New-York tribune., 1921-02-27
when Will You Sing g Again.
World Asks Enrico Caruso
Great ienor Now ON Road to Recovery From Serious
Illness, Has Been at Metropolitan Since 1908;
Beloved as Man and Artist

fore he died was to have been devoted
to Caruso. "He mustn't think we're
forgetting him." was the thought which
prompted the intention. Alas, that the
article was never written! Alas, that
it should have been the ultimate salu-
tation-"Ave, Cesar, morituri te salu-
tamusln
How Caruso Was Engaged
The Caruso legends are legion.
Among others is his own version of the
circumstances which resulted in his
engagement TO sing at the Metropolitan
Opera House:
81 had just completed an engagement
at the Opera in Paris" said the dis
tinguished tenor, "and was leaving for
Milan the next morning to fulfill an en-
gagement at the Scala Theater. The
journey is long and tedious, and to
make myself as comfortable as posi-
bic took corner seat in an empty
first class compartment on the train.
Just before the train pulled out gem
tleman got into the carriage and set
tied himself down in another corner.
noticed that he was slight of build
and of unusually refined appearance,
but apart from that we took no notice
of each other. forgot to mention that
short time before my engagement in
| Paris I had declined an offer to come
to America and sing at $50 night
"Well, we travelled in silence for
quite while, and then my companion
spoke, addressing some casual remark
to me in French. Soon we were chat
ting pleasantly.
"The last remark set US on topics of
interest to me. Had been to the opera
in Paris? Yes, had. Had heard the
new Italian tenor who had set the whole
town talking? / asked to which tenor
monsieur referred. My companion
seemed rather surprised; why, of
course, he meant Caruso.
"oh, yes, had heard Of Caruso,
and although an italian myself I did
not think much of him.
| "'But, monsieur my friend began.
| "'Pardon me- interrupted him, be-
fore you say anything more allow me to
introduce myself With that handed
| him my visiting card. He glanced at it.,
! then at me, then again at the card. He
seemed highly amused at the coinci-
; dence, and, as you can imagine, SO was
/ /. But imagine my surprise when, in
| handing me his card, he remarked quite
blandly:
"'If you had only said so before we
! left Paris it might have saved me Il
trip to Milan
~ did not understand, I looked at
| the name on the card, but that con-
veyed nothing to me at the time. /
asked him to explain, because, while /
could not see the point, he was visibly
! delighted at the fact that he had in q
way turned the tables on me. At last
| he explained. He was on his way to
Milan in the interests OF, the Metro
politan Opera Of New York. He had
heard me sing Ia Paris and, knowing
that was to sing in Milan immedi-
ately after, he bad deeided that while
tAAN1S F'S "N@+N 49, $&&#AA
behalf of the NJ s - come
over to sing l. rSew iorh,
81 confessed TO hlm then that had
but recently declined an American otfer
to come over and sing at sac night.
( Never mind that he said, but you
must come to New York, because /
know you will be appreciated there
Well, we talked the matter over at
ieugth, SO that before we had reached
Milan had promised that would sing
in New York the following season, and
did.
"Who was ray travelling companion
/ He gas Mr.. Rawlins Cottenet, one Of
the directors Of the Metropolitan
Opera Company. and 1t was really Mr..
| cottenet who induced me to come
| over"
1t is not only for his voice that
[ Caraso is beloved, but for the quail
ties that make hina lovabie human
/ being---the geniality, the keen sense Of
the ridiculous, the klndliness that are
within the man. Professional Jealousy,
envy, hatred, malice are unknown to
him. Only the other night one OF the
younger teuors at the Metropolitan an
! American. told with tears streaming