New-York tribune., 1906-07-28
MANUEL GARCIA.
The Man Who Died at the Age
of One Hundred and One.
From The London Tribune.

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
surgeries. To many persons his fame was mere
~ that Of a centenarian; to others the fact that
he was Malibran's brother was his title to con-
SideratiOn. But doctors know what they owe to
him, and musicians know that he great
artist and a 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 singular hrmness OF character.
MaIibran told how this inexOrable father bade
her learn an operatic role in two days and sing
it at the opera. Il cannot do it, father" "E Oh
will do it, my daughter and If you fail In any
way l shall really strike you with my dagger
when I am supposed to kill you on the stage!'
He would have done it, too" said Malibran;
$50 played the part
Born IN 1876 at Zafra, Catalonia, Garcia re-
during the Peninsular War when as an infant he
was hurried away in the arms Of his terrified
mother to place Of safety.
From his earliest years II was hoped that
Manuel Garcia would devote himself TO music,
but, as it happened he showed pred1lectlon
for anatomy. This was the first subject that he
studied seriously, and it to his exhaustive
investigation OF the throats Of animals and birds
which he conducted 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 many who
became famous Immediately. In fact, he had
the distinction Of producing far greater num-
ber Of distinguished vocaliStS 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 IongeV-
ity and he lived a regular and simple, though
exceedingly industrious life. His activity. even
when he was centenarian, was amazing ESis-
ing fairly early. he generally went for short
visit theatre, whilst he sought intellectual rec
reation in a 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 excluding politics.
A correspondent writes: ''AS a former pupil
Of Manuel Garcia. I shall ever retain vivid
recollection of his wonderfully energetic per-
sonality. l well remember how, at the age OF
ninety-6ve, Senior Garcia would come actually
tripping into the music room at his peaceful re-
treat at BrondeSbury, and with what V1vac1Cy
and Verve he would strike the chords on the
piano to accompany the vocal efforts Of his
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 10
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 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 pupil Once at
the conclusion Of my lesson he grew quite en-
thusiastic at the "reminiscences OF the Swedish
Nightingale and remarked, The angelic choir,
which am sure, bearing IN mind her nobility
Of character, she must have been permitted to
join is glorifed by having her in its midst. Such
women, such angels my Jenny, are no longer
born. We are not worthy Of them
His u1annerisms while playing accOmpani-
n1ents were quite characteristic of the man. Fair
" leaping in the air from his piano stool (this
at the age of ninety-fve), he would excitedly
express his annoyance at any wrong trick Of the
pupils vocalization, or with a sudden jerk snatch
up the metronome. set it to time and for a
space perhaps Of ten minutes compel a singer to
go on counting mentally in unison With the
rhvthnic movements of the guiding instrument,
chucklng with delight when at last the time
difficulty had been mastered.
when he was past his century once met
Senior Garcia walking with brisk steps down the
Highroad, Kilburn, critcising on the way the
motor omnibuses to which he did not take
kindly"