Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 17.djvu/666

SA VINOS BANK. 598 SAVONA. Number ot baukB NumliiTof depuHltort) Deposits Aver«S" (1 ue eilch depositor 1B20 10 Gl 27» 029 921 1.0O2 8,636 78,701 093,870 2.3;15,.'-.>I2 4,2(8,893 6,107,063 ».1»8,S76 14,061,(520 149,277. .104 819.10(5,973 1,524,844,000 2,449,547.805 $1.31 .8S IWO 18(50 ISliO 1890 178.M 215.13 3.')0.71 358.03 1900 401.10 Germany United Kingdom France Japan Italy Austria Ruseia Belgium The cfliciency of a system of savings banks may be roiigbiy moasured by the ratio of ae- coimts to the total population. By this test, the American system docs not i)rove wlioUy satis- factory. While the New Kntrland States show one account to two of the poinihitioii, tlic West- ern States show only one to IS, the Midille States one to 48, and the Southern States one to 406. JIl'.N'iciPAi. Saving.s Banks. Municipal action in encouraging saving began in Germany. A municipal savings bank was organized in Karls- ruhe about the beginning of the nineteenth cen- tury; another was founded at Berlin in 1818. Institutions of this type are now found throngli- out Germany, o[)erating in the country districts as well as in the towns. They are also the pre- dominant type of bank in Austria and France, and (lie plan has I'cen successfully employed in Italy, Switzerland. Russia, Denmark, Sweden, and Japan. It presupposes a highly efficient munici- pal government, and general confidence in the officials on the part of the lower classes. These banks are for the most part organized as quasi- private corjiorations, having power to own prop- erty, make binding contracts, and sue and be sued before the courts. JIanagers and officials are ap- pointed by the municipality. In large cities the organization consists of a central office with branches located where they will be most con- venient to wage-earners. Sometimes these banks undertake to send officials to the homes of small depositors, to collect weekly sums for deposit. These banks have proved highly successful, not only furnishing excellent facilities for saving, but also rendering available a supply of capital for local uses. Loans on real estate are the principal form of investment. Postal SA^^?^•GS Banks. See under that head- ing. School Savings Banks. A great deal of at- tention has recently been given to plans for train- ing .school children in habits of saving. Priscilla Wakefield experimented with a school savings bank early in the nineteenth century. The plan ■was tried in several parts of Europe in the first half of the century, but first received general recognition in 18G6 through the eff'orts of Pro- fessor Laurent in Belgium. The principle has been widely adopted both in Europe and in America. Its usefulness, however, has not as yet been entirely established. The table below, from the International Year Book, ISHIJ, gives tlic chief facts with regard to savings banks in tlic more important modern nations. Consult: Hamilton, l^ai-in(js Institutions (New York, 1002) ; Wolff, "Savings Banks at Home and Abroad," Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, vol. Ix. ; article "Sparkassen" in Con- rad's Handicorterhuch der Staal sicissenscliaften, vol. vi. (.Jena, 1901). See Bank. No. of de- positors 1898 13,854.927 1901 10,434,877 1900 10,660,h(16 1900 5,825,578 1899 5.669,690 1900 4,792,611 1901 3,935.773 1900 3,637,157 Total deposits $1,929,332,000 930.117,000 824,932,000 36,948,000 448,700,000 833,210,000 428,345,000 231,684,000 r Avernge deposit $139.25 89.71 77.20 6,34 79.14 173.85 108.83 66.50 SAVITAR, sii've-tiir ( Skt., generator, vivifier, stimulator). In Hindu mythology, the sun in his vivifying aspect. Eleven hymns of the Rig- Veda are in his honor, and his name is mentioned in all about 170 times. The preeminent characteristic of Savitar is his golden nature and equipment, his eyes, hands, tongue, and arms being of gold, while he is drawn by radiant steeds in a golden car with a golden pole. His hair, moreover, is yellow', and his garments are tawny. All these attributes, of course, typifj' the sun, Savitar is one of the most powerful of gods, but his power is uniformly beneficent. In the later Vedie period he comes to be identified, on account of the creative work of the sun, with Prajapati (q.v.). It is significant that the mo.st holy verse of the Rig-A'e(ia, the Savitrl (q.v. ), is in honor of Savitar. After the Vedic period this god sinks into obscurity, and is no longer worshiped. Con- sult: Muir, Original Sanskrit Texts, vol. v. (Lon- don, 1872) ; Bergaigne, Religion Vedique, vol. iii. (Paris, 1883) ; Macdonell, Tedic Mythology (Strassburg, 1897). See PUSAN; SiJbya. SAVITRI, sa've-tre (Skt., ray of light). The name of the most sacred verse of the Rig-Veda (iii. 02, 10). It corresponds in sanctity to the first chapter of the Koran for the Jloliammedans and to the Lord's Prayer for the Christians. It is addressed, as its name implies, to Savitar, the sun in his vivifying aspect. The Savitri is re- peated by orthodox Brahmans at their morning and evening devotions, and at other times of special religious importance. The name Savitri is also sometimes given to the wife and daugh- ter of Brahma (q.v.). Another Savitri figures as the heroine of one of the most beautiful episodes of the Mahilbharata (q.v.). The episode has been edited by Geiger in his Elementarbuch der Sanskrit-Sprache (Munich, 1888), and translated into English by Arnold in his Indian Idylls (London, 1883). SAVOIE, sa'vwa' (Fr. for Savoy). A south- eastern department of France, bordering on Italy (Map: France, N 6). Area, 2,388 square miles; population, in 1896, 259,790; in 1901, 254,781. It is in the region of the Alps, which reach in the Pointe Aiguille .an altitude of 12,670 feet. The River Rhone forms the western boundary for 30 miles, and with its affluent, the Is&re, drains the department. The climate varies according to elevation, and is bracing and healthful. Wheat, rye, maize, the grapevine, tobacco, mulberries, and apples are cultivated. There are important manufactures of cheese. Capital, Chambery. SAVOIE, Haute, A department of France. See Haute-Savoie. SAVONA, sa-vcVna. A city in the Province of Genoa, Italy, situated on the Gulf of Genoa, 25 miles by rail west-southwest of Genoa (Map: Italy, 3). It is a well-known Riviera (q.v,) city with fine boulevards and well-built modern