CARUSO CRIES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 97, 13 April 1908, Page 4

CARUSO CRIES

j BANK FALLUKE CAUSES A PANIC. •New York, January 30. The New Amsterdam National Hank failed last night, and the failure nearly caused a panic m the .Metropolitan Opera House, where a performance ol "Aiaiion Lescaut'"' was proceeding, for Signor C'arusu had Jo-it £BOOO, and lie relused to be comforted. Some thoughtless individual carried tlie news to Caruso just as the latter caiue oil the stage at the close of the iirst act. "Hie bunk's misled," rsaid this person, "and everybody's lost his money! ' 'I he i\cw Amsterdam Bank is located ill the Opera lloiine, and on account ol i(- proximity \> u>ed |,y tlie operatic >tars to deposit their princely salaries. < arnso gave a yell, ruslied to hi* dressing room, ami slammed lite door and Imiteil it. lie >ank trembling jut a chair, and relused to answer ijuesliojjs. \\ lien his dressers tried to con--oh* him he waved them aside and searched lor his handkerchief, j

The possibility of Caruso heing too overcome to liin-h the opera drove the management nearly frantic. They hunted uiisuccesslulJy for the individual who had told Caruso, with the intention of thidshing him, but the man had bolted. "Second act.'"' shouted the call boy, hammering on Caruso's door. Solis were heard inside. ".My money! oh, my money!'' wailed the tenor, in agonised tone.-. The stage manager rattled the doorknob and called tunmgh the key-hoic: "If* all right; you'll get your money.-" | Caruso ignored him. "Oh. my forty 1 thousand dollars!''

.Someone hurried into the lobby and mound ii bank official, who praduced a type written statement lo the effect that tlie bank would pay all depositors in full. This official was escorted behind the scenes, and he read the contents of the iK'tiee through the door of the tenor's dresiintj room. Caruso thereupon dried )ii> lea* and agreed to go on with the opera.