The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-07-01
4 BANKERS BANKRUPTCY.

Il ~ DhNAEh - DANANDl AOI
/ < -- ....sas,i n
The Italian Deputy and banker Ser
yadio, died suddenly last week. This
person had a remarkable career. He be-
! gan life.as a leader OF an orchestra. i
have heard he was, by birth, an Israelite,
Chance took him to South America, TO
\ Venezuela, where he married the prima
donna of the troupe of which he was the
1 orchestra leader. This goddess Of the
wings and rootltghts pleased the reign
ing powers Of Venezuela TO such a de-
grse that it was Thought most polite to
lremove Servadio for while, and have
n sp cut OF the way of the glove Inapo-
ra.s. Accordingly he was made member
OF commission that was sent to Paris
4 tC negotiate a loan fer the government of
Venezuela. Servadio and his wife un-
derstood the little tender game, however,
and had q perfect understanding with
each other.
1t is said he felt entirely secure of her
fidelity; in fact the financial Office be-
slowed on him had been suggested by
her in order to give him chance of bet
tering their condition in life. Servadio
displayed SO much cleverness In the
matter, that he became the chief man in
| the management OF the loan. He gave
| up the orchestra baton and devoted him.
| self to financial operations. He was
very successful. In the course of time
he returned to Italy. After he United
Kingdom was. established he went into
politics; and when Rome became the
capital Servadio entered the Chamber OF
Deputies. About that time he, with
other well-known persons, established a
great banking speculation-the ltalo-
Germanico Bank. 1t was immensely
popular; all who were connected with it
/
make through it their eternal worldly
fortunes.
Seryadio, with other directors Of the
bank, bought five lots in one of the heau-
tifuI new Roman Q uarteFs OF the Esqui-
line, the Macea0, and elegant trayertine
| palaces were built on them; over the
main entrance OF one you can read now
| the name tsServadio'' cut In stone letters.
Signora Seryadio, the ex-prima donna,
| went 10 the Quirinal court balls as brave
as the best Of them, In line Woerth toi.
lettes and diamonds. Every thing looked
gay and prosperous before them.
1 saw Servadio and his wife two years
ago at Florence; one evening they were
house. Their box was near mine, and
saw that it was constantly filled with
distinguished political men who went in
and out during the evening, as II quite
at home with the owners Of the box.
Signora Servsdio sat in the seat OF honor,
| fat and forty. but dark. not tair.
She had the comfortable look that oil
these Italian women get when they ap-
proach that age. She was dressed ele-
gantly, but simply had on few fine dia-
monds; it was not full dress night; she
talked with her visitors in a bon coneYade
way. One OF my gentlemen friends told
me that she was sharp, Intelligent and
hospitable; a good-hearted, capable wO-
man, ''no nonsense about her." and that
she and Servadio were jolly, stout, happy
Darby and Joan, husband and wife, that
is after the Italian fashion.
Life, like medals, must have a reverse;
but the reverse OF life is often more
sharply cut. Poor Seryadie's reverse
turned up suddenly, and its die had been
cut cruelty deep. When 1 saw the Ser
yadios at the opera In the autumn of 1878
my friend, who pointed them out to me
and related to me their remarkable his
tory, told me also that there were rumors
of breakers ahead.
The bank was not really as fourishing
as it scanned. Last year these troubles
became known to the world. The latter
old, bold dash, went on to Paris to set
his bank and himself atloat, and ,suc-l
ceeced. He wrote from Paris cheerful
letters; and 1T was announced that The
affairs of the concern were all right.
| But, unlucky, Servadio physically was
not the Servadio of his youth; the great
strain and anxiety OF mind and nerves
were too much for him. As he WAS en-
route for Rome he was suddenly striek-
en- With apoplexy, and died! With him,
fancy, the Itale.Germanico bank for
tunes go under.
The worst of these financial bubbles is
that humble fortunes OF poor people are
ruined. Servadio's failure and death
| have caused one OF the saddest Of trage-
dies in Roman tradesman's family.
Chiesa was o hard-worklng, industri-
GUS man. have often stopped at his
shop, four or five years back, and ad-
mired HE neat workmanship. / remem-
Der telling him year ago that | should
send him some Of my cinQae ceatO furni-
lture to put in order when changed my
apartment. 1 noticed then that he was
llow-splrited. 1t appears that he put all
his lifelong sayings in Seryadio's Bank.
He had one son, boy of fifteen, who
was his idol. That boy was to be one Of
the worlds chiefs, or mobiles, or princes,
or anything that money could make him,
80 his poor father hoped, and to that end
Chiesa worked and saved.
So, when Servadio's brilliant bubble
broke, and the poor man saw all that he
had struggled tor gone, it was too much
for his strength; it turned his brain; he
grew melancholy and despairing. When
the news of Servadios death reached
| Rome last week, Chiesa said TO neigh
Dor: 81 had better kill my boy and throw
myself into the Tiber." But no heed
was paid to the reckless speech. A day
OF. two after he left his house at O'Clock
in the morning, and told his wife TO send
his son to the shop as soon as possible,
| as he had some work for him. The un-
suspecting mother hurried of the i'll
fated boy to his father. .Alasl She never
saw him again alive!
| Att O'Clock, when the workmen came
to the shop, Chiesa was sitting near al
bench apparently working. One of them
noticed that a lamp Oh the workbench
had blood ON it. Chiesa said he had cut
himself; he then got up and lett the shop;
he has never been seen since. A coun-l
tryman who knew ham tells that he saw
him that merping, about eight O'clock,
running along the Porta Pia Road, near
Peate Nomentane, finging his arms
widely over his head and screaming out
some uninteliigible words. He probably