The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-11-20

From the New York World.
The passing away Of no singer since
the death of Campanini, in 1885, after
the once glorious tenor had lost his
voice, has been attended with such
sad circumstances as that of Max AL
vary, who died on Monday at his
villa, at GrosZtabarZ, in ThurinSia. In
fact, the circumstances surrounding
Always death are far sadder. There is
something luxurious in the sound OF
the word villa" But I'm his case ii
was mere mockery There was the
beautiful house, built after hts own
designs; there were the artistic dec
oratlons, all OF his own device; but
there, too, had been for more tnGn a
year gaunt poverty, as well as death,
knocking at the door. For two years
previous to his death his life had been
Slapped by one of the most terrible Of
diseases-cancer OF the stomach.
Fiend like. it struck him at the worst
possible time. Much of his ready mon
ey was tied up in the beautiful villa
which he had planned and built II or
der TO give his family happy hone,
and in the surrounding land in which
he had invested, expecting that before
the end of his career as a singer which
he had every reason to believe would
last at least ten years longer the land
would so increase in value that he and
his well loved family could pass the
rest Of their days in aff1uence. For
GrosztabarZ is a pleasant watering
place, of growing popularity.
But these happy dreams were des-
tined to be shattered. When MS Ill
ness came upon him. when he realized
with what a terrible disease he had
been stricken, he also realized that he
would have TO fight not only death but
poverty, and that the very home which
-. H., H. IL
ily's happiness was likely to prove
their ruin. For he had comparatively
little ready money at hand. When
l have grown too old to sing" he hal
said to his friends, II can live here
in happy retirement with my dear wI:e
and beloved children during the long
years / shall hope to enjoy when my
stage career is ended"
What a shocking contrast 10 his ideal
Of happy family life is the real pic
ture presented by his sickness and
death Poor Alvary! The once robust
and glorious Siegfried the picture Of
youthful health and buoyancy, wasting
away to shadow Of his former self
And his fortune gone through the
door by which death was entering
gone so completely through OUTLAWS for
the several operations to which he had
been obliged to submit himself that he
found 1t necessary to mort gage even
the life insurance which. in the days OF
artistic success and prosperity, he had
been wise enough 10 take out for the
berSfit of his wife and children. And
toward the end he was mainly depend
ert on the kindness of some of his
American admirers
Think of such plight and such
blight coming upon the handsome,
manly artist, who after his last per
Torrance at the Metropolitan opera
how fn,s Ill
fried" In 1SS9-was cheersd by the vast
audience. and had to make his way
from the stage door through crowd Of
feminine admirers, many OF whom at
tempted to embrace him as he tried 10
reach his carriage,
Pride, his pride as an artist and as
a gentleman, prevnted the world from
knowing about his Illness until early
last summer. He had then been fight
ing death and poverty for over a year
nhd half. About that time Mr. Emil
Fischer. the basSo and enc Of AlVary's
warmest friends and admirers. heard
OF the tenor's critical condition, and at
once called on Mrs Z. c. Love. Of New
York, a lady who has been much In
terested in musical matters and who
numbers many operate artists among
her friends, with the result that Mrs.
Love at once sent out a private circu-
lar requesting contributions to a relief
fund from those whom the dying and
Impoverished tenor had thrilled in the
days of his glory. She at the same
time wrote TO Nine. Alvary requesting
her to send a list of the tenor's init
mate friends IN this country.
But Nine. Alvary, while acknowledge
ing in the sweetest and gentlest man
ner Mrs. Loves letter. and showing in
every way her appreciation OF the
kindly effort being made TO relieve her
husband and her own distress, could
never be brought to send a list of
friends. With the same pride which
had kept her husband from letting his
condition be known, she seemed to
draw back from the suggestion that
her friends should be approached on
the subject.
1t Is a remarkable fact that. except