The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-06-24
81. L. Moore Back From an Ex-
tended Trip in Europe.
INTEREST IN FOREIGN BANKS
tance of Bankers-Bank Over a
Blacksmith Shop.

1t Led Him to cultivate AcQuA1nv
tance of Bankers-Bank Over
Blacksmith Shop.
H. L. Moore, treasurer Of the Mime
sofa Loan & Trust company, returned
this morning from an absence Of five
months much of which was spent in Italy
with Mrs. Moore and daughter. Return
ing, he visited Paris. also London, OK"
ford, Warwick, Kenilworth and Stratford.
Mr.. Moore made interesting observa-
-tions as to the attitude of Italians toward
America and the growing desire of Eng
land for protection.
The party landed in Naples and after
ten days went to Rome where they ex-
pected to remain one week. But they
stayed three, finding each day more inter
testing than the preceding. Mr.. Moore
said to-day:
There seems to be something peculiar about
visiting these Italian cities, that is, when one
first enters it is difficult to find anything in
teresting, but they develop the longer you
stay, and when you come to 60 away, you
feel that you have only begun to see them.
I became very much interested In Rome in
the ruins connected with ancient history, and
found there a peripatetic lecturer, DR.. RUS
sell III. Forbes, who has been in Rome about
ally investigated the unearthing Of ruins.
and is, now turning his knowledge to ac-
count by meeting parties, say one day at
the Baths of Caracalla, another on the Pala-
tine Hill, another day in the Roman Forum
and talking to them upon points of interest.
It was indeed very great help In getting
better understanding Of some of these
things. One cannot but feel that he Is re-
ceiving these descriptions from a man who
has spent years of honest effort in Informing
himself as to the facts.
"Country of the Moment
The Italians are wonderfully interested in
Americans. In fact the knowledge that you
are an American Is something of a passport
to attention from them. las an italian
woman said to us. in going from Rome to
Florence (she could speak very little Eng
lish): 20, America, America, we think great
country. We think over here america the
country of the moment - !
AS ! understood her, she was trying TO
convey the idea that America at the present
time holds the prominent position before all
the nations of Europe. and / was impressed
with the idea that this woman had really
stated in few words and in broken English
about the situation. .'7>2 - \
This is made I think especially evident by
the attention. that Americans receive and I
cannot speak too highly of the kindness and
courtesy shown in hotels, on railroad trains
and almost everywhere. 80. 4.
was impressed with the increasing value
Of Italian bonds. One of the banks in Rome
was quite DESTROYS Of having US become inter-
ested through institutions here in the under
writing of some of these bonds that are
about being converted into a new issue, and
while from their point OF view they would
seem to be securities that will be taken care
of all right, they would hardly have much
market in this country, although they showed
correspondence with one Of the very large
bans in New York city which had been in
vestigating these same investments.
But banking in Italy, and in fact In other
countries. is very different from banking In
this country. One of the most interesting
interviews that had was with Mr. Turner,
of the Bank of Turner & Co, In Naples; the
bank being on the third floor while on the
first floor they were shoeing horses.
ri Coronation Preparations.
Everything in London was pointing to the
coronation, and English l. people we met
seemed surprised that we were not, staying
for it. The preparations for the crowds and
to make money out of them, remided
me in larger way of the prepare
lions that Minneapolis, made In 1892
for the republican national convention, and
I fear that our friends in London may be as
much disappointed in the financial returns
as were some of our Minneapolis people in
the great preparations that they made: The
prices they were expecting for seats were
very high. Five pounds seemed to be quite
usual choice for seats, and for club windows
along some of the best streets they were
expecting twenty-five pounds. In a samll
barber shop on the Strand on the second
floor, where there was a. small mullioned
window, they said the price would be twelve
A.. 4s,rt,&,
get fair view of the procession by cranine
their necks considerably. -:
/ have noticed since my return that it is
quite likely that before the day OF the grand
procession for some of these seats where
they were expecting to get from one to Ave
pounds, many may be glad to get as many
shillings. y
was very much interested. in England
in talking with various persons, as one can
not meet them in the shops or restaurants
or elsewhere without seeing that they are
believers in protection. The new corn laws
that being enacted, levying, a tax OF
three and five pence on all grain and fou,
that comes into the country, seems to some
Of them step in the direction Of universal
protection.
The Future of Italy.
notice that Mr.. Wyman says that he
does not see any future for Italy and
while this might appear so, think we
SHOULD not lose sight of the fact that only
for the last thirtytwo years has she beer
a united nation. Considering her oppor-
tunities and very dense population she
deserves considerable credit for the ad'
| vancement she has made.
This is apparent in the improved con
dition Of the railroads that are largel!
! owned by the government. and the in
creasing value of government bonds which
are at the present time being changed t
a 81 per cent rate.
had several interviews with one Of thu
bankers of. Rome9and he showed me cor
respondence with a large bank in New
York city which seemed to be considerin,
| the purchase of a block OF these bonds
They were DESTROYS that we join in I'm
derwriting, but in my Judgment while the,
might be safe and sound, they would no
be a security attractive to our clients il
the northwest.
In conversation with these gentlemen
one of them, signor Castelbolognesi, Il
l q