The New York herald., 1921-01-23
Bori Returns Opportunely While
Prophets Guess on CaruSO'S Case
Confident Assertion Made That
Great Tenor's Voice Is
Unimpaired.
by w. J. HENDERSON.


THE announcement that Miss
Lucretia Bori is to return to
the Metropolitan Opera House
will greatly please many operagoers,
and at the same time astonish many
who supposed that this much admired
soprano would never be heard syain.
Coincidently with this comes the con-
hdent assertion that Mr.. Caruso's ILL
ness has not in the least impaired his
vical powers. This is also good news
especially to Mr. Gatti- -Casazza, who
has naturally relied largely upon the
famous tenor to fill the Golfers Of the
Metropolitan Opera Company
Both cases raise many interesting
questions and suggest points for con-
sideration. First of all comes the con-
ventional procedure of physicians in
cases Of Illness of prominent public
persons. Many observant newspaper
readers are accustomed to looking for
the early death of any public man
whose concltion is Officially pronounced
Why it is regarded as necessary to
mislead us all in regard to the health
Of distinguished persons has never
been explained. The writer recalls
many interesting instances, which need
not be catalogued. In one case he re-
ceived a vituperative letter from a
classmate. a physician in attendance
on a prominent man, because the
newspaper which the writer was serv-
ing persisted in declaring that the dis
tingushed patients condition was not
as favorable as the doctors officially
pronounced it. The eminent patient
died soon after the abusive letter was
received.
Mr.. Caruso's condition may be far bet
ter than those not professionally con-
nected with the case can possibly know.
Let us hope that it is. At the same time
certain facts have not been denied. The
famous tenor had severe attack or
pleurisy The condition was suppurative,
and in order to void the cavity of pus
drainage tube had to be inserted. To
provide a free opening an incision was
made and a small portion of rib was
removed.
The patient was Immediately relieved.
progress toward recovery Several san
guine friends informed reporters that the
tenor would surely sing again this season.
Doubtless the physicians knew better.
but 1t must be conceded that it was not
their duty to make prophecies. But lay
men who have had some acquaintance
with pleurisy and who have opportuni-
ties to discuss such matters with profess
sional men need have no scruples In
hazarding the prediction that the san
guine friends are wholly in error. When
Mr.. Caruso is well enough to travel he
VIII probably have to leave this difficult
and treacherous climate and go to one
more propitious lie may return to Italy.
where he can exrand his affected breath
ing apparatus in balmy air and under
sunny skies.
Prophecy In the Case.
Some prophets have not hesitated to
declare that he would never sing again.
But. of course. no one can tell TINS
without an intimate knowledge of the
condition of his lungs Such knowledge
is not in the possession of any one except
his physicians and nurses. They may DE
expected to give out for publication only
the most optimistic representations.
Such, as has been intimated. is the habit
celebrities.
If In the future Mr. Caruso's ex-
ceptionally great lung power is unim-
paired he will undoubtedly sing just as
he used to. There has been no affection
of the vocal cords. The illness was
located in the breathing apparatus-to
be explicit, in the pleura. ii the tenor
should suffer from adhesons or have
what the doctors call bad spot his
breath support might not be what 1t
formerly was and his singing might be
affected.
The great tenor at any rate may
lnd some difficulty in supplying the de-
rnands of his countrymen. 1t is long
time since they have required from him
ANYTHING in the nature of fine singing.
Years ago they, and following their
lead, most of the mass of operagoers,
decided that what they most wished to
bear Mr.. Caruso sing was Cdnto i'll
'.Pagliacci." The climax OF the per-
formance for them was the air with
which the first scene ends, and their
highest raptures were excited by pro-
longed and vociferous delivery of the
words "Ridi Raliaccio."
For years the opera which could be
given the greatest number OF times in
any season has been "Pagliacci" For
years Lne most CTOWutu nouseS nav ;
been those attending representation of
this work with Mr.. Caruso as the clown.
This fact has constituted sad CON-
nentary on the state Of public taste.
But worse STILL the demand upon which
it was based caused Mr.. Caruso to
transform himself from lyric tenor,
second to none in the history of opera,
to robust tenor relying upon volume
of tone for his chief effects.
Shouting to split the ears Of ground
lings did Mr.. Caruso no good. II re-
duced his stature as an artist. 1t dimin-
ished the beauty of his voice. 1t robbed
him of much OF the refinement of his
carly style. IL lowered all his stand
ards. Now, suppose the optimsts
should turn out to be partly mistaken
and the effects Of the attack of pleurisy
are found to be permanent Suppose
Mr. Caruso cannot below any more
What is he going to do to please the
people who wish only to hear him emit
stentorian tones long sustained?
Miss BORIS Vocal Troubles.
Miss Bori was said to have contracted
nodules on the vocal cords. Thes'
growths are something like warts. and
they make the voice hoarse and In tim'
reduce It to n whisper. They have Z
be scraped off. IL was said that Mis-
Bori underwent the operation OF having
these warts scraped off. and that thu
surgeons knife went astray and S'.1 on'