1937-10-30 — Page 11

SATURDAY,

OCTOBER 30, 1937

Of all the buildings which loom

4

This Wook

above the forest of dwoll- ings and shops in the average, - Chinese elty none are more con. spicuous than the donjon-like

surpass that of his colleague of the towers of the ubiquitous pawn western hemisphere. The Chinese are broking establishments. Their

especially fitted by nature to carry grim walls of greyish-blue brick on commerce, and pre-eminently that pierced here and there with a of a profession which demands the collocation of eye-like apertures outlay of capital and the exaction of are reminiscent of other more usury, and although all Chinese tumultuous epochs, and these pawn-brokers are inherently shrewd, it ja sald ibat those who hail from the

the

HONGKONG TELEGRAPH

WEEK-END SECTION

T. PAUL GREGORY'S

middlemen are usuallý although not and it is 'a frequent occurrence fin always the

clansmen or intimate large cities in the hinterland to friends of the proprietor and are

witness petly hawkera squatting on hence permitted especially favour

the pavement with an Imposing array able rates of purchase. In the case of pawn-tickets spread gut before of certain objects, such as curios and them and in persuasive accents en- odd pieces of rare bric-a-brac, most cavour to Interest the passers-by in the purchase at "bargain prices" of of the smaller pawn-shops, especial-

one or other of these mule but ly those in the interior of the coun-

poignantly expressive symbols of most try, place them In the bonds Gomo poor devil's herofe, but per-

of

Article Is About

as foo-kwat which literally means "decayed bone." Other articles may be instanced as watches and pieces of clothing. The former whether it be the highest grade of English or American 11mepiece is put down on the ticket as pat-kok laan-plu watch that will not go," whilst the latter regardless whether

it be s garment of the finest silk or an ordin ary cotton singlet. will be summed up In the following epigrammatic it not uncomplimentary sentence: vat-kin laen-shaam "one torn_coat.” It is

CHINESE PAWNSHOPS

massive structures can scarcely province of Shansi are be recognised as the periodical repositaries of multifarious arti- cles of clothing, furniture, orna- ments, ule, and the banking Ins- titutions of the nation's proleta- rint. Indeed, in no other inud do' pawn-shops occupy such an im- portant position In. the economic life of a people; for in addition to acting as a sort of mont-de-piété on the staff.

Juckless amongst the

poor, blighted by the curse of a pitiless To those who take the trouble to investigate, the similarities of

usury, they also provide the affluent classes with a place for the safe-keeping of valuables and the proper storage of furs during the hot, sultry montha of summer, thereby effectively precluding

irreparable ravages of whole armies of formidable insect pests.

the

THE Chinese pawn-shop is · Con=

astute of

the profession.

vernacular as shul-hack or Indeed. peripatetic merchants known in the "water guests" who take the alleles to the large towns where they make the

there is a common saying that if a pawn-shop is particularly successful, there must be a Shansi man or two

Chinese

•

•

pawn-shop to

its

the Occidental counterpar fre indeed striking-so much so that Mr. Isadore Golisien or Mr. Isane Cohen of Los Angeles, Californis or Old Jewry, London would be quite at home. in the atmosphere of the "loan office" of Cathay, and doubtless, too. Mr. Wong or Mr. Chon of the Middle Kingdom would find the establish-

ments of the Went quite to their liking. There are amongst other things, similar rates of interest, and the brukers boast of trade jargons compiled on the same general prin- of a pop

cipic-the only difference being that

Jar loan fee,"

the pawn other the venerable tongue of and the

Sons of Hon. broker himself contrary to the usual trend in the West Is alghly

ย

rex-

CX-

It is interesting to note, too, that as in Western lands the proprietor pected inllektual and holds a res of Chinese pawn-shop is Jocularly ponsible position in the affairs of his known as yl-shuk-kung or “uncle,' community. Indeed, the Chinese Indeed, a popular euphemism for the

act of "hocking" something is people do not conceive that there is

pressed in the vernacular, as hui- L'adm any stigma attached to the pignora-

vi-shuk-kung "going to visit uncle

Likewise, it t tive profession and, moreover, do not

It may be men- tioned that the Chinese counterpart consider that there is anything dis of the ubiquitous three golden balls honourable in doing business at the s plgnorative insignia par excellence

is the woo-le-kize or

or battle ce gourd tong-p'o or pawn-shop. As a class. (Lagenaria vulgaris Scr.). The the Chinese pawn-broker is one of bottle gourd according to

Chinese notions is the

of wealth and prosperity, and as

as such has been deemed by nge-old custom us singu larly appropriate for the purpose of advertising the profession of the pawn-broker.

the shrewdest of merchants and his

business neumen is such that it will compare most favourably with if not

Permanent Waves

We use the finest Cluster Curl oll of Lavender, non-ammoxin solution

HAIR-DRESSING

MANICURE & FACIALS EXPERT TREATMENT.

MODERATE PRICES Appointment Tel. 57122.

BEAUTY PARLOR SUI LAN 123, Nathan Road, Kowloon.

NTEREST

rnles org computed monthly and are based upon the apparent obsolescent system of throg condureens for every Inel, that is, approximately four cents for every one dollar in value of the

aritele pledged. The custom, in the licensed pawn-shops at Canton at least, is that goods must goods

be redeemed at expiration at a year, but there are certain establishments termed. In the vernacular lus-kung-kwaangquire

"out

The

of

"thunder (shop)" which the pledges be gotten pawn at the end of six months, but in practice however nearly two months grace are allowed, thereby making eight months in all. After this perled, if the interest and principal remain unpaid the property pledged is idjudged the property of the broker, who is free to dispose of it in any way that he may see fit.

The usual channel for the disposal of unredeemed pledges in the absence of special "sules" ny in other coun- trles is then through intermediaries who enjoy the confidence of the. pawn-broker. These so-called

PRE-EMINENT

IN EVERY

COUNTRY OF THE WORLD

STATE EXPRESS 555

CIGARETTES

MADE IN ENGLAND

$ 1.20 for 50

rounds of the various curie shops in an attempt to dispose of them at a considerable advantage. Occasional- ly when there is a plethora of un- redeemed articles as in times of economle distress, pawn-shops will "ump off"

the tickels in small batches at n charge just sumcient to cover the amount of capital outlay.

adventure bootless, effort to stave off said that the reason for this singular the spectre of grim penury.

*

CTAIN of the practices of the

pawnbroker on the other hand may seem strange to Europeans and are indeed without a. parallel in the West. For instance, In addition to the employment of a peculiar form of ideographic script for Alling out the tickets, the phraseology is especially peculiar as the description of the articles pledged ́ is completely in disparage- ment of their true character and worth, Ivory, for example; regard less of quality is invariably described

-This-sign-is-ne-well-known-to-the- Chinese-as-ita-equivalant

of three brass balls which adorn the Westerner's pawn-shop.

A Lay Sermon

By HUGH REDWOOD

you listen to the weather fore-1 dangerous waters, where wrath casts you should know what killeth the foolish man.

Some translators render the text these words mean. There is one "Make way for the onger of God." place in the far north of Scotland Alus! There are many Christians where trouble seems to be always who are mere ready to make way brewing. If there is a gale warn- for His anger than for His love. ing, it is pretty sure to figure in Some of us who pride ourselves

"My word!" you say, "but if that we cherish no animosities."

were a sailor, secratly hope that the wrath of Give place I should give God may fall upon those we con- Спро Wrath A demn. Such a state of mind is wide berth,"

wholly alien to the spirit Christ And that is (Luke 1x., 05). Put your helm St. Paul's mean- hard over if you find yourself close ing exactly. Give anger a wide to Cape Wrath, for here are rocks berth; give thoughts of revenge a on which many who preached have wide berth. Steer clear of thesel themselves been cast away.

unto wrath.

ROMANS,

xi.. 13.

TEST ANSWERS

Current Affair

(1)

* (D) 3 | (17)

(2)

4 (10). 1

3 (11)

*(18) 4

(19)

5

(1)

1 (12) 0

(20)

5 (13)

2

(21)

4

(0)

.2 (14)

(7)

3 (15)

4 (22).

(0)

4 (18) | (23)

5

Body on the Beach

SOLUTION

What Pinyfair did get from the beach photographer was a number of snapshots of visitors to the Cove whom he could, with little trouble, identity. Several of these had been bathing at the time the murder was committed. Close questioning of these produced the necessary evidence of Carterson's presence on the beach,

From this starting point an un- answerable case was bullt up and, in due course, he was convicted of the murder and hanged.

Wook-End Problems

PROBLEM 1

THE RIVAL MOTORISTS

Grindgear's new car is twlen as fast is Honkhorn's..

PROBLEM 11. WORD SQUARE

A L VIT IN A. NE TASTE ANT I C

LEE C K

RED, WHITE AND BLUE

With reference to last week's problem, I have to thank a number of correspondents who have point- ed out that there are not ' "dis- tinguishable" cubes, but ix It one face la painted red and its opposite face white, there are three different arrangements of the Intervening faces; (1) R, B, W, D.; (2) R. W, B, B.; (3) R, B, B, W. The third is, so to speak, a "mirror image" of the second.

practice is due to the engendered fear and mutual suspicion which is n unfortunate heritage of the past; for in former days officiuls might levy upon the goods stored in the paw shop, or too, perhaps some powerful client might chustlenge the description of an article pledged and might de- mand the return of another of higher value, Consequently, it will be per- ceived that the statements written upon the pawn tickets give the brokers considerable leeway, and thus are enabled to keep clear of any compromising situations which might involve them in Ananciul loss.

Moreover, too, the Chinese pawn- broker is often made the victim of the wiles of the native chevaller d'industrie who will pawn some worthless article for more than it is worth and which, of course, is never redeemed. These swindlers generally operate in small gangs, or often as not in pairs, a man and a woman. The latter is deemed to be the most effective method and the procedure in the

acme of simplicity. A well- dressed woman will enter a pawn- shop and drawing off

number of ostensibly expensive gold rings from her fingers will demand of "Uncio" how much he is willing to offer for The latter will perhaps welgh them in his scales and may even test them with acid, and being confident of their apparent value makes an offer, which is countered by the woman and in most eventualities will be raised by the broker. The wornAN departs with the proffered sum and

thern.

Gale in the West

By E. J. Monts (17odder and Stoughton. 88. ed.)

W

∙HAT, a relief it is, after you have endured some boring. too facetious comedy aim, to see a "Western"

flash those Wide Open Spaces on the screen, to hear that cowboy yell and watch the herds roar past!

the This long novel of Wild-and-not-so-woolly West gave me the same sort of quick, pleasant thrill.

Micro outlaws shoot straight to the last bullet in their 40's. Rustiers mest their appointed doom. Fair women stay fair, and villains never haya n Bad 's thought beyond their villalny. Bad and Good is Good, and never the twain shall meet.

Go riding with Mr. Muntz #Ic'll lead you over the oddest and most up- nerving trails.

P

THRILLS

POLICEMAN IN ARMOUR By Rupert Penny. (Collins, fs, sd.)

OINT of the title here is that the detective refuses to nc- cept the guilt of the most circumstantially likely suspect- and not because he has fallen in love with her, but just because she Which doesn't seem that sort of girl. would undermine the whole basis of reasoned detective fletion but for the fact that the rest of the Inquiry la conducted on rigidly logten) lines.

This is for the render who likes using his wits.

Keeping up the woman's end, Mary FILL, in The Three Hunting - Horni (Ivor Nicholson and Watson, 78. Od.), has a convincingly done French pre- vincial background for crime most in- geniously performed. It is a pity the motive is incredible.

An American, Howard Swiggett, has has any in The Stair Lead Nowhere (Heinemann, 7a. Od.), and a very good say it damespecially the dialogue, which is in English, not gangsterese,

P. E. H.

at the expiration of the period, the broker fearns that there is evidently no intention of the rings being taken out of pawn. Further Inspection proves that the reason why they are not redeemned is obvious-they are nothing more than mere shells, with the Insides filled with lead in order to give them the proper weight!

In the West, diamonds are often the bane of the Inexperienced pawn- broker, but in the East it is jude.

He dared not

tell his wife

Wonder why they've hired that new man? There's no work for him unless they get rid of somebody..

*

MRS. CLARKSON HAD BEEN. NOTICING HOW HER HUSBAND WOKE TIRED EVERY

MORNING- IT WORRIED HER... SHE

DECIDED TO SEE

A DOCTOR

**

DUNKS:

IT'S BOUND TO

BE ME THEY

·SACK! I'VE BEEN

SO TIRED LATELY

AT THE DOCTOR'S |

You see, doctor,

my husband even wakes tired

"WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH EUCH A NAUGHTY BOY,NURSE?

2

"Don't scold him, Mrs. Hardy. Ite doesn't look well. Are you sure he is not constipated? Whenever a child in cross and peevish, I look at the longue. If it is coated, or if the breath is disagreeable, I know at once what is wrong, I always give "California Syrup of Figs. That moves the bowels in a few hours and cleansea the system.

"Children don't understand the importance of regularity. They Act absorbed in play and won't trouble. And it is only when they get thorough- ly cross and iniserable that you real- re that they are constipated. I find il aaves a world of sickness and worry to give them a regular weekly dose, I would do that if I were you. With a natural laxative Biko 'Call fornia Syrup of Figs' you can't go wrong.

"Doctors recommend it and giva il to their own children, and we nurses swear by it. Get a bottle of 'Cali- fornia Syrup of Figs' from the drug store and give him a dose at bed- time. He'll be os happy as a lark in the morning.

"Never experiment with cheap and drastic preparations when buying children's lazulives. The safest plan in la do as I do, follow the example of the doctors and give 'California Syrup of Figs."

California Syrup of Figs

NATURE'S OWN LAXATIVE

Indeed, this semi-precious stone may be artificially coloured by an elec- irical process so that It will simulate the finest natural Jade and this tim- yuk or "electric Jade" as the Chinese are wont to term it, is often brought to the shops to be "hocked" and woo betide the Inexperienced proprietor who happens to be "taken in upon ch trash especially if it be pledged by a pretty and suavely garrulous woman!

+

Oh Mr. Clarkson! I want you to meet Mr. Francis. He'll be working with you in this department

That shows

·where the trouble is. You see, breathing and heart actions bum up energy even while we sleep. Unless he replaces energy during sleep, of course he wakes tired – Night Starved, in fact, Put your husband on to Horlicks

TIWO MONTHS LATER Congratulations! Mr. Clarkson

we're making you head of our new department. Your work has been splendid lately.

Darling Lowe it

all to you!

I JUST CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE MY JOB→ I'm still paying for the house and

furniture/

and so Horlicks every night

Does your husband

wake tired?

WAKING TIRED reduces a man's W brain-power and efficiency, he can't. do his best work it makes him feel un- certain Remember a cupful of Horlicks last thing at night ensures the right kind, of sleep gives a man vitality and energy aliday.

HORLICKS guards against Night Starvation