Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-04-26
DEATH OF OLE BULL.
A Brilliant, but Melancholy, Sad and Ro
mantle Career Terminated.
From the New York Tribune.l


From the New York Tribune.l
The celebrated violinist, Ole Borne
mann Bull, who died at Quebec on the
10th inst, was born at Bergen, in Nor
way, on the 9Th of February, 1910. His
passion for music manifested itself at
very early aye, but was repressed by his
father, who had destined him for the
clNrch, and ut the age of eighteen placed
HIM at the University of Christiana, with
which his connection was dissolved be-
cause he took temporary charge Of the
orchestra at one of the theatres during
the illness Of the leader. In 1929 he went
to Cassel to study with Spohr, but his re-
ception was so cold as to almost entirely
suppress his musical enthusiasm, which
had thus far withstood both the frowns of
his father and the disfavor of the profess
sors. He then began to study law at
Gottingen, but soon recovered from the
despondency caused by his interview
with Spohr, and once more determined
10 devote himself to his art. and went to
Minden, where he gave his first concert,
with considerable success AT this place
quarrel with fellow-artist resulted in
challenge, and in duelwhic followed
his antagonist was mortally wounded.
Compelled to leave the country, he went
to Paris, where he led a most precarieus
and wretched existence, from which, at-
ter being robbed of everything he pos
sessed, including his violin, he attempted
to release himself by drowning. He was
not destined, however, to die in the Seine,
from which he was rescued and taken to
the house of recently bereaved mother,
who found in him a remarkable resem-
blance to her dead son, and assisted him
so literally that he was enabled to appear
in public in the profession he had chosen,
namely, that of violinist.
His career as an artist had now fairly be-
gun, and the next seven years were spent
in professional tours through Europe, by
which he not only acquired an extended
reputation but handsome fortune. In
1888 he returned to his native place with
his wife, a Partisan woman, and live
years later made his first visit to the Uni
ted States. The enthusiasm with which
he was met here, and the pecuniary sue
cess of his first professional tour through
this country, are still fresh in the minds
of musical readers who heard him at
that time, and need not be recapitulated
here. In lS45 he returned to Europe,
and during the succeeding seven years
gave n series of concerts in the principal
cities of the continent, made campaign
in Algeria against the kabyles under
General Yusuf built theatre in his ma
tive town, and made aa e!!crt TO establish
in Norway national schools in literature
~ nd mo- pitc m
brought him in contact with the police
because of his political preferences, and
number of vexatious lawsuits dissipa-
ted his fortune. His wife sank under
the rigors of the climate, and in 1852 he
made his second visit TO this country. In
the same year he purchased tract of
uncuItivated land, comprising l2O,OOO
acres, in Potter county, Pennsylvania,
and founded an agricultural colony, to
which the name of 0leana was given, in
honor of its founder The project, how
ever, was only partially successful, and
TO relieve the pecuniary embarrassments
which followed, he resumed his concerts.
Upon the completion OF the Academy OF
Music, in 1854, he leased the building
aud undertook the management Of ltal-
ian Opera, which, however, proved ex-
tremely disastrous, and, at the end OF
two months, was abandoned. de again
returned to Europe, and since then has
been occupied in giving concerts in all
portions OF that country, and this with
great success. His misfortunes we're
many, and, Notwithstanding his perse-
verance, energy aud genius, they fol-
lowed him until, at the age Of ffty-six,
death found him n poor, shattered, un-
happy and disappointed man.