Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-23
BENEFIT CONCERT FOR
HOME FOR INCURABLES
VERDI's LAST HOURS.
The Particulars of His Peaceful Pass
ing and Imposing Obsequies.

Milan correspondence London News.
Signor Verdi after several days of resist
ance, which proved his great strength,
passed away about 8 o'clock this morning
at the age of eighty-seven years. Although
from the first it was known that he would
not recover, when death did come 1t was
unexpected. Last evening the aged COM
poser was much better, and recovered con-
seriousness. He smiled at those about his
bed, and, although he could not speak,
soon made them understand that he wished
to have his hands washed. After this he
seemed very satisfied and sank again into
Inconsistencies. 1t was the last effort OF
nature before death.
Early this morning he began to grow
rapidly worse, and the friends who had left
the room were hurriedly called, and arrived
just in time to see him open his eyes and
make an evident effort to speak. He raised
one arm as though in farewell, gave sigh,
and passed peacefully away.
When the news spread 1t seemed as
though all who heard it had been struck by
a personal sorrow. In the morning many
kilograms began to arrive, among them
messages from the King and Queen Mar
gnerita-
simple of funerals, and wished it to take
place either at daybreak or shutdown. He
leaves no children. his two little boys by
his first wife having died in infancy; but
whom he was very fond.
Verdi died in the rooms which he had oc-
cupied at the same hotel when his I'm
BaIlo' was first mounted at La Scala near
ly forty years ago. The king commanded
the syndic of Milan to send hourly tele
grams of the state of the illustrious COM
poser, and Queen Margherita likewise sent
messages; while the kilograms of inquiry
numbered some seven or eight hundred a
day. When the composers life was quite
despaired of, his old servant Giuseppe, long
since Superannuated was telegraphed for
from BussetO. and Italo Ricci, lieutenant in
the navy, a son of Signora Carrara also ar
rived.
One of the papers found in his hotel writ
ing room was post card, on which was
printed the prayer of Queen Margherita on
the death of the late king and to this
Verdi had begun to improvise some notes,
the quite unfinishedl sketch being without
much doubt the aged rnastro's very last
January 30.-The funeral of Signor Verdi
this morning was most grand and imposing,
notwithstanding the private and simple
character given to the ceremony. in accord
ance with the wishes Of the maestro HIM
self. All Milan crowded into the streets
along which the cortese passed while every
house showed signs of mourning, either
displaying black hangings or flags at half
mast, draped with Grape The hearse was
quite plaia, with no flowers, while the want
OF music created a painful impression,
heiShtenfng the sense of loss The process
sion, however, was a long one, as the local
authorities the foreign consuls and many
weil-known personages We're present In
their private capacity as mourners, Italy
was determined in some way compatible
with the expressed wishes of the maestro
to show her grief and to do honor to one of
her greatest sons.
At the hotel from which the cortege start
ed order was kept and dignity added to the
scene by five companies of infantry. who
formed square, keeping back the immense
crowd until the body had been taken into
the church opposite where it was blessed
The remains were then taken to the Gene
terry and laid in the tomb where Verdi's
wife already lay. The sad ceremony was
very early. and was over before the sun
began really to shine.