The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-07-29
The RObbcr System In Italy.

Recently IN arr Iclr was published ~ one OF
the Boston papers reporting the increase OF
blioaudlge in I'aly. Perhaps the following
cXtracs from letter in the Opanl0ne, news
paper published in ltalv, may show some
reasons for this increase. The writer Is Pre-
fessor Pasquae Villari, Il reliable authority,
and well Known in Germany and Italy
through his Life OF SavonarUla," lately pub
lished. Villali has been writing series Of
letters giving very vivid pictures of The con.
dltiou OF the pcasantry in nth ltaly-a con-
dition whose equal can scarcely be found
in uuy country Of Europe, and Is 4
heavy accusation against the Government
which IN the fifteen years OF its existence,
during which time it has loaded the p0pula-
ton there with the Sevcre,t burdens, and
used and abused It's power III the suppress
sion of the weli-OrganZed rOhber system,
has yet never found time TO do anything for
the Improvement of the lot OF the poor pea
SAINT. Vilari, himself belonging to the Gov
ernment party, is forced to acknowledge that
the peasant in South Italy is in worse con-
diton than ever before. He has been speak
ing Of some immensc agricultural districts,
extending many niles and where the labor
ers' families live in small villages at a great
distance from the farming lands. We mike
the following extract from his description ::
"The peasants who cultivate tins large ter
ritory remain there almost the whole year
through, coming only every fortnight or three
weeks into the villages 10 see their families.
In the country they are lodged in a large
apartment on the ground floor Of the house.
Here they sleep in inches followed out iu the
walls. They have for bed only a straw
| sack, on which they sleep in their clothes, for
they never uudre>S. An ovcrSeer has charge
of them, who, in the name OF The proprietor,
| deals out to tnem in the morning lOal OF
miserable black bread, weighing about two
pounds. Such peasant works from sunrise
10 sunset; at 10 O'Clock in the morning he
rests haIl-uour and eats piece OF his bread.
In the evening, when the work IS over,
The oVerSeer sets large kettle on
the IRE which is kindlcd in the Pea
SAINTS room; in this kettle water, with
some salt, is boiled. Meanwh'!e the
men stand along in Il row, breaking their
bread into deep wooden plattcrs, and The
overseer pours the hot salt water aud few
DROPS of OIL over the broken bread. This is
their only soup the whole year through, and
is Gated aQuaSaS; they meyer receive any
more nourlshln% or hearty TODD, except in
hirWsl.time, wien one or t&o hires Of an
Interior wue are given them, that they may
not become exhausted under their severer
abGrs- Vet these peasants lay aside daily a
portion OF their bread, which they sell or
carry home for the support OF their families.
Their yearly pay rs ABOUT LIZ tranc>5 also, q
certain quantity OF corn aud beans .Dout
one and half or two buShel>s which falls
to their share AT harvest.
SUD- fearful condition OF things explains
the tact That many in despair turn 10 bfi'
gandase. BY the side ofsuch misery stands
10 sharp contrast the luxury OF the court,
the innQmerable ro,aI palaces and villas, The
magnificent royal stataes, Of wbtch new ones
are constantly being built, requiring large
sums OF money; also. the hunlirg eXpedl-
tons, tie splendid displays of fire works, and
the costly jewelry presented TO famous bal
let dancers and other favorite women OF
N