The Cordova daily times., 1921-08-03
DEATH OF FAMOUS TENOR

The entire musical world mourns the death yesterday of Enrco Caruso, who for more than twenty-five years was a celebrity in the world of song, the tenor with the "goden voice, idolized by millions in America and abroad, and had an artistic career well known as that ot any famous statesman or military leader. He was born in Naples, Italy, February D, 1873, the son of MarceIlius Caruso, mechanic, who detcstcd music but was persuaded to permit his son, when II years old to sing in the churches of his native city. An upromlsing pupil, for three years he studied under Gu%hcImo Ncr- zine, pIcdgiu@ his teacher that when ready for a professional career he would pay him one quarter of his earnings for the following five years
 H., made his debut in "L'Amico Francesca at the Nuovo Thcatcr, Naples, in 1884, later toured Italy aud Sicily and was engaged for four seasons at La Scala, Mian Subsequently he sang in St. Petersburg, Moscow, Warsaw, Rom" Lisbon. Faris London and leading cities of Germany. When h" came to th" Metro. poIitan Opera House in New York on November 23, 1903, the critics did not go into ccstaccs over him. One of them wrote, on the opening night: "Sgnor Caruso Gas the Duke in 'RlgolcttoD has many of the tircsomc Italian vocal atfccta tions and when he ncgIects to cover his tones, as he always does whon'hc becomes strenuous, his voice becomes palid.'
 It is interesting to observe that when Caruso made his Naples debut he sang the titl" roIrI four times for which he received 100 francs, d pair of stage shoes, d suit of flrshngs and al ncckerchief. Some years later Maurice Grau,| the imprcsario, negotiated with him to sing in America for $1OO a month but thought the sal ary excessive and the deal fell through. Grau was quick to preccivc the opportunity he had lost and finally engaged CaruSo for 5O prefom- anccs at $1 ,000 night. But Mr.. Grau became i'll and Caruso, when singing in Lisbon, received word that again he must abandon his hope of singing in America Heinrich Conried, who followed Mr. Grau at the Metropolitan, how ever, cabod Caruso an offer to cross the At lantic and his ambition at last was realized.
 Although no official statement of his earn ings was ever made public, 1t is known that Caruso, at the height of his Metropolitan career was receiving an average of $3,OO0 forI each performance On special occasions, such as his 1920 season in Havana, he was paid $lO,OOO d night. "r.'-
 The list of Italian and French operas in which the noted tenor's name figures since he first sang in New York reveals an amazing yer
 
 sauty. In lG years he sang no less than 549l times, in one season, l9O7-S, making 5l appear anceS great test of endurance for any voice. He was unsparing, if not reckless, of his vocal powers. No grand opera tenor in America from the days of Brignoli, Campanini, Ravelli, Tamagno and Jean de Reszke, it is recorded, ever reigned so long in popular favor.
 Caruso, after his strenuous opera seasons, sometimes had trouble with his throat which he usually overcame with little rest and care but at certain intervals rumors that "Caruso will never sing again. were frequently printed In the winter of 1920, however, he suffered a serious affiction when small blood vessel in his throat burst while he was singing inI "Elisie d'Amore" in the Brooklyn Academy of Music. After recovering from this mishap, Caruso was stricken with pleurisy.
 During his indisposlti.on, Caruso was the object of devoted attention by his wife, for