New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-03-19

4 ADJUSTMENTS AND FINANCE IN NAPIEs-rRANs-
4 CENDENTAL BANKING-wALL-sr. oUrDoNE
| -BEGGAIs ON Observation-Disclosures
ARREST AND IMPRIs ONMENT-GRAND FINALE.
IFRoN AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT
NAPLES Feb. 1.-THE little theater of San Carlino,
In Naples which is devoted mainly TO broad farce
and humorous caricature, IS the hvorite place Oh
amusement with the mercurial populace of thus gay
and impulsive city 1t its success to the fac-
ity with which it catches up the rifes of the day,
and the glaring colors which it employs to repro
dnce them for the entertainment of the crowd. The
stranger in Naples would fail to visit this
1 ,er,plo of the pedestrian Muse, than he would
neglect a sight of the sculptures of the
4 Vatican and the Capitol in Rome few
evenings since made one of party Of friends to
enjoy the fun and frolic of this characteristic
nression Of Ncapotan life. The mass of the audi
enee consisted Of the lively young people whom you
meet in the streets and shops of the city, with
poinful formaty of manners and not the slightest
aectotion of an elaborate toilette, but with jolly
Good nature beaming out of their black eyes, and
showing the confirmed habit of taking the world as
IL comes During the principal performance of the
eveuinr which was an illustration of the brigandage
and other amable features of Italian society, there
was remarkable display ofintcrest, but the moment
tbe niece WIS announced twas plain that there
was something in the wind and the curiosity of the
spectators seemed screwed up to the highest ptch OF
excitement. The piece was burleSque on novel
system Of private banking which for several months
past has gained no less suspicious notorety IN
Southern italy than the operations of the vrtuous
spectators in Gold and Erie have enjoyed III America
On the rising Of the curtain, the eye was greeted
with the spectacle of three snug little edices, en-
be'lishcd with snowy signs and covered with
placar,ls proclaiming that they were banks of de-
post and loan at winch money was received ut fabu-
Ions rates of interest placing tho investor OF even
small sums on the and speedy road TO fortune
One label was inscribed Ten per cent PAID
here: - another Twenty per cent? third
Fifty per cent guaranteed on all Deposits"
while another displayed the lusivc motto "TEN on
hovsdpd" containing the nearest approach TO
nodicuIn Of truth in the whole programme. Swarms
OF odiciOuS runners collectors, were urglng the
crowd to invest their little earnings tempting them
BY the most gorgeous promises. and revealing the
prospect of unlimited maccaroni and Sicily wine
without lifting finger TO work. As offset 10
these enchanting visions. long line of eager
huugcrbten faces. besioced the doors Of the banks
claiming he payment of their interest, but depart
gfenq;y-haEdcd and muttering curses deep
and lOad. on the crafty wolves that had
made them their prey. To crown the scene.
o band OF sturdy policemen brandshed their
clubs with incredibl, igence on the heads of the
crowd in general, knocking down collectors, depos-
iors and bankers right and left indiscrimlnatcly,
and having the field in their own exclusive possess
sion The curtain fell on the multitude of indig-
nant investors whstling for their money, while the
"bloated capitalists" stripped Of their gains, and
reduced TO poverty, returned in their shrt-seeves
and working dress 10 their primitive employment
of pcdlling and picking stones in the street. The
performance was received with universal chucIe
of delight showing that it was true picture OF ma
ture and touched chord of popular npathy to the
quick.
II was not long before the mimic representations
Of the stage found their counterpart IN the reality OF
NelpOlitan life. During the whole of the present
week profound excitement has pervadcd the city.
Vague rumors Of approaching crash had been cur
rent for some time, but the worst has now come IN
form more terrible than the most dismal fOrebodings
bad anticipated Many families are Frustrated IN
utter pecunary ruin. The heads Of prominent bus-
ne. houses accused Of a series of systematic frauds
have been thrown into prison. The hard earnings
Of the labornc classes have been squandercd IN hut
less specu'atious leaving them in helpless misery
Youpc e'eILs and employees, without numbers, who
have scrapcd few thousand francs TO-
eether are made penI-less by investing
their means on the lure of eXOrbtant interest, WIN
these sOindling bankers The worst cases are those
Of rsons in the middle classes of life, who were ia
the receipt of comfortable incomes, not sufficient
indeed for purposes of luxury and ostenation, but
ample for the moderate wants Of Italian frugallty'
who were tempted TO place their whole capital IN
the hands of the fraudulent bankers and by the
crash of the system, are now reduced to aoJect
poyertv. without the habit or the power OF selt-sup
port which in our own country depriVes reNclse Vi
fortune of It's worst teIrOrs.
The chief operator in these transactions, 6usnelho
RuNo Scilla. commenced his career within one OF
two wears INST meeting with such apparent Success
that he wa. speediIy followed by host OF mtatoIs'
IL l. said IN he q man of highly respectable con-
motions Tbaye heard that he belongs to noble
.-i.,ocratc fa,oilv-but don't know how true that
~ oil events. he has borne, until recently,
narfectlv upblemished reputation 1t was MS Gus
tom in the first instance, to receive uePooi'o W ~
personal friends and acquaintance "iio",Hs y,
tain advance on the usual rate OF interest put hoio
mo ont no extravagant temptations Ior
IT. ,eyvs spread that the Ruto Scilla BANK oneieu
,.u,, favorable terms to deposltorS, ana business
-, ,,o,,or IN pour in with an unexpected rush.
en-, I'll M legitimate employment for the fuhds
ooa,,,,uIated in his hands; he was no army
,roo.or M builder of railways, no Jobber OF
80. lint simply money lender; the proceeds
60 his source speedily became inadequate to meet
En- interest on the deposits, and he adopted the sys-
49,, ON which the whole movement was founded, OF
ling the interest Of one depostOr from the primer
nal of another and appTOpratng the surplus TO ms
a,,pse As this game demanded the perpetual re-
establishment of his funds he fell into the practice OF
auploying collectors as they were called for the
nurpose of soliciting investments These fellows
.,on formed a little financial army OF their own,
NJ Ill acouoiuted with the system Of their