The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1909-04-09

lighted that he invited the boy to go
to England. an invitation which young
Caruso did not accept Now that he
had arrived" Naples was good enough
for him
One day something happened which
plunged him into the deepest despair.
Without a warning of any sort his
beautiful alto voice disappeared, leav-
ing in its place only the feeblest and
most unmusical Of croaks. He was so
overcome at his loss that he shut him
self up In his room and would see no
one. 1t was the first great affection
he had ever known, and he admits that
he meditated suicide. He had made
many. friends, and some of them would
have been glad to comfort him, but his
grief would admit Of no partnership.
One evening when he was skulking
along an obscure highway, at the very
bottom of the well of his despair, a
firm hand was laid on his shoulder and
a CHEEKY voice called out: "Whither so
fast? Come home with me, poor little
shaver!"
1t was Messiani, the famous baritone,
who had always felt an interest in the
boy and who would not release him In
spite of his vigorous efforts to escape.
The big baritone took him to his lodg-
ing and when he had succeeded in
cheering the unhappy lad into mo-
mentary forgetfulness of his misery
asked him to sing.
"But l can't" sobbed Caruso. ut
has gonew
Messiani went to the piano and
struck chord. The weeping boy
piped up in tone so thin and feeble
that it was almost indistinguishabl
LOUDER" yelled the big singer, with
another full chord. Caruso obeyed and
kept on through the scale. Then Mes
siani jumped up from the piano stool,
seized the astonished boy about the
waist and raised him high off his feet,
at the same time yelling at the top of
his voice: what little jacka3s! What
a little idiotr'
Almost bursting with rage, for the
miserable boy thought his friend was
making sport Of him, Caruso searched
which he might avenge himself. Seiz-
ing heavy brass candlestick, he hurl.
ed it at Messiani with all his force, but
1t missed the baritone and landed In a
mirror
"Hold, madman" interposed the star
tied singer. Your voice is not gone.
1t is magnificent. You will be the
tenor of the century"
Messiani sent him to Vergine, then
the most celebrated trainer of the
voice in Italy. The maestro was not
so enthusiastic as Messiani, but he
promised to do what he could. He
offered to instruct Caruso four years,
only demanding 25 per cent Of his pu-
pills receipts for his first five years in
opera. Caruso signed such contract
willingly, although he realized after
ward that he was the victim of YER
liable Shylock.
When Vergine was through with the
lavish commentator, but with a re-
hinder of the terms Of his contract.
Caruso obtained an engagement In Ma
pies, but did not achieve marked sue
cess at once. On every pay day Yer
CINE was on hand to receive his per-
centage. His regularity finally at
tracted the attention of the manager.
and he made inquiry of Caruso. The
young tenor showed him his copy of
the contract and was Mortified to be
told that he had bound himself to his
Shylock for lifetime; that the Con-
tract read that he was to give Vergine
five years of actual singing. Caruso
would have reached the age Of fifty
before the last payment came. The
matter was finally adjusted by the
courts, and the INSCRIPTIONS teacher
lost 100000 lire by the judgment.
In Italy every man must serve his
time in the army, and Caruso was
checked in his operate career by the
call to go into barracks. Not long, how
ever, was he compelled to undergo the
tedum of army life. In consideration
of his art he was permitted to offer his
brother as substitute after two
months, and he returned to the opera.
He was engaged Immediately for
season at Caserta, and from that time
his rise has been steady and unim-
peded. After singing in one Italian
city after another he went to Egypt
and thence to Paris, where he, made
favorable impression. A season In
Berlin followed, but the Wagner infiu-
ence was dominant, and he did not sue
coed In restoring the supremacy Of
Italian opera. The next season was
spent In South America, and in the
new world Caruso made his first tri-
umph. From Rio he went to London,
and on his first appearance he cap
tured his Covent Garden audience.
When he made his first appearance In
the United States he was already at
the top of the operate ladder and,
although many attempts to dislodge
him have been made, he stands still
on the tcAmost rung.
Helping rim.
"Mr. Chairman" began the man who
Is unaccustomed to public speaking
"I-er-I-- er-I-er"-
"Well" interrupted the chairman
kindly, ito err is human. washing
ton Herald.