Evening star., 1921-08-21
BY HAMILToN pELTZ.

AS Caruso's life prolonged
AH/ or shortened by his leav-
ing New York for Italy?
Only a few days after
Naples had knelt at the bier of the
greatest of tenors and all the world
was mourning him, Antonio Scotti.
his beloved comrade of a quarter of
century, said:
Il believe that if he had remained
here In New York, under the watch
full care of his splendid physician.
instead Of journeying to Sorrento.
my dear comrade. my more than
brother, Enrico Caruso. might be yet
alive. What / mean is 1 fear he pre-
sumed too much upon his conra-
lescence and in his zeal overexerted
himself
did you observe what the news
cables said Immediately after his
death? 1t was not enough that he
should visit the famous sanctuary
of Our Lady of Pompeii to make
q thanks offering for his recovery.
but the dispatches added that aft
erward he visited the excavations at
Pompeii.' We were Informed. also.
that he went to the Island of Capri.
where he attended a luncheon given
in his honor All this he did just
a few days before his final prostra-
tion. and We know. too. that he
had been receiving and entertaining
guests.
"One cannot visit the excavations
at Pompeii. YOU know, and do 1t IN
an automobile or a comfortable car
riage. 1t is necessary TO climb here
and there. 1t is task for SOUND
man. What I fear Is that all TINS
permitted to indulge unchecked. was
too severe a strain upon his only
partly recuperated strength. HIS
watchful physicians. had he stu
been here. probably would not nave
permitted this to happen.
MIR. Scotti expressed this opinion
toward the close of chat Of nearly
two hours. 1t was replete win
rcminiscence of his dead friend. He
and the writer sat In MT. SCOTT
derbilt Hotel. The famous baritone
was in mellow mood. He had just
come from the Church of Our LADY
of Loretto. in New York. where. win
bowed head. he had listened TO tne ne
celebration of a solemn requiem
Caruso's soul. Memories of Caruso
filled his mind and his heart He
talked freely. albeit at times IN
voice choked with emotion.
He talked Of their mutual trfumphs III
onera. but even more of Carusos many
sided character, of his habits. OF MS rare
artistic gifts outside the realm OF music.
But most of all, Mr.. Scottls remins-
cences dwelt upon their fawiess Irleho-
ship, a manly. mutual love like tnat OF
David and Jonathan, passing the love
Of women. ~ ,.f,
New York last spring. felt any mlseiv-
ings that he might be leavans ame,lsi s,,asi
for the last timer? Mr.. Scoth eueS&
ventured to ask.
"Ah, no; ! do not think that. indeed.
I have seen letters written only snort
time before his death which convince
ticaliy to recovery. But l do think ne
felt serious doubts whether he might re-
gain his voice in time to take part IN
the next New York opera season
personal effects from his apartments IN
this htel suggests his idea that his stay
abroad. was destined to be longer tnan
most Of his admirers among the puohc
supposed"
handsome baritone as he paused, invok-
ing memory, and then continued: How
we'll remember on the night before ne
sailed, Just a few of us-Caruso and his
wife and few MP personal inso1ma sInner ann In
an Italian restaurant. And when the
time, had come for parting kissed MIN
with a good Italian embrace and said:
.Enrico. my dear friend. 1 wish you
all the health in the world: I'm sure
You will get strong very quickly and will
come back here to sing better than ever
next season..
"You see, I wanted to encourage him.
though l was none too sanguine myself.
But Enrico just looked at me, little
sadly. but with all his affection beaming
from his eyes, and said softly: I think
I may stay away little longer than
that, my dear Toto. ] realize that !
must take il easy. amigo. and that 1t
NAV take me a long time to get well.
sTOTO" He always called me
that from the very beginning
of our friendship. twenty-four years
ago. 1t was what you Americans call
his nickname for me. God! I seem
even now to hear that dear voice. as
he used to slap me on the back in one
of his jocular moods! Yes. 1t was
twenty-fo four years ago. Both of us
are native sons of Naples, but 1t was
in Milan we met. I was singing in
La Scala, my first season there.
Curiously enough, it was the first year