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Show MIGHT HAVE COME EARLIER Admirer of Muscian Piluot Have Felt Truth of the Answer Ho Received. Signor Puccini, although celebrated ell over the world for his operas, is 6till a young man. On the subject of his early success the Italian composer said recently In New York: "I have been very lucky. Recognition Recogni-tion for artistic work conies so often after one is too old to enjoy it. "I remember one of my countrymen, country-men, a centenarian, who, had he died fcefore seventy, would never have seen any of his operas produced. Luckily he lived to so great an age that he received re-ceived for many years the admiration he deserved. Naturally enough, though, this splendid artist regretted his years of obscurity and neglect, and he frequently spoke bitterly of his had fortune. "Once, at the very end of his long life, cn Englishman entered his box at the opera in Rome, and said respectfully: re-spectfully: " 'I have traveled all the way from London to see the author of my favorite fa-vorite opera.' "The veteran composer, with a malicious ma-licious smile, replied: " 'Well, my friend, I have given you plenty of time to get here.' " |