The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-05-25
BOY IN LOWLY LIFE
IS A YOUNG CARUsO
GREAT TENOR HEARS HIS VOICE
AND IS ENRAPTURED
BY 1T.

PITTSBURG, May 25.--If the
mother OF ls-year-old Harry Sakolsky.
bootblack, gives consent, her son,
whose voice when heard by Caruso,
enrapturcd that great tenor. can be-
come "a member of the Metropolitan
opera company and win fame and for
| tune.
Mrs. Sakolsky, the poor Jewish
widow in whose hands for the present
lies the fate OF the vocal prodigy, re-
ceived through Prof Nj. Ii. Stevenson,
the boys instructor. a letter from the
manager of the company saying IL she
would give written consent a contract
would be signed binding Sakolsky for
five years and obligating the impre-
] sario to train him for grand opera.
Whether she will realize what the
opportunity means To her son Is I'M
certain. He never has been away
| from her for Il day. and the money he
earns by singing In synagogues is the
family's sole support. Sakolsky has
four sisters, as well as his mother. TO
maintain. IL he joins the company he
may not be able to provide for them
as well at first as IL he stayed here,
although In a few years he can keep
them In style superior to that of many
| princesses In their native Russia. No
one knows which way the woman's
decision will turn.
Musical critics in the last few years
have shown much interest I'm the
youngster who sprang into national
notice by singing TO the satisfaction OF
Caruso and other members of the
opera company. To musicians, OF
course. he il only voice.
His Home One Of Poverty.
1t is merely incidentally interesting
to them that for years he made his
living by selling papers and blacking
boots, and that his home In the hill
district still Is one OF poverty. Ii is
recognized by those who have heard
Sakolsky that the young Russian Jew
in the next decade may be one OF the
most celebrated singers In the world.
His voice Is likened 10 Carusos, and IL
Is believed with further training II will
attain all the robust richness OF the
Metropolitan singers tones. II the OPP
cratic world followed a custom OF the
prize ring, Sakolsky doubtless would
go before the public as Young
Caruso."
| no Otner memDer or the SakOlSky
family ever has shown the smallest
musical talent. Mrs. Sakolsky and her
daughters were unaware, until four
years ago. that their son and brother
was a born singer. The boy, then
II years old. when his mother brought
him here from the province OF Grodno,
Russia, after the death OF his father,
showed great fondness for the music
In the synagogues.
On his first visit to the Beth Hene-
drosh Hagodel synagogue, in Washing.
toD-st.. his voice, then a juvenile con-
tralto, attracted attention by it's round
ness and sweetness. Solomon Graf
man, now cantor In a fashionable
synagogue In New York. occupied the
same position In the Westinghouse.
place OF worship. He took Sakolsky TO
Prof. Stevenson, who began training
the lads voice and when it changed
recognized IL TO be tenor OF excep-
tional beauty. When Caruso came
here the professor obtained from him
a hearing for Sakolsky, and the i'm.
preston the boy made on the famous
artist led TO the offer from the Metro
politan company.