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Show ORIGIN OF THE THREE BALL8 Familiar Sign of the Pawnbroker H Really la the Arms of the Me. M dial Family. Tew person seeing th sign ot M tho vast wealth of our avuncular rel- M atlves lu moat thoroughfares In l-ou- M dou pause to consider their origin Ot M course It Is the balls ot gold to wblob M wo refer. Not only may tbey Lo M taken as Indications of wealth, but as B n sign that pledge are received. Hut M tho balls do not Indicate what they M really are They aro the arms of the M Mcdlct family Whoovcr has visited M Florence nlll recall the three balls M attornMed with the red lilies. Hut M how comes It (hat the decorations of H tho Tuscan palace havo found their H way to London? H The explanation Is not difficult If M wo give (ho subject a moment's M thought. Tho (Irst gold changers to fl octtlo In London, as In Paris, wore M tho Florentines or Lombard. Tbey M chose Lombard street as the plao M where they could curry on their bust- M nesa. These early settlers aro per- H petunted todiij by the bankers. In M the early days the Inhabitants counted LM among their number some of the Me- H did family and to Inspire confidence H thoy exhibited their family arms, to M which they had a perfect right. The M family of Medici la extinct todny, but M their arms survive them, the present H users thinking the respectability ot M (he origin too great lo be dispensed B with IO ml on (Holm JJ |