Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-13
/ KANUEL GARCIA.
The Man Who Died at the Age Of
One Hundred and One.

From the London Tribune.
Honors were never his, as they ought to
have been. He was not decorated by every
medical society In the world. and busts Of
him adorn no sur&eries. To many persons
his fame was merely that Of q centenarian,
to others the fact that he was Malibran's
brother was his title to consideration. But
doctors know what they owe to him, and
musicians know that he was q great artist
and great teacher-the Porpora OF the
nineteenth century-and the brother NOT
only of Malibran, but Of Pauline Viardot,
who still lives In Paris and whose genius
was not inferior to that of her sister. Music
he inherited from his father; also q singu-
lar firmness of character. Malibran told
how this MEMORABLE father babe her learn
an operate role in two days and sing 1t at
the opera. II cannot do 1t, father" You
will do 1t. my daughter, and II you fail In
any way I shall really strike you with my
the stage?' HE would have done it, too
said Malibran; $50 played the part
Born in 1905 at Zafra, Catalonia. Garcia
retained to the last the memory of the dark
hour during the Peninsular war when as
an infant he was hurled away in the arms
of his terrified mother to place of safety
From his earliest years 1t was hoped that
Manuel Garcia would devote himself to
music. but, as it happened, he showed a
prediction for anatomy. This was the
first subject that he studied seriously. and
1t was to his exhaustive investigation of the
threats Of animals and birds which he con-
Quoted as young man that we owe the
discovery of the laryngoscope
Acknowledged the first master. OF singing
of his age, he had under his guidance m any
who became famous Immediately. In fact,
he had the distinction of producing far
greater number of distinguished vocalists
than any other teacher, irrespective of ma
tionality. Physically he was nos obust,
and one marvels at the age to which he at
tanned. He sprang, however, from stock
which enjoyed remarkable longevity. and
he lived a regular and simple. though ex-
ceedingiy industrious life. His activity,
even when he was a centenarian. was
amazing. Rising fairly early, he generally
went for short walk of a morning and
occasionally he would visit theater, whilst
he sought intellectual recreation in a game
OF chess. He retained to a wonderful degree
his mental faculties. Until the last he mani
tested the keenest interest in affairs Of the
day, not excluding politics.
correspondent writes: LAS a former
pupil of Manuel Garcia, shall ever retain
a vivid recollection of his wonderfully en-
ergetic personality. / well remember how,
at the age of ninety-five, Senior Garcia
would come actually tripping into the music
room at his peaceful retreat at Brondes-
bury, and with what vivacity and verve he
would strike the chords on the piano to &C
company the vocal efforts Of his pupil.
He told me once that throughout his
career he had very rarely failed in reading
from the eyes of an intending pupil the
prophecy as to his or her future success in
the profession of music. He disliked, he
said. to be associated with failures, and the
moment he found that he had made mis-
take in his estimate of pupils capacities
he at once disillusioned him and declined to
continue his training.
Jenny Lind was his favorite pupil. Once
at the conclusion Of my lesson he grew
quite enthusiastic at the "reminiscences of
the Swedish Nightingale and remarked,
The angelic choir, which, I am sure, bear
ing in mind her nobility of character. she
must have been permitted to join, is glori-
fed by having her in its midst. Such
women, such angels, as my Jenny are no
longer born. We are not worthy of Them
His mannerisms while playing accom-
paniments were quite characteristic Of the
man. Fairly leaping in the air from his
piano stool this at the age Of ninety-five),
he would excitedly express his annoyance
at any wrong trick of the pupils vocaliza-
ton. or with a sudden jerk snatch up the
metronome. set it to time, and for space
perhaps of ten minutes compel singer to
go on counting mentally in unison with the
rhythmic movements of the guiding in
strument chuckling with delight when at
last the time difficulty had been mastered.
when he was past his century 1 once
met Senior Garcia walking witt torisk steps
down the High road, Kilburn, criticising on
the way the motor omnibuses. to which he
did not take kindly"