The log cabin Democrat., 1921-08-02
(By the Associated Press)


 Naples, Italy, Aug. 2-Enrico Car uso, world famous tenor and member of the Metropolitan grand opera com- pany of New York, died here today. Caruso, for more than 25 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 statesman or military leader. He was born in Ma ples, Italy, February 25, 1873, the son of Marcellius Caruso, mechanic. who detested music but was persuaded 10 permit hls son, when II years old. to sing in the churches of his native city.
 He made his debut in 'L' Amico Francesca" at the Nuovo Theater. Ma pies, in 1894, later toured Italy and was engaged for four seasons at La Scala, Milan. Subsequently he sang Tn St. Petersburg, Moscow, Warsaw. Rome, Lisbon, Paris, London and lead ing cities of Germany. When he came to the Metropolitan opera house in New York on November 23, 1903, the crtlcs did not go ecstacies over him.
 It is interesting to observe that when Caruso made his Naples debut he sang the title role four times fo1 which he received 100 francs, a pair of stage shoes, suit of fleshings and neckerchef. Some years later Maurice Grau, the impresario, nego- tlated with him to sing in America for $700 month but thought the sal ary excessive and the deal fell through. Grau was quick to perceive the oppor- tunity he had lost and finally engaged Caruso for 50 performances at $1,OOO night. But Mir. Grau became i'll and Caruso, when singing in Lisbon, re- celved word that again he must aban- don his hope of singing in America. Heinrich Conried. who followed Mir. Grau at the Metropolitan, however, cabled Caruso an offer to cross the Atlantic and his ambition at last was realized.
 Although no official statement of his earnings was ever made public, it is known that Caruso, at the height of his Metropolitan career, was re- ceiving an average of S3,00O for each performance. On special occasions such as his 1920 season in Havana he was paid S10,0OO night.
 The list of Italian and French operas in which the noted tenor's name figures since he first sang in New York revealed an amazing yer satility. In Is years he sang no less than 549 times, ir one season, 1907-0S making 51 appearances, a great test of endurance for any voice. He was unsparing, if not wreckless, of his vocal powers. No grand opera tenor in America, from the days of Brig noi, Campanini, Ravelli, Tamago and Jean de Reszke, it is recorded, ever reigned so long in popular favor.
 Caruso, after his strenuous opera seasons, sometimes had trouble with his throat, which he usually overcame with little rest and care and at cer- tain intervals, rumors that "Caruso will never sing again were frequently | printed. In the winter of 1920, how ever, he suffered serious affliction when a small blood vessel in his throat burst while he was singing in "E'hsie d'Amore" in the Brooklyn | Academy of Music. Recovered ! from this mishap, Caruso was strick- | en with plurisy.
 During his indisposition, Caruso | was the object of devoted attention by his wife, formerly Miss Dorothy | Benjamin of New York, whom he married in 1918. One child was born to them. Caruso had son by his ! former wife, singer named Ada l Ciachetti, with whom he had been associated at Treviso and Bologna
 Mir and Mrs. Caruso resided in New York city during the opera sea son. They had summer home on Long Island and another residence Vile ale Panche, at Florence, Italy
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