New-York tribune., 1886-01-17

Of common sense into him to bring him to reason.
Result One day the priest appeared at the Borsa
with dozen wooden tubs heaped with coins and
took an Exchange receipt for it,
ms priest, however, was an exception among
his fellows. Had it not been for the exertlons of
many of the parish priests in the country districts
many Of the people would not have brought out
their dollars, great are the ignorance and want
of confidence that prevail The ignorance of the
true use of money on the part Of the majority of
the people is as amazing as lamentable. Many
are the incidents related of their reluctance TO
part with their dollars. Several persons in fact
have announced their decision that they intend
keeping their debased coin and letting their heirs
dispose Of it. They themselves will not be parties
to he sacrlege.
The mOney-changers made large winnings during
the first days of the panic. The shop-keepers an
nounced that they would receive no more dollars
only British money. The Sicllian dollars being
doomed their holders rushed to the mOney-changers
aud sold their dying coins at heavy and preposter-
Gus discounts. Silver became scarce and to change
q sovereign cost from four pence to a shilling.
Things began TO seethe in the island. The excite
ment might have eliminated in an aimless riot had
not the paternal local government stepped in with
It's invaluable assistance and offered to act as tue
peoples banker. 1t wired to London for an instant
supply of money, and last Sunday steamer brought
us $4,000 in gold and SILVER for the Government
and 100000 for the Anglo Egyptian Bank
agency here. This morning another Ship landed
t25,OOO IN gold aud 100000 in silver;
Our pockets are now musical with the jingle OF
brand-neW crowns, half-crowns, shiIngs, sixpences
and thruppenny bits, and we are happy. Of tie
Scilian coin deposited with the Government one
steamer on Thursday last for conveyance to italy,
there to be received by the Italian Treasury for
exchange. This heavy amount was transported
from the bank TO the Marina for embarkation by
fifty cOmmssarat carts under stroug police super-
vision. The cOrtege looked like a funeral; and
indeed it was one. with the Siclhan dollar for
corpse
Perhaps the most remaI kable fact connected with
the late career of the deceased is the successful
way it imposed its untrnthfu presence on
the inhabitants of this island The Amer
lean Vice-Consul. Mr.. Charles Breed Eynaud, years
ago endeavored to impress upon his fellow
merchants the risk they ran in retaining
SIcilian dollars in currency. SO long ago as
January, 1915. assays were made at the British
mint of seven kinds of SicIlian dollars of the years
1905. 1916, 1918, 1925, 1926, 1885 1913. and
tley were found 10 contain an average of 353i2
grains each of pure silver, which at 4S pence per
ouuce (47l2 il the latest quotation from Lond0nl
makes the in rinsc value OF the dollar 2s. IL 7-2Od.
sterling, whereas payments were being made here
daily, up TO u few weeks ago. at the nominal rate
OF As. I'd.
That the Maltese boarded these dollars in prefer
ence to British gold is certain. A large Coco lace
maker tod Inc that the people of his island were so
fond of their SicIan money that they kissed 1t
every night before they went to sleep and every
morning after they woke up, instead OF kissing
their wives. The casual observer OF Scllan women
might say that that is where they showed their
good taste,