nowadays remittances work via Western Union and their various competitors. Now, back in the old days during the big Italian and Jewish immigrations during the turn of 19th-20th centuries, how did they send money to the old country? I think this should apply in particular to Italians since they maintained stronger connections with the fatherland and often went back there as well, e.g. as reflected in “View from the Bridge” play by Arthur Miller.
Well, so what do we know about international money transfers for poor people back then?