Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1921-08-03

russo, world famous tenor, died here
today
Underwent Operation Sunday.
London, Aug. 81 Enrico Caruso
world famous tenor, underwent an OPP
Grafton Sunday, over the results OF
4 which the surgeons were pessimistic,
B says dispatch from Rome, quoting
Naples message. Caruso was said
to be extremely weak Monday after
noon, the weakness or his heart ne
cessitating injection of camphor
every two hours.
The operation, the dispatch says,
was for an abcess between the liver
and the diaphragm, which caused
4 acute peritonitis. Carusos wife and
his brother were at his bedside.
4 The tenor was, until week ago, on
the way to recovery from the long ILL
ness which began in New York last
winter, early In the operate season,
when suddenly he had an unexpected
relapse and was removed from Sor-
rento to Naples.
He arrived at Naples Sunday night,
adds the message, and the specialists
who were called In decided to operate
Immediately.
Celebrated for rs Years.
Enrico CarusO, for more than %
years celebrity in the world Of song,
the tenor with "the golden voice.
idolized by millions in America and
abroad, had an artistic career as well
known as that Of any famous states
man or military leader.
~ many critics his voice was re-
garied as the greatest the world has
ever known.
He was born in Naples, Italy, Feb.
%, 1873, the son Of Marcellius Caruso,
a mechanic, who detested music, but
4 was persuaded to permit his son, when
eleven years old, to sing In the
churches of his native city.
An unpromising pupil for three
years, he studied under Guglielmo
vergine, pledging his teacher that
when ready for a professional career
he should pay him one-quarter of his
earnings for the following five years.
He made his debut In "L'Amico
francesca at the NuOvo theater,
Naples, In 1894. later toured Italy and
Sicily, was engaged for four seasons
at La Scala, Milan. Subsequently he
sang in st. Petersburg, Moscow, War
saw, Rome, Lisbon, Paris, London and
leading cities of Germany. When he
came to the Metropolitan opera house
In New York. on November %, 1908,
the critics did not 60 into ecstacies
over him. 81
Although no official statement of his
earnings ever was made public, 1t is
known that Caruso, at the height of
his Metropolitan career, was receiving
an average of $1,000 for each perform
ance. On special occasions, such as
his 1920 season in Havana, he was
paid $4,000 a night.
4 Unsparing Of His Voice. ,
The list of Italian and French OPP
eras in which the noted tenors name
Agures since he first sang In New
York revealed an amazing versatility.
In sixteen years he sang no less than
$40 times in one season, 19O7-08 max
ing 81 appearances, great test of en-.
DURANGO for any voice. He was. I'M
sparing, 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.
During his indisposition, Caruso was
the object of devoted attention by his
wife, formerly Miss Dorothy Benja-
min of New York, whom he married
in 1918 One child was born to them.
Caruso had son by a former wife.
a singer named Ada Ciachetti, with
whom he had been associated in opera
at Treviso and Bologna.
Mr.. and Mrs. CarusO resided in New
York city during the opera season.
They had a summer home on Long
island and another residence, Cille
allie Panche, at Florence, Italy.
Caruso's death is traced to an at
tack of pleruisy that he suffered last
December
Son Told Of Dedth.
Culver, Ind.,, Aug. 3.-Enrico Caruso,
Jr., son of the famous tenor, who
died at Naples, was en- route to Chi
cago when informed of his fathers
death.
Young Caruso, who is a student at
Culver military academy, left here
early with committee from the acad-
envy In charge of an exhibit the school
is presenting at the Pageant of Prog
ress being held in Chicago.
When word of Caruso's death was
received through the press, officials at
the academy wired ahead of the train.
Young Caruso received the message
at Plymouth. Ind, where he immedi-
ately left the Culver party and start
ed back to Culver
Upon his arrival here Enrico, Jr.,
said he had no intimation that his
parents condition was serious. He
had recently received a photograph,
he said, which indicated that his ia
fher was in good health. The young
man will remain here awaiting word
from his stepmother.
The Secret Is Out.