Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-08-02

hours away, ever expressing the hope
that he might be spared until he could
return 10 the soil that gave him birth,
the meek and the mighty of every laud
prayed that the great tenor would he
spared TO them and to nrt n little while
longer
Princes sent messages of sympathy
and hope to his bedside from every
country that knew cable station or n
wireless plant. In New York, push =
cart peddlcrs. as well as business
barons and leaders Of society. eagerly
bought newspapers hour by hour to
learn how Caruso's courageous fight
was progressing.
To the hotel suite where he was
suffering from one operation after an
other there went exquisite bouquets
from florists shops nlso and simple
garlands that expressed the love, and
admiration of the poor.
His Joy Was in Singing
On the stage Caruso always was
cheerful. His gsycty in responding to
curtain calls, his gracious bows and
unexpected tricks, his inexhaustiblc
energy aroused an admiration that
knew no boundaries, crceds or birth.
His JOY was in singing.
Il promise you that when | go to
heaven | shall sing forever" he told
nm audience nt the Friars Club five
years ago.
Sometimes the possession Of a voice
that thousands considered the most
perfect ever given to man pallcd upon
the great tenor, and he would express
regret that he could not be- just an
ordinary somebody
The burdens of my gift are greater
than the rewards" be would say.
Undismayed by Troubles
Personal friends knew Caruso to BE-
as cheerful in private life as on the
stage. Trouble seemed ever to follow
him, yet he kept cheerful and undis.
mayed
In June. 1920. his country home was
robbed of thousands Of dollars in
jewels, and in the same week a bomb
was set in the National Theatre at
Havana just before his entrance in the
second half of Aida"
Last September a disheartening series
OF mishnps preceded the illness when
led to his death. On the Sth he strained
his side when making an energetic exit
after the aria ''Nesti la Giubba" in
"Pagliacci
Three days later he burst blood
ance OF "L'Elisir drAmour" in
Brooklyn. but he bravely carried on.
Two days before Christmas he lay
in bed, his chest under treatment for
"intercostal neuralgia" but the Christ
mas Eve audience for Ia Juivp" was
not denied the joy Of hearing him. for
he left his sickroom and sang the role
Of "Eleazar."
Christmas he spent in bed. and the
next day came word that pcurisy had
attacked him.
Battled Calamity for Life
Week after week he battlcd for life.
undergoing several operations. When
he was sufficiently strong he went to
Atlantic City for a few weeks. and
then, when the warm Hin Of carly
summer came to Italy. he left New
York, cmacinted but smiling. confident
that he would return in the fall 70 tho
thousands Of music lovers that awaited
him.
To the superstitious il seemed ms il
the very heavens today mOurned the
tenors loss. for scarcely had there ap-
peared on the streets the first extras
telling Of his death. when it became
dark last night. Great clouds. heavy
with rain. draped the skies and soon
New York was working by artificial
light.
His Gallant Fight Last Winter
The last work received here froms
Naples was that Caruso was improving
nicely and that his voice would not be
permanently impaired by his illness.
When the tenor sailed from New
York for Italy on May 2S he appeared
to be very III and weak. although his
physicians insisted that he was on the
road 10 rapid recovery and would soon
regain his health abroad.
Cnruso's illness first began during
last Christmas week. when he suffered
an attack Of plcurisy and was confined
tn his suite in til" Hotel Vanderbilt.
His condition growing worse. the singer
n few days later underwent nm opera
tion to relieve him Of an accumulation
Of puS in tn" rleprnl cavity. exudRtP
having collected between the pleura and
thc lungs themselves. 1t was deemed
advisable to operate again for n sec.
Ondary abscesS.
After these operations Caruso con
tinucd in n serious condition for more
than week and was lowering between
lifc and death.
Early in February there was another
sudden turn for the worse and hr suf-
ferod a heart attark, His friends were
called To- his bedside and two priests
visited him md one administered OK
trcm" unctiou. the belief being tho
singer was near death.
\ group of specialists were conStantlv
at rhc bedside Of Caruso fighting To save
his life. They were aided in their
work by the use Of oxygen, which was