SAVED BY SONG.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 13948, 2 January 1909, Page 2 (Supplement)

SAVED BY SONG.

MADAME CALVE AND A DYING, DOCTOR. The heroine of the hour in New York a Madame Calve, who by the power of Hr voice recently roused, and probably saved, the eminent cancer specialist, Dr. W. T. Bull, who for weeks has been slowly eirfi-. ing and was believed to be on his deathbed. He is a victim to the disease which, At the course of a brilliant career, he has done much to alleviate. Dr. Bull, by his philanthrophy and charity, earned the admiration of thousands of patients. As an operator no surgeon excelled him. Though his practice was enormous he was never known to refuse his services To people in affliction, regardless wh». ther they were rich or poor. When, som« weeks ago, it became known that he naifi diagnosed hip own case as one or malignant cancer complicated by '• rheumatism th<! tragedy of his fate excited an extraordinary demonstration of public sympathy and grief. The doctor, who was attended night anrf day by four of the most eminent of hit colleagues, was moved to the top floor cl! the Plaza Hotel, where absolute quiet reigui ed. ' Recently he appeared at the point oi death, when his wife heard him murmuu " How I should love to hear Madame Calvs sing again." Mrs. Bull slipped from iki room, and went straight to Madame Oalvq who impulsively exclaimed, "He shall heaJ me sing at once." Hall an hour later porters noiselessly cai ried 'a piano into the sFcT chamber. Ma dame-Calve entered and sang as she neve ' sang before. . The effect was magical Colour suffused Dr. Bull's face, and he ask ed to be propped up so that he could s«, the prima donna. In a soft voice Madame Calve first saraj French love ditties, then Italian and Geic man popular airs, which filled the room with merriment. Gradually Dr. Bull forgot his illness and talked and laughed. Finally he declared that' Madame CaiveV music haa done for him what serum, operations, medicines, and nurses. alike failed ro do. The famous singer had worked a miracle. The medical bulletins, for -tfi6 first time, are hopeful, one note declaring that Dr. Bull may possibly have a chance of life. The patient himself declares that he is now determined to master this sickness. *z

Madame Calve, before leaving New York, promised to return soon and to sing ag.tor to the patient.