Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-10-04
MANUEL GARCIA.
Tho Man Who Died at the Age OF
One Hundred and One.

LILO VAuh WIN DhSN "o N'AS NASo ~
One Hundred and One.
Honors were never his, as they
ought to have been. He was not dec
GRATED by every medical society in
the world, and busts of him adorn no
surgeries. To many persons his fame
was merely that of centenarian; to
Others, the fact that he was Mali
bran's brother was his title to con-
sideration. But doctors know what
they owe to him, and musicians know
that he was a great artist and a great
teacher-the POrpora of the nine
teenth century-and the brother not
only of Malibran, but of Paline War
dot, who still lives in Paris and
whose genius was not inferior to that
of her sister. Music he inherited
from his father; also singular firm
ness of character. Malibran told how
this inexorable father bade her learn
an operatic role in two days and sing
it at the opera. 81 cannot do it, fa-
ther." "You will do it, my daugh-
ter and if you fail in any way l shall
really strike you with my dagger
when l am supposed to kill you ON
the stage!" "He would have done it,
too" said Malibran; so l played the
part"
Born in 1895 at Zafra, Catalonia,
Garcia retained to the last the men,
ory of the dark hour during the PEN
insular War when, as an infant he
was hurried away in the arms of his
terrified mother to a place of safety.
From his earliest years it was
hoped that Manuel Garcia would de-
vote himself to music, but, as it hap
pened, he showed predilection for
that he studied seriously, and it was
to his exhaustive investigation Of the
throats of animals and birds which
he conducted as young man that we
owe the discovery of the laryngo-
scope.
Acknowledged the first master Of
singing of his age, he had under his
guidance many who became famous
Immediately. In fact, he had the
distinction Of producing :, far greater
number of distinguished vOcaiists
than any other teacher, irrespective
of nationality. Physically he was
not robust, and one marVelS at the
age to which he attained. He sprang,
however, from a stock which enjoyed
remarkable longevity, and he lived
10, nd CiD,n1D thn nuh pypnn1-
ingly industrious life. His activity,
even when he was centenarlan. was
amazing. Rising fairly early, he gen.
orally went for a short walk OF
morning, and occasionally he would
visit theatre, whilst he sought in.
tellectual recreation in game OF
chess. He retained to a wonderful
degree his mental faculties. Until
the last he manifested the keenest
interest in affairs of the day, not eX'
Guiding politics.
A correspondent writes: "As for.
mer pupil of Manuel Garcia, l shall
ever retain a vivid recollection OF
his wonderfully energetic personal.
ity. | well remember how, at the
age Of ninetv-fve, Senior Garcia
would come actually tripping into
the music room at his peaceful re.
treat at Brondcsbury, and with what
vivacity and verve he would strike
the chords on the piano to accom-.
pany the vocal efforts of his pupil.
"He told me once that throughout
J.; 40 hnI rorn1v foilnl
in reading from the eyes of an in
tending pupil the prophecy as to his
or her future success In the profess
sion of music. He disliked, he said,
to be associated with failures, and
the moment he found he had made a
mistake In his estimate of a pupils
capacities he at once disillusioned
him and declined to continue his
training.
Jenny Lind was his favorite pu-
pill Once at the conclusion of my
lesson he grew quite enthusiastic at
the "reminiscences of the Swedish
Nightingale and remarked, The an
gelic choir, which, | am sure, bearing
in mind her nobility of character, she
must have been permitted to join, is
glorified by having her in its midst.
Such women, such angels as my
Jenny, are no longer born. We are
not worthy of them
"FIis mannerisms while playing ac-
compartments were quite character
istic of the man. Fairly leaping In
the air from his piano stool (this at
the age Of ninety-five), he would ex-
citedly 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 a space perhaps of ten minutes
compel singer to go on counting
mentally in unison with the rhythmic
movements of the guiding instru-
ment, chuckling with delight when
at last the time difficulty had been
! mastered.
when he was past his century l
once met Senior Garcia walking with
brisk steps down the Highroad, Kill
burn, criticising on the way the mo-
tor omnibuses, to which he did not
!. take kindly. y."-London Tribune.
TDI.. Il ~