On March 17, 1906, he celebrated the entrance into his 102nd year by taking up a guitar and singing a Spanish song, while a few days after this he attended the Philharmonic Concert at the Queen's Hall and keenly enjoyed the music. So active was he still, that he refused with indignation an offer to be helped up or down stairs; but the candle was burning with an unnatural brightness, which could not last.
In the middle of April a letter arrived from the maestro, the perusal of which brought fresh wonder at his amazing vigour. It had been written on the 16th April, and ran as follows:—
Cher Mr Mackinlay.—J'ai lu avec beaucoup de plaisir l'interessant volume qu'avez (sic) dédié à la mémoire de votre chère mère. C'est aussi avec grande satisfaction que j'ai appris qu'il a été apprecié par la presse; c'est une garantie qu'il aura le succès qu'il mérite.
Agréez mes compliments et mes félicitations.—Votre sincère M. GARCIA.
About the same time Hermann Klein received a letter from the old teacher, and the handwriting, he tells me, was not quite so firm as usual. Indeed it is evident that Señor Garcia was not feeling at all himself at this time, for in the note he says—
"As to my health, it is less brilliant than I should like, but it is passable;" while a postscript is added showing that he himself realised that his hand was rather shaky: "Can you read this scribble (ce barbouillage)?"
After this there appears to have been considerable improvement, for on May 24 he wrote to congratulate Charles Klein on the success of his new piece at the Duke of York's Theatre, and on this occasion the handwriting was much clearer and steadier than it had been five weeks earlier.
(Translation.)
"MON ABRI," CRICKLEWOOD,
LONDON, 24th May 1906.
Dear Mr Klein,—My paper informs me that you have just obtained a great theatrical success. I congratulate you with all my heart.