The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-08-02
heath STILLS
GOLDEN VOICE
OF {. CARUSO
continued from First Pageo

the present season, mere ana In
philadelphia, and was enjoying one
:, ne best seasons of his career.
MESSAGES of coincidence, inquir-
..r a. 10 his illness were received
The Caruso apartment. They
me from London, Paris, Rome,
Milan Buenos Aires, Havana and
Inv other count -ies. They were
ant not only by persons known in
sha world of music, but from many
sdmirers who had sat in his audi
snces at some time in the rs years
~ his career as an opera star.
I'm to the time of his sailing for
taIy. reports were current that
caruso's voice had not withstood
the ravages Of his many weeks of
illness. These were stoutly denied
by his friends. -
His friends here recalled today
tl,at when he was critically i'll last
winter, h. often expressed the wish
that if he had to die, he would pre-
Ter 10 die in his own sunny Italy,
far which he always held a deep at
fiction.
The breakdown in the tenor's
health last winter followed a series
Of mishaps 10 Caruso which cul-
Inflated on Dec. II, in Brooklyn,
wien he burst a blood vessel while
singing in "El;sir d'Amore" at TIE
academy of Music. His perform
arce on that occasion was gallant;
he struggled through the whole
first act although time and again
blood choked his voice and every
now and then he was forced 10
change q red handkerchief which
was deity slipped 20 him by some
MEMBER Of the chorus.
Those in the front rows soon be-
came aware of the singers danger
ard applauded the daring fight in
which time after time the golden
voice rose superior to the obstacle
that threatened to muffle ii. 1t
was not until the combined de
mands Of his wife, almost frantic
ii the wings, and the pleas of his
physician, had been Joined, tEdt
CarusO finally consented TO abal-
don the stage
A few days before khe mishap III
Brooklyn Caruso slightly strained
a muscle when he stumbled and
plunged into part of the stage set
tings A. the Metropolitan house
during a performance of I'll Pag-
iacci" There was a long halt be-
tween the first and second scenes
during which Caruso rested and
regained composure after his ac;l-
dent in Brooklyn and every effort
was made to minimize that mishap
and assure the public that Caruso
wouio soon sing again. He did sing
again, his last public appearance
long at the Metropot tsn On
chi istmas eve. last, in the role o.
EleaZar in La Juive." lie was
welcomed back with an ovation
sch as only an enthusiast Metro
9olitan audience could m Is.c".
Opera-goers that night felt re-
assured that all was well with the
glorious voice of their favorite, hut
Oh the day after Christmas came
tie announcement that Caruso Lad
been stricken with pleurisy.
News OF Caruso's death immedi-
ately following reassuring reports
from Italy, came as shock t.
the music loving word. Only last
Sunday photographs of the singer
in Italy were published here and
they showed hIrl cheerful and up.
parently in ro0ISt health.
Life Sketch.
Enrico Caruso, for more than q
years a celebrity in the world oil
song, the tenor with the COLDER
voice" idolized by millions il
America and abroad, had an arts
dlc career as well known as that Of
any famous statesman or military
leader. He was born in Naples
Italy, Feb. %, 1878. the son of Mar
eeliius Caruso, a mechanic, who de
tested music but was persuaded Il
permit his son. when Il years old
10 sing in the churches of his ma
i've city. An unpromising pupil
Tor three years he studied unde,
Guglielmo Vergine, pledging hi
teacher that when ready for a pro
iessional career he should pay hin
one-quarter of his earnings for the
following five years.
He made his debut in ''L' Amict
francesca" at the Nuovo theatre
Naples. in 1894. later toured Ital.
and Sicily and was engaged TO
four seasons at La Scala, Milan
subsequently he sang in st. Pc
te-sburg. Moscow, Warsaw. Rome
Lisbon. Paris. London. and leading
cities OF Germany. When he cam
to the Metropolitan opera house Il
New York on Nov %, 1903. tn
critics did not go into ecstacie
over him. One of them wrote, o.
the opening night: "Signor Carus
(as the Duke in "Rigoletto'0 ha
many of the tiresome Italian voca
aifectations and when he neglect
TO cover his tones, as he Away
does when he becomes strenuous
his voice becomes pallid."
Naples Debut
II is Interesting TO observe tina
when Caruso made his Naples de
but ne sang the title role four time!
for which he received 100 francs,
pair of stage shoes. a suit OF flesh
ings and a neckerchief. Some year
later Maurice Grau. the impresa
rio, negotiated with him to sin
In America for 800 a month, bu
thought the salary excessive an
the deal fell through. Grau wa
quick TO perceive the opportunit
he had lost and finally engaged Ca
russo for 80 performances at S1.00
night. But Mr.. Grau became IL
and Caruso. when singing In Lis
bon. received word that again h
must abandon his hope OF singin
IN America Heinrich Conried. VIII
followed Mr.. Grau at the Metro
politan. however, cabled Caruso a
oHer TO Gloss the Atlantic. and hi