Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-08-25
From the Wisconsin State Journal, August 18th. ]
Death of Ole Bull,

/
dead, will cause many sad hearts In Wis
consin, where he was we'll known and
highly respected. At two O'Clock this
afternoon, the telegraph announced in a
This is all the information we have in re-
gard to his last hours. A lew days ago,
it was announced that he was seriously
| i'll in L ,ndon, and now comes the sad in
telligence that the venerable and good
man, who had electrified more and larger
audiences in this country and in the old
world, with his violin, than has any other
man, is dead; that his graceful and famil-
lar form will be seen no more forever |!
We have but few moments in which to
write of this disting uished man, but can
not let the occasion psss without brief
reference 10 his eventful life.
OLE BULL was born in Bergen, Nor
way, February 5, 1910. He was destined
for the Church, but his passion for music
be directed in any other channel. AT the
age of IS, he was placed at the Univers
ity OF CHRISTIANS His skill on the violin
did not gain favor with the professors !;
and when he took charge of an orchestra,
temporarily, at one of the theaters, during
the illness of one of its leaders, his con.
nection with the University was at once
and forever dissolved. In 1929. he went
to Csssel and studied with SPoHR, but
not being we'll received, in fit of de-
spondency he went to Gottingham and
began the study of the law. The love
Of music did not permit him
to pursue the dry study Of the
legal profession long, and he
soor proceeded to Minden, where he
gave concert with fair degree of sue
cess He had a trouble while here with q
fellow artist, and was compelled to leave
| the place, and proceeded to Paris, arriv-
ing at that city poor and unknown, and
for some time experienced precarious
and miserable existence. After a while, a
| bereaved mother, who fancied q striking
resemblance in him to lost son, took
him to her house, and so literally assisted
him, that be was enabled to make
| his appearance in public as
| a violioist. The people were
charmed by his performance, and with
the proceeds OF his first concert, he was
enabled to make tour through Italy.
The next seven years were spent in Italy,
| France, Germany, England and Russia,
and his success was very marked.
In about the year 1S40 ne came to the
United States, and his high reputation
having peceded him, he was received with
great enthusiasm. Since that time, pc.
Rod of forty years, the name of OLE Bull
has been familiar in every household in
this country. His concerts have been very
numerous, and have been given IN every
principal city in the United States to
large and admiring audiences. He then
returned to Europe, and for seven years
| gave concerts in the chief cities of the
continent. He made many and great i'm.
| provements In musical instruments, and
was the composer Of much of the finest
music for the violin that is now used In
| 1852, MIR. BULL again visited the United
States, and purchased large tract of un.
cultivated land in Pennsylvania, compris
ing some 1870 900 acres, and established
an agricultural colony, which did not
prove financial success, and was finally
abandoned.
His reduced finances rendered it neces
sary that he return to his old profession OF
| giving concerts, to recruit his fortunes
He has, since 1854, devoted a portion OF
his time in this country and in Europe In
gratifying his hosts Of friends in both
countries, by giving frequent exhibitions
of his magical power over the violin
The people have never tired of the con
certs of OLE BULL, and there will be uni
versal mourning, at the death Of this vet
eran and unrlvaled violinist.
Wisconsin, and especially Madison, la;
much reason to mourn the death OF this
noble man. This was his home; and it wa
at his home, where his greatest charm:
were most prominent. In 1870. he WA
married in this city, to Miss SARl
THoRP, daughter OF Hon. j. G THoRP,
lady of rare accomplishments, and on
who sympathlsed with her husband in hi
passion for music IN the highest deglee
Tnelr married life has been about euuall,
divided, between Norway and the Unite(
States they having a magnificent hom
in both countries. Since his marriag
with Miss THoRP, their real hom
has been Madison, and tn
time they have spent here ha
given great pleasure to our citizens. TIL
smiling countenance of Mr.. BULL create'
happiness wherever he went. He was
welcome visitor to our households. 81
was a man of unusual intelligence, fuen
in conversation, cheerful IN Manner
snd alWava q gentleman He was the idC