Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1906-11-23
BENEVOLENT VERDI.
His Generosity to old Friends and to
All Aged Musicians.


All Aged Musicians.
The population OF the little italian
village where Verdi was born was
made up OF uneducated, hardworklng
laborers and his surroundings were OF
the most prosaic kind. But the fire
of genius was in the lad, says his biog-
rapher. ana these uusympathetic en-
vironmeuts were powerless to extln-
guish II.
The honor OF first drawing attention
to the boys gifts lies with a poor itin-
Grant violinlst, Bagasset by name. In
his wanderlngs he frequently visited
lie Roncole. Little Giuseppe and he
struck up a friendship, and II was
Bagasset who suggested to the boys
father that the lad should be allowed
to follow music as profession. In
after years when Verdi had become
famous ne found Bagasset again, then
a very old man and poor, and, remem-
berlng the past, did all In his power to
help him.
When Verdi was eight years old he
became the proud possessOr OF an old
spinet. This instrument he regarded
with the greatest affection, and 20 the
day Of his death Il occupied a place OF
honor at his estate near Busseto There
was an interesting and quaint lnscrlp-
tlon written on a part OF Il. IL gives
particulars OF certain repairs which
had been effected and ends: This l do
gratis I'm consideration OF the good dis
position the boy Giuseppe Verdi shows
In learning 10 play on this instrument,
which quite satisfies me for any trou-
bic. stephen Cavaletti. A. u. 1921"
This sp.uet meant everything IN the
world 20 the boy nc this time, aud Il
was his enthusiasm In subjectng Il 20
the expression OF the latent music
that WIS i'm him tAlt caused the dam.
age and necessitated the repairs re-
ferrcd 10.
Once ne was playing chords on Il
and was dclIghted al having discovered
the major thlrd ana firth OF c, Trying
60 repeat this the following day, he
was unable 10 ind the chord again.
Try as ne would, he could not succeed,
30 IN childish rage he picked up a ham.
mer and proceeded 20 bang the spinet.
His father came upon the scene NJ
this moment and. taking the part ot
the splnet in this unequal encounter.
he gave bis son lesson which doubt.
less sounded chords In the boys brain
which were a revelation 20 him.
The benevolence OF Verdi after his
success was hyword, and toward
those less fortunate ones of his pro-
fcsslon his help was at all times freely
given. But everything was done IN the
most unobstrusiye way. When his old
llbrettlst Piare was stricken with pa,
ralytis Verdi paid al the costs Of his
illness made him an annual allowance
and at his death met the expenses 81
the funeral In addition % this. he
provided for the support OF the old
mans daughter,
one day when be was chatting with
CarducCi the famous poet. an organ
outside struck up ma air from "TrUya-
tore" Thinking that Verdi would bo
disturbed. the poet went 10 the window
90 send the man away but the COM
poser pushed past him and. beckonlng
20 the organ grinder below, thrcw a
handful 81 silver out saying 70 bic
friend
let him ~ on. n plsassa me and,
besides. We must al live somehow"
The perusal Of his viii shows that
be never forgot those who bad bcen
Kind 10 him In HE struggling days,
The bequcst which IL most widely
known Ia hls own county IL ihe Home
o. Reat For Musicians 10 Milan.
n had ALWAYS been q great idea %
Verbs % fond some Institution foF
the care 81 sEed musicians whose IL
bors had not resulted In making them
independent ln the ysau whra fheif
work had coGe 90 On end. ~ be WI
b. devoted q lrr-s share ~ be pfoaer.
g. o. this sehrar. and be- eenefggs
eift ar lras bras 70 800 ED fanii.
ffraa YOUTH 'rrFan'0n