The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-26

SAID his large, full black eyes looking
rather gloomily back into that time
when he was penniless boy, cast out
oy his father, who was disguised with
MIN because he would not work sing
Ing for few lire here and there but
never losing hope In his voice.
My mother" he said with a sudden
smile. she believed In me, but she
died when l was is. When I was II
ana sang In the church In Naples my
mother said of me. He will be the treas
ure OF the family When I sang In the
church. and everybody was talking OF
my voice, my mother was very proud
When l was Is my voice changed-it
mad been contralto-and l sang no more
In church.
This Is how have succeeded"
Caruso said. leaning suddenly forward.
never refused an engagement And
never was without work, never, but
FOR two months in Naples after my sec
ond engagement Then I went to Cairo
and sang, and when l came back a small
BOAT met the ship and brought me an
oner. In that engagement l received
700 lire, s24o.
Would Never Refuse to work.
Il never refused to work. II one
would come to me and say, will you
go to such and such a place for the sum-
mer and sing?' / would ask, How much
will you pay me?' The answer is $4,000
But say. The price for that was
$4,000 Never mind they say, $4,000
Is all that can be paid this summer and
refuse. Very WELL they say. we get
So-and-so.' Then 1 make quick thoughts
In my head"-Caruso described swift
geomstric problems on his forehead
and l say, 4 will 60 Otherwise
lose the summer and the experience
And the experience is everything. AL
ways in that way I have had work, all
ways since came to America, and be-
fore"
Caruso would not admit that he had
any favorite role in opera. THE singer
who has favorite role he said. ''is not
an artist, but a specialist. II is the pub
lie that makes the favorite roles. The
public. he added, was Just in It's esti-
mates, and its musical taste was i'm
proving.
But not enough" he added "Of
perhaps 10000 900 men and women in
the country 100000 are cultivated.
The remaining three-f ourths are not in
oculated with the spirit of the opera.
He could never understand. he added,
why in America the bill was changed so
OFTEN by an opera company. So many
different roles, one after another-it was
very hard on the singer. Now in Italy
he drew sheet OF paper toward him
and illustrated II with pencil marks-in
an opera season OF three months not
more than Ave operas were produced.
and the singer could give better and
better performances each time.
For a musical show on Broadway the
company rehearses months, and then
gives the same thing night after night,
but the opera. that must change every
night" he complained. But it is easy
TO draw audiences for the shows. and the
opera house. that is not always filled.
People look at the bill for the night and
they say, 'Caruso not singing? Then
will not go I do not say that because
l am Caruso. but the people do say 1t"
As a remedy for this Caruso suggested
| high charges for the nights when stars
sang and lower prices on the ordinary
nights.
| Some one asked IL the tenor was dread
ing the income tax. He paid huge one
| last year, and 1t will be bigger this year
He shook his head solemnly. NO" he
| said. Every one must make some sac
rifice.'' He hoped to visit Italy this year
he said; and then he repeated with a
smile of pride part OF his son Rudolph's
| last letter from the Alps, where he was
| stationed with the italian troops.
The soldiers made a play Of every
thing" he said. MY son wrote to me
| Papa. here we are in the middle OF
snow. We have nothing: no news
papers; no drink; nothing to eat
nothing to make us warm; but we are
, glad The world has not made enough
OF what Italy did In the war;" Caruso
added. Asked about the League of Ma
| tons he said. yes. he wished for that
| he did not wish the world to return to
the old balance OF power.
| Caruso would not express an opinion
as to whether German operas should be
admitted to the American stage now
| But after some hesitation he remarked
that art and politics ran in two different
| channels, and should have no connection