Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-04-01
MISS SHELBY TAKES A DRINK.
An Italian Nlillionaire.

Correspondeace Pbiads1Dhia TELEGRAPH.
Last evening about 6:30 O'Clock died
Prince Alexander TOrl0niR, at the adj
Yanced age OF So. He is said to have been
the richest man in Italy. His wealth was
really great even when compared with
the great fortunes Of other countries, and
he expended large portion of IL in works
OF charity. The greatest enterprise with
which his name is connected is the drain
ing OF Lake Fuclno, which he carried
through successfully, and which mas been
an immense boon to the agricultural pop
uatinn OF that district. The list Of
his titles comprises prncipalities, duke
dOms and marqulsates galore. But
the original source of all mis- greatness
was peddlers pack, administered, it
must be SAID, by a very clever peddler's
brains. Prince Torlonia's father made a
colossal fortune in the time Of the great
Nap0leOnic wars. In those DAYS the car
rying OF cOntrab0nd goods between one
country and another was a service OF
serious peril, and OF propOrtionate gain IL
successful Tue original TOrlOnia was
bold, prudent and keen-sighted, and be
succeeded. The deceased Prince Alex
ander made large sans Of money by farm
ing the tobacco monopoly under the Papal
government. He was also "A banker Of
wide and influential connections. The
balls in Casa IorlOuia were a great insti-
tuition in Rome some half century ago.
All foreigners who had any transactions
with the bank were invited. (To be sure
the number Of iOrolgn visitors was much
more restricted IN those days before the
invention OF the steam horse and the Ryatar
OF Mr.. Cook, OF touring celebrity.) But
every one was not quite prepared for that
particular form of tue dH1dri ahguid
which followed those festive entertain
ments. L. consisted in the visit next
morning of . hunky in the T0rlOnia livery
who gracefully demanded "a tip" from
every visitor who had enjoyed tho prince
~ hospitality. The thing was quite OPEN
ly done and was recognized iustitutiO
I The very sum given was fixed by custom
az one scudi-about a dollar-and know
many persons IN Rome who perfectly
recolect having given IL. A still more
curious feature Of the affair was that the
wife OF the then head OF the house used 10
sit with huge list before her and tick of
each name us servants returned with
their scudi-which were handed % her.
I Whether any portion OF the sum thus coll
lected. Or, 10 any, what proportion was
divided among the servants az.
forwards am unable 20 state
with certainty. II story is yaaue
and doubtful on That point. But the fact
OF the collection Of money from the quests
may bee accepted with absolute certainty.
The deceased Prince Alexander married
daughter Of the noble house OF Colonna.
10 Was thought terrible mesaiii0pce for
herin those DAYS, and some indignant
Roman arist0crsts yelled their column
symbol OF the Colonna family and their
arms with Grape on the day Of the mar
riage. But all that might hurt pride of
race in tuat alliance has long since been
deceutlv covered MP with the richest
cloth of gold, 30 not completely Oblitoratpd.
AZ TO the deceased old man, ho will oe
mourned by the poor and needy, the faith
erless children aud widows, aud many
who we're des0late and oppressed. and
that is glory which outshines the blazon
Of princes.