Rensselaer Republican, Volume 16, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 March 1884 — Anecdotes of Ole Bull. [ARTICLE]

Anecdotes of Ole Bull.

It is no secret that Ole Bull was the musician portrayed in Longfellow’s “Tales of the Waysidei Inn.” His name brings back the merfiory of vast audiences, every eye and evqry ear delightedly intent on that majestic and graceful son of the Vikings, fairhaired, blue-eyed, “poising in his outstretched hand the bow, like a magician’s wand.” vMany picturesque scenes are to be found in the story of his three score and ten years. The first is of a little child, who had learned his musical notes with his primer, and as he played in the meadow had fancied he heard the bluebells ring and the grasses accompanying them with the most enrapturing fine voices. Already he had owned one little fiddle, “yellow as a lemon,” and now his father had’ consented to buy him another. He shall tell what happened that night: “I could not sleep for thinking of my new violin. When.l heard father and mother breathing deep, I rose softly and lighted a candle, and in my nightclothes did go on tiptoe to open the case and take one little • peep. The violin was so red, and the pretty pearl screws did smile at me so! I pinched the strings just a little with my fingers. It smiled at me ever more and more. I took up the bow and looked at it. It said to me it would be pleasant to try it across the strings. So I did try it, just a very, very little, and it did sing to me so sweetly! Then I did creep farther away from the bedroom. At first I did play very soft. I make very, very little noise. "But presently I did begin a capriecio which I like very much; and it did go ever louder and louder, and I forgot that it was midnight and that everybody was asleep. Presently I hear something go crack, and the next minute I feel my father’s whip across niy shoulders. My little red violin dropped on the floor and was broken. I wept much for it, but did no good. They did have a doctor to it next day, but it never recovered its health.” Again we see him, “a youth to fortune and to fame ” but little known, summoned to play before a private party of Italian princes at Lucca. After the introduction by the piano had been played, a buzz of conversation was kept up, in which the Queen Dowager of Naples was taking a prominent part. Dobler, the pianist, whispered to Ole Bull not to mind it and begin his solo, but lie quietly placed his violin under his arm in the attitude of waiting. The Duke of Lucca, whose home it was, stepped forward and asked if he desired anything. “I am quite ready, your Grace, but fear to interrupt the conversation. The Queen Dowager has probably something of importance to impart, and I would not disturb her. ” Saying lie would speak to her, the Duke crossed the room, and, after a whispered sentence, she lifted her eyeglass to scan the spirited young artist; but he was not again annoyed by conversation, and afterward the Queen Dowager showed herself his warm and influential friend.— Good Cheer .