Evening journal., 1921-02-16
CURTAIN down
SOON ONCARUSO
CONTINUED from first paeel

bore expressions OF unusual gravity.
Outside the hotel a Gordon Of po-
lice was drawn about the block.
They had been summoned in antici- !
patton OF the horde OF Caruso's fell Z
low country folk who were expected /
TO sweep up town from Little Italy" |
as soon as word OF the critical Illness |
Of their beloved god OF music reach
ed them.
Antonio Scotti. tbs great baritone. !
who perhaps has sung with Caruso
more than any other artist. was one
OF the first to be permitted TO see the
tenor after the lutter's first rally
! today Returning from an engage
ment In Philadelphia. Scott was ad-
mitted TO the chamber as soon as
Caruso had sufficiently recovered TO
recognize anyone.
His tall. thin frame draped IN n
bathrobe. Scott talked with a United
Press reporter in his apartments In
the hotel. The tears streamed down
his cheeks as he told OF his fears
for his friend.
II am desolate.- he said. 1T f.
hard to tallS-there is such lump
in my throat For so many years
the great Caruso has been so dear to
me. He looked so pale and helpless
when ] saw him. But even with
death so near. his merry nature was
still evident I know he was In great
pain and yet he smiled at me. Such
couragel Is Il strange that we all
love him7"
Even in the event that a miracle
! nhnffN nNI l. "a
physician intimated that Il would be
impossible FOR him ever 10 return 10
the stage. The golden voice" was the
least OF their conrern. however. They
were fighting to save not his art, but
his life.
Caruso has been m since Christmas
Day with plerisy, which with com
plications became so serious that two
operations were performed Il was re-
ported several days ago that he was
worse, but this was denied by ply
sicians.
Last night, however. he suffered a
severe relapse. Dr. Philip HorOwitz
; The attending physician, called into
consultation Drs. p. Stella. John Erd-
! man Lambert and E. NJ. Evans.
Oxygen tanks were delivered at the
singers apartments and two priests
b arrived. Caruso's wife. formerly Dor
! othy Park Benjamin. sOciety girl, was
5 constantly at his bedside.
r Caruso lapsed into a state OF coma
; about a. m. II was learned. but
r emerged from it later and rallied 10
l such an extent that he recognized his
% wife and smiled at her.
% Park Benjamin, Jr, the singers
t brother-in-law. hurried TO the hote
as soon as he heard OF the relapse
p Mrs. Caruso's parents arrived shortly
o afterward.
r Enrico Caruso, Jr., who IL in schoo
e at Culver. Ind, has been telegaphet
y % come 10 New York at cnce.
. Music critics throughout the worlt
Z have generally credited Caruso viii
Il being the greatest operate tenor o
- modern times. In addition 10 hi
- golden voice. he possesses his
D.. tr onio ability Tar beyond the aver
axe singer This was proved not onl
n on the operatic stase. but by his ad
e vent in the movies, where his frs
j. effort was a difnoult dual role.
y Caruso has always been one Of IN
d hardest men in the world 10 inter
a view. On the few occasions ne ha
u been cornered by newspaper men an
u forced 10 talk. he has evinced grea
(. embarrassment and pleaded that h
N did not know what 10 say"
& Next 10 his singing. Caruscfs tai
j. ent is his skin as a caricaturist.
Is Caruso's circle Of personal friend
II is very small and limited almost en-
tirely 10 other opera stars, but he
,r almost deifled by music lovers, par
n ticularly the tens OF thousands OF hi
A. fellOw-Italians in This c0untr,
IN Throughout his illness he has bee
In deluged by kilograms and letters
m sympathy and by flowers. Some q
4 the latter offerings often represente
r the hard-earned savings OF an Italia
m family. who sought This means Of 81
p pressing their love and alteration n
NJ their fellow-oountryman.
n Endowed with an unusully robu'
=, constitution. CaVuso always took IN
-, greatest care OF his physical wei
=, being Ills one bad habit from III
~ standpoint OF a singer, is his veal
= ness for cigarettes, hut apparently II
:, diligence In them never affected
n voice.
- Caruso was born in Naples on Eel
=. ruarv %. 1873. At the age OF Il .
=. was a choir boy in the churches
- mat city. After three years OF stud
~ he made his operathc debut and the
w sang four years with the famot
rN scala Company He won instantaI
&c cons success on his frst American al
re nearance at the Metropolitan opel
's' House. November %, 1903.
Is, Preparations had been made !.
ed caruso 10 leave for Atlantic Gil
ty within A few days. 10 recuperate pr
Is naratorv TO sailing for his Itall'
IN villa In Florence. where he plann'
OF 10 rest until next fall.