Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1890-10-22
WHO WAS OLE BULLa
A sketch OF the Famous Musicians
Life and Career.

Life and Career.
from Little Folks.l
It was midnight, and every one had
gone to bed in the far off town of Bergen,
in Norway. The good chemist of the
name of Bull had been in bed and asleep
for an hour or more when he woke up |
with feeling Of discomfort.
He had been dreaming badly. Strange
sounds had mingled with his dreams, and !
he awoke in fright. Most dreams pass |
away when one wakes; but, to the chem
| lists surprise. he heard the sounds which
| had distressed him still.
| He rubbed his eyes and his ears and
| listened again. Yes, there was no doubt
about it; those weird strains which had
turned peaceful dreams into horrid night
mare came from q room in his own house.
| Up he Jumped, and taking his riding
whip in his hand he crept down stairs.
| We will 90 before him and see what was
| going on.
A little boy of eight years was standing
in his night-shirt, drawing sweet sounds
from a violin which his father had given
him that morning. He had gone to bed
at the usual time, but he could not sleep
for longing to play on. the new instru-
ment AT last, when he thought every
one was asleep, the youngster slipped out
of his bedroom, meaning only to look at
his treasure. But we all know that seeing
often leads to touching, SO we are not sur
prised that as soon as Ole Bull had the vi
olin in his hands he longed to play it. So
he went on, first playing very softly,
then, forgetting everything and every
body, he played piece after piece, until
crack came his fathers whip across his
shoulders, and "My little red violin
dropped on the floor and was broken. 1
wept much for it, but it did no good.
They did have doctor to it next day, but
it never recovered it's health"
By the time he was ten years old the
boy could play better than his master.
He was passionately fond of birds, and
would hide in bushes or caves and try to
initiate their songs on his violin
I All through his life Ole Bull was noted
! for his gentle ways; he was kind to every
one, especially to those who seemed to be
j neglected; and when he had earned his
position as one of the greatest violinists
of Europe he was as free from pride and
conceit as when he was little child.
One day when Ole Bull was in America
he sent ticket for his concert to q black
man who was himself good fiddler.
0 The negro watched Ole Bull with amaze
. ment and then said:
"Mister, can't you come down to the
D shop tomorrow to get shaved and show
Q me those tricks? I feel powerful bad"
The next day, accordingly, found Ole
4 Bull at the BARRIERS shop, showing how he
a managed the wonderful playing.
Another experience which he had in
America was not quite SO pleasant; but il
is worth telling, because it shows that 6
o man need not be less manly and brave be
. cause he is devoted to some particular
Y study, any more than a boy need be less
X plucky because he does his lessons well.
The Duke of Devonshire had given Oh
3 Bull beautiful diamond, which the latte
had had set in his bow. One evening, af
K ter concert, man came and said h
% should like to have that diamond.
% Ole Bull naturally objected; he said tn
!, stone was present, and he could neithel
; sell nor give it away.
: sWell, mean to have it," said the man
, pulling great bowie knife out of hi
pocket with threatening attitude.
q Without one word of warning Ole Bul
! knocked him down. "You had better no
SO try that sort of thing again with me-" b
1 said, standing with his foot on the rui
40 fans chest. 81 will let you off thi
So time"
90 The thief was so pleased with the al
IA lists pluck and skill that he begged hir
to accept his knife before he took his de
50 parture, glad to be let off SO easily.