New-York tribune., 1921-09-04
How Enrio Caruso Spent
His Last Holiday in italy


The following story forwarded from
the Tribune's London Bureau was
written July 80. Before it reached it's
destination news of the death of the
famous tenor had been flashed through
Che world. 1t gives interesting infor-
nation concerning Caruso's last holi-
day, and strikes particularly pathetic
note in it's recital of the belief held by
the famous tenor that he was on the
high road to complete recovery.
ROME, July 30.-The townspeople of
Sorrento are peeved with Caruso be-
cause instead of three months he onlv
remained six weeks in their midst and
left just when they were planning
great fiesta" in his honor. They did
not realize that when he said he was
going to remain a long while he be-
heved that long cure was necessary.
The wonderful sun and sea and air at
Sorrento apparently restored his health
in comparatively short time.
The people of Sorrento coined money
during his visit, as shoals of visitors
fiocked to this town to catch glimpse
OF the great tenor. His coming
brought prosperity and fame, but at
the same time it spoiled the transquillity
of Caruso's holiday. The boats from
Naples were crowded twice daily by
Italians and Americans, all anxious to
find out for themselve whether Ca
ruso's good health was a myth or a
reality. The only one of the Caruso
family who did not mind this great
publicity was Gloria, who gurgled and
smiled whenever any one chirped or
called her "carina." Her knowledge
of Italian is limited, but with fem
mime intuition she soon learned that
"carina" meant something pleasant and
complimentary
Probably the ordinary visitors would
rot have bothered Caruso so much,
hut innumerable budding opera singers,
with an eye to the mair- chance, took
up their quarters at Sorrento with
the hope that Caruso would let them
sing to him. When one comes on
holiday to regain ones health the last
thing en- earth one cares to do is to
pass judgment on other peoples voices.
The pcstman in Sorrento during Caru-
SOS visit spent his leisure time carry
ing the Caruso post to the Caruso
headquarters, where it was sorted.
Only letters from friends were
opened and all the rest were carefully
tied into bundles to await the arrival
at Florence of Caruso's secretary on
his return from his holiday. There
are bags of this mail, the majority, no
doubt, from unknown admirers of
Caruso wishing him speedy recovery.
The one person most greatly disap-
pointed at Sorrento Mt Caruso's de-
parture was the boatman, Giuseppe,
who was allowed to take "Sua Eccel-
lenza," as he insisted on calling Caru-
SO, out for a row. 1t was Giuseppe,
too, who initiated the Caruso family
into the mysteries of fishing for "oc-
chiati," the fiat silver fish which
sbounds in the Bay of Sorrento.
All the Caruso family, including
Gloria, were provided with fishing
tackle and tried their hands at what
is very fascinating sport. 1t consists
in fishing from the stern of the boat
while the boaman rows across the
current and every now and then throws
out handful of grated pecorino cheese
rind. This cheese is very odorous, and
at first Caruso objected to the strong
smell, but Giuseppe demonstrated,
"Eccellenza, without the pecorino the
fish no come up; they like pecorino
grated; they are geedy pigs when the
cheese is thrown; Eccellenza, we must