The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-08
The Oldest Bank That is
Now in Existence.
How the Bank Of Naples Was
Founded in 10th Century.
Queen victoria's Big Lamprey Pie.
A Fly and a Bo0kke.per.

Providence people are justly proud OF
their old and substantial banking institn-
tious such as the Providence Institution
for savings or Stone Bank as many people
call il, yet in age the oldest of our banks
is but babe compared with the Bank of
Naples. This is the most ancient n
monetary institutions still in existence
and the British consul at Naples In "a re-
port has furnished some details of its
establishment in the sixteenth century
and points out that the earlier banks, the
Monte Vecchio, of Venice, and the Banco
San Giorgio, at Genoa, established in the
twelfth century, ssand the Bank OF BGrcce-
Iona established In the fourteenth century,
have all ceased TO exist The report fixes
the foundation of the Bank Of Naples at
l5Y9 and the institution Is, therefore, Tar
older than the Bank OF England, which
was-established in 1894. Ii is in the unique
position of having considerable cani-
tai to which no one lays any claim For
the explanation Of this curious state of
affairs one has 10 go back To the time
when the Neapolitans, In order TO receive
Charles V. with great pomp and magnih-
cence. obtained vast loans from the Jews
against valuable pledges.
The difficulties of repayment were solved
In right royal fashion by the king ban
ishing the Jews, but the Jews contrived
before leaving to dispose of their securities
10 two Neapolitans on very easy terms
The BUYERS offered the pledges TO their
origina ii owners at reasonable profit on
the transaction, and also offered further
loans without interest on the old security
Philanthropic gifts were then made To
the institution on condition that IL all
vanced loans without interest, and in this
way the bank started practically as
charitable pawn broker Gradually, how
ever, IL dc e7eloped into "A bank doing ordi-
nary commercial business, and up TO nearly
tha end of the seventeenth century pros
pered greatly.
At her birthday luncheon, Queen Vic
toria had on the table lamprey pie, the
gift of the city of Gloucester Almost
from time immemorial up to 1884 10 was
the custom of Gloucester to express its
LOYALTY to the throne by sending TO the
reigning sovereign a lamprey pie. In the
year mentioned the ancient custom fell
into desuetude, but IL was revived in
1893 by tho then mayor Mr.. D.. A.
Matthews), and has been adhered to by
succeeding chief magistrates. The pres
ent mayor (Mr. j. IL. Karn) felt that this
year of jubilee called for special effort,
and the pie, which was dispatched upon
gold dish for Balmoral was of a more
than usual elaborate character IL
weighed twenty pounds, and was adorr-ss
with trufiies, fine prawns on gold skew
ers, and aspic jelly.
On the top Of the pie was a representa-
tion in gold of the royal crown and cush-
{ Ion, with q scepter. Co which was at
tached streamers OF royal blue, and at the
base wero four lions, also of gold. The
aolden skewer heads were in the form of
crowns, anu there were six lions heads
In gold round the pie. On either side of
the center crown was silk bannerct.
One toro the city arms, the name OF the
doncr OF the Pie, -. Il. karn, Mayor
of Gloucester, on one side, and on the
other were two lampreys entwined 10.
meath crown. and a scroll setting forth
that it was the Mayors lamprey pie "
sent in accordance with Gloucester
aGcient custom from the Norman period
60 the Victorian era. All this was
hand painted, as were two shields, emo
being view of Gloucester's celebrated
chthedi al and the other the monogram.
~. r., crown and the dates 1887
1897 Tho lamprey was ut one timo con
sidered great deli' acy, aud IL is "A matter
OF his cry that sureit of them caused
the death OF King Henry /. In the reign
OF Henry ", so highly were they es
teamed that projections We're granted tn
such vessels Ms might tring them in; and
Ills successor supplied a warrant TO Will
liam of Nantes for supplying him and his
army with them wherever they might
happen 10 march.
A story comes from Chicago OF book
keeper who was nearly crazed 10y nv
He was employed by "A large wholesale
bouse, and had bson spending sleepless
nights for three weeks in his efforts Co
make his HOOKS balance. There was an
apparcrt- shortage of $500 thar cor III not
he accounted for. lie ad Jed up columns
and struck balances until he was almost
insane. He finally worked himself iuto
that frame OF mind that usually lards u
man in Canada, the Insane Hsylum Ur a
suicides grave, when the manager OF tie
house invited his confidence. Then they
went over the books together, but the
500 shortage was still there. Tee head ot
tho house was called in, and tho wcrk of
o,crhaDling accounts comm cncod again.
They hid not gone far tili tGey cams 10
AN entry Cf $1,000 "Nhy. that should Le
$1,000, I" declared the employer "liow did
IL hupren tn be entered Sl9O0Y' a careful
examination showed that ily had boen
book. and one leg made u tail Of the first
cipher of tho $1,000 entry, converting it
into a9.
The microscope was put TO curious use
some years ago in russia. On one of tho
railways thtre bnrrel w.iich should
have contained silver coin vas found, on
arrival at its destination, Co nave hecu
cmpticd Of ifs preciuus contents and filed
with sand. Prof. Ehrcnbcrg. bciur con
suited on the subject, sent for sample Of
sand from all the stations along the differ
eut lines of railway through which the
specie had passed, ana bv means of his
,nicroscopc Identified the station from
which the interpolated sand must have
hcen taken. The station once fixed upon,
IL was not difficult To hit upon the culprit
among the small number of employees on
duty there. -.