Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-11-25
BENEVOLENT VERDI.
His Generosity to Old Friends and to
All Aged Musicians.

His Generosity TO Old Friends md to
All Aged Musicians.
The population OF the little Italian
village where Verdi was born was
made up of uneducated, Woodworking
laborers, and his surroundings were of
the most prosnic kind. But the fire
of genius was In the lad, says his biog
rapher, md these unsympnthctic en-
vlronmcnts were powerlcss to extln-
gulsli 1t.
The honor OF first drawing attention
TO the boys gifts Hes with poor itin-
Grant vlollnlst. Bngnsset by name. In
his wandcrings lie frequently visited
lie Roncole. Little Giuseppe and no
struck up IL friendship, and 1t was
Bagasset who suggested TO the boys
father that tho lad should be- allowed
TO follow music MS II profession. In
after years when Verdi had become
famous he found Bagasset again, then
II very old man aIid poor. and. remem-
herring the pnst, did Ill In his power to
help him.
When Verdi was eight years old he
became the proud possessor OF an old
spinct. This instrument lie regarded
with The greatest affection, and to the
day OF his death 1t occupied place of
honor at his estnte near Busseto. There
wns an interesting and quaint inscrip-
ton written on II part OF 1t. 1t gives
particulars of certain repairs which
had been effected and ends: "This do
gratis In consideration of the good dis
position the boy Giuseppe Verdi shows
IN learning to play on this instrument,
which quite satisfies mo for any trou.
bic. Stephen Cavnlctti, A. D. 1921"
This splnet meant everything In the
world to the boy ut this time, and It
wns his enthusiasm In subjcctng 1t to
the expression Of the Intent music
That was in him that caused tho dam
age and neccssitated the repairs re-
ferrcd to.
Once ho was playing chords on 1t
and was delighted ut having discovered
the major third and fifth Of g. Trying
to repeat this the following day, he
wEs unable to find tho chord again.
Try rs he would, lie could not succeed.
so In childish rage lie picked up ham,
mcr and proceeded to bnng the spinet.
His father came upon the scene at
this moment, and. taking the part of
tho splnet In this unequal encounter,
he gave his son q lesson which doubt
less sounded chords In the boys brain
which were II revelation to him.
The henevolence OF Verdi after his
success was II byword, nnd toward
those loss fortunate ones of his pro-
fession his help was at nll times freely
given. But everything was done In tho
most unobstrusive way. When his old
librettlst Pinro was stricken with M
ralysis Verdi paid all the costs OF his
Illness, mndc him an annual allowance
ana at his death met the expenses of
the funeral. In addition to this, he
provided for the support Of the old
mans daughter.
Ono day when he was chatting with
Carduccl, tho famous poet, nm organ
outside struck UP IN air from "Trova-
tore" Thinking TINT Verdi would be
dlst'irhes,s'i die pccrr .e,ens.. I'VE window
to send the man away, but tho COM
poser pushed past him and, beckonins
to the organ grinder below, threw
handful of silver out, saying to his
frlend
Let him so on; 1t plenscs ME, and,
besides, we must all live somehow"
The nerusnl OF his will shows that
lie never forgot those who had been
kind to him In his struggling days.
The bequcst which is most widely
known In his own country Is the Home
of Rest For Musicians In Milan.
1t had always been great idea of
Eerdfs to found some institution for
the care of aged musicians whose Ia
bors had not resulted In making them
independent In the years when their
work fiad come to an end. In his will
he devoted large share of his proper
~ to this scheme, and his generous
GIT affords home to 100 old musl-
(,i0 no -vpn}h', Tn,,,>o,t1,>