been made a present to her by some notable in England. In another safe were collected trinkets in still greater quantities, but of less value. Hundreds of silver watches were thrown together in heaps with silver spoons, mugs and drihking-cups, some of antique pattern. In yet another safe was a collection of George Washington’s plate—a full silver dinner set, very heavy, with the letter “W.” engraved upon each piece—and a very large drinking-cup marked “B. W.” which belonged to Bushrod Washington. This “Washington silver,” the proprietor told the Star man, he held in pledge for $l5O loaned to the lady who owns it, and heir of the Washington family. Its intrinsic value, he says, is about S3OO, but its value by ‘ association is of course much greater. There was also in one of the safes an immense Bible on vellum, giving the Scriptures in twelve different languages. It is several hundred years old The clasps are of heavy parchment or leather —A Pawnbroker, in Washington Star.