The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-12
PROGRESS OF THE ITALIAN.
NAMING HIMsRTF Az IMPORTANT
EhCToR ~ the CITf'S LIFE.


Politician Italian girls ms Servants
The Italian in New York is growing rapidly
into an important part of the population. and he
ia forcing himself into recognition. not only as a
rood citizen but nlsb ms material element In the
bnbltunl and commercial life Of the metropolis
He la n very different person from the hgurc oil
him which hns grown up In tho popular mind.
formed during the earlier yeats 81 Italian immi'
grafton Then tho Italian could get none but
the poorest cmployncnts, and keeping In colonies
called the attention Of Americans ~ him only
when the interference oi the criminal authorities
rns necessary lie has n no, temper which,
particularly when reused by jealousy OF nt the
gaming tnhc Is tn apt 20 vent itself with the
,sc Of knife or pistol bands Of Italians In this
country have earned uncnvabic regulations as
r~,sIs,cnt counterieicts while others vic with the
Jews and Iiungatans ns Illicit dstlllcfs
with tales Of these dUings mixed with mystc-
nous hints oi dark Mnhn Conspracirs and murders
forming the principal knowledge that Americans
had of tho Italian Immigrants, II was no wonder
that they soon acquired n reputation IA being
frrocious and blood thirsty. When the police
tried to &c, Information about italian crimes, they
found II almost impossible, and this gave rise IN
the Impression that all ~ the people were banded
together To protect the cvildocts The fact was
that the Italians had learned of our House Of de
mon To keep witness locked UP Tor year or more
while the accused person IL out on ball when
persons no, connected with the authorities, such
A. newspaper rcporrts went among them Tor
information they fairly bubblcd over with IT, as
soon as they were satisfied 81 their safety from
detention.
The public heard frequently also Of italian
bankers failing and absconding and of the crowds
Of angry dcrositurs who at once gathered about
the banking Offices. breathing threats of ven
ecancc which they were all too ready To make
good Dishonesty was added Ia the list Of bad
Italian qualities
As a matter Of fact the Italian is in many ways
the opposite " the popular conception Of him In
this country. He In generally good naturcd.
industrious, sober, frugal and honest 1t Is he
very reputation Tor honesty, established perhaps
by generations of respected ancestors. which
has led UP to thc disasters which 80 frequently
ov,r,akc the little Italian bankers and one can
only understand this by getting glimpse
Of some II the conditions which surround the
Italian peasant In his home. There Is hardly
one Of these failures In which II dos not appear
that the banker had been either Mayor of his
native town had held some other civil once or
was relative Of such officials lie or his relatives
also probably n"tarics, store keepers or local
merchants ~ some sort, who had grown to be-
respected by all their ncghhors and honor,d by
a government appointment because of their high
character The peasant in Italy has nothing to
do with regular banks wh,n Lc has savings
he takes them to the great man Of the village and
places them with him. They take no receipt
and keen no account. hut " hen they want money
and vctit or II their banker is also s,orckccpcr
they draw against IL in supplies and in all cases
trust entirely 10 his accounting
When they come here, strangers and speaking
q strange language they seek At once people Of
their own nation and also of their own ncghbor
hood Here also they find men who stood high
In their home community and now have cstab
lished labor agencies banking houses and stores.
and what more natural than that they should GO
10 them for aid or advice? Those who are saving
money put II into the hands Of the banker either
W Keep or to send Ia Italy o help the folks al home
The banker uses this money. with the depos'iors
consent for many purposes other than an incor-
pora'ed bank could use 1t for. When immigrants
arrive looking for work he frequently advances
sums To send men To distant fields oi labor lie
must anu does Uust entirely To Their honesty
mol only 10 pay bacS what he advanced but also MS
prohl on H. Inc banker also advances money
10 enable ms customers I" perform contracts ana
for other purposes and this is done almos. entirely
on personal trust. lie also frequently invests IN
real estate taxing tue or possession with but
small equity huiulhS' anu cApecuhs 10 make
money by administering 'hc properties
IL Is Wheh some "i 'hesr Investments iail that
disaster comes !" 'he ithhah banker ana when
ne mus tha' ne can pay mere Is hothing Tor MIN
10 q" ouI get uhder cover u MS creditors caught
nm "iihin the hrs' ir" hours they would make
PIN cush"n oi MN win dagsers "r riddle him
win bullets \ week "r =" laler' II II Is ascer
'aihed lhat ne mas IoSt lhe money ana not stolen
H. anu ms IL almost ih'ahaOiy inc case the
efehi'ots nave l"H' 'he'r anger ana u one asks
ABOUT lhe banker 'heS VIII say oh yes: poor
ieio" he ioa' u an ana 'heh ne may come back.
Inc lHhah' Hugailty Is evidenced by the
enormous sums when they save anu send home
10 ltaIS when Is esumAlcd To amount TO something
IKE saoo Searior each oil the 4oo,ooo Italian
Aoofers here
II You would see some evidences of the Italians
loviai mature ms nome loving qualities and good
care OIL ms iamiiy, so INTO that great colony be
tween BROADWAY anu the bowery below Houston
street. especially III Elizabeth Mott and Mul'
Derry sHeets' anu down 10 Mulberry bend Park.
IhcIe You VIII see scores oi well clothed chubby
children women VINO sho" that there is no lack
OF money IN 'heir mousse ana men happy and Jolly.