The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-08-13
RICH Of ITALY
SPENDING MONEY
IN LAVISH WAY
Bf~MARiE IMANDT.
Written for the International Ne

MARIE IMANDT.
Written for the International News
ROME. sus. Sissr '1n;sns ., ,... ,..a,,.
economists. Of Italy makes strikins
contrast Of the way wealth was used
by capitalists of the last generation and
the purposes TO which the new rich 10.
day are putting their money.
Before the war Europe was organized
socially and economically in a way tina,
made the greatest accumulation al
wealth possible. The new rich OF the
nineteenth century did not spend theil
money, they invested It.. This means
that they did not use their money fol
-Aheir own direct advantage, for imme.
date consumption; they transformed II
into the means of future benefits, GA.
pacity for production and advantages
to be reaped by others.
The new rich of today are using theii
money for Immediate personal consump-
ton; they are spending without the
slightest heed to the future. and this
in times of the direst need
- ] was in Turin, sitting at cafe or
pthe Famous PiaZzo San Carlo, when
the newsboys, many of them blind men
led by dogs, ran along under the coll
umns crying out the news Of Giolet-
It's first speech. and the hum of COM
ment as crowds ran to snatch papers
and read the words Of the new prime
slhhieter was dndzllB. II was prll.
liant scene, for beautifully dressed
women were taking their afternoon
promenade. Uniforms were In every
direction, and now and then a Roman
guard flashed by, and the sun famed
on his gilded helmer. ice tinkled and
ices were consumed as quickly as watt
ers could fetch them.
It was impossible to realize in thai
gay picture the condition of Italy, for
in Turin people enjoy themselves, in
spite of prices. You can pick UP an
elegant motor car on the street instead
OF a taxi, and spend about seven min
utes in it for seven lire. so; yet these
cars were in constant demand.
The Italian motor car is elegant in
shape, swift in action, and the ma
chinery Is all enclosed. They are very
expensive, but. the price does not deter
the new rich from buying a motor car
and there were many of the most beau
tiful build on the streets of Turin.
Chaos at Modane the day before was
o striking illustration OF conditions. Two
or three customs officers controlled the
inspection of baggage. People mostly
travel with hand luggage so hundreds
struggled along laden with valises and
bags, for no porters appeared--at least
I saw none. It took two good hours
to fight through the douane, and then
travellers had to snatch what they could
get to eat before the night journey at
the railway buffet, for no one knew
when the train meant to start.
Crowds of emigrants, with children
and innumerable bundles were starting
off to seek a new life, where they hoped
to earn enough to cope with prices
Wages of workers have been raised, but
in many places they can not overtake
the cost Of living.
, Peasants are making money, as the
value of all country produce is enor-
nous; but the majority are not spend
ing-they are used TO saving. In Ma
Piles many of the working people are
living on bread soaked in water. Oil is
far beyond their reach. The bread
itself is dark in color and heavy in
consistency, being made-chiefly of rye
and maize. Yet I heard an American
lady declare that she loved it, and she
was taxing her digestion with heavy
wedges Of it.
To consume, not to work, accord
ing to the modern economist. is the
motto of the present generation. He
calls upon the consumers to strike
against conditions and to alter them
by refraining from buying anything be-
yond the mere necessities of existence
AS an instance of prevailing meth
DDS of extortion he declares that the
same article can be bought in different
spots on b scale Of prices varying by
80, 30 and 100 per cent.
However, he adds, the public gets the
shopkeepers they deserve. When the
public is serious shopkeepers ask rea-
sonable prices. BY, the reduction oil
from the enjoyment of luxuries, and by
saving and investing money, condi-
tlons Will begin to approach norma,
within a reasonable time.