Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1890-09-05
ERICSSON AND OLE BULL.
How the violinist Made the Inventor
Acknowledge Music's Power.
Especial Correspondence


NEW YORK, Sept 2-Apropos of the re-
moval of the remains of Ericsson to the
land of his birth, and the honor that has
been done to his memory by the land of
his adoption, an incident may be related
that illustrates not only his own, but the
character of another among his country
men whose name is on the roll of the dis
tinguished men of Christendom.
Ole Bull, the violinist, and John Erics-
son were great friends, but obedient to the
same conditions that pull so many of us
apart, though the world is so small,
they separated in early youth, not to
meet again until they had achieved fame,
each in his own sphere. The name of one
had become like household word among
the lovers of music, and kings and queens
delighted to pay tribute to his genius. The
other plodded along in another path, but
with equal force. Ericsson became the
great mechanician of naval warfare, and
during the late war reused the north to
enthusiasm and startled the world by his
inventions.
The renewal of friendship between the
two men occurred somewhat in this wise.
Ole Bull happening to be in New York on
concert tour, heard incidentally through
sculptor, who, curiously enough, was
terfeit presentment" in marble, that Erics-
son was likewise in the city-a quiet,
morose, lonely old man, living without
kith or kin-a hermit among his own
thoughts. "I'll go and see him." said Ole
Bull in his sunshiny way, land remind
him of Home, Sweet Home.'" The visit
was made, and Ole Bull found the COM
panion of his youth in his workshop, sur
rounded by TOOLS machinery, designs,
models and mechanism used in the devel-
opment of his fruitful work.
The nature of the meeting may easily be
imagined. When they parted Ole Bull in
vited Ericsson to attend his concert that
night. The latter, however, declined, say
ing he had no time to waste.
The acquaintance thus renewed was con-
tinued, and the friends met many times,
but the great violinist never succeeded in
getting Ericsson to attend one of his con-
certs. Perhaps he was piqued by this, for
there was vein of lovely, artistic egotism
in the man, and one day he said to Erics-
son, IF you don't come to me | shall bring
my violin here to you, and shall play in
your shop" The latter gruffly replied,
81 don't care for music, and if you bring
the thing here shall smash it to pieces"
Here were two men the reverse of each
other; one with temperament warm, i'm
pulsive, with soul cleaning in every flash
of his eye, and a nature so open that no.
body need misunderstood it; the other
cold stern, thoughtful, practical, dealing
only with the harsh problems of life's work
The artist was aroused to know what effect
his music would have on this grim, matter
of fact man, and accordingly determined
upon an experiment.
Tati VII ha 70
Ericssons shop. He had removed the
screws, strings and apron, so that the in
strument would seem to be in bad order.
A glance at E.'icssons face showed that he
was displeased; but when his old friend
told him that he had called for the purpose
of getting his advice how to remedy ter
rible accident that had occurred to his
violin the eyes of the old inventor lighted
up, and he was all attention. Ole Bull ex-
planned the apparent defects; described the
scientific and acoustic properties involved
in the construction, the wood, varnish,
shape and other details; then he discussed
sound waves, tones, resonance and things
that belong to the instinct of the true art
list.
Under the instructions of Ole Bull,
Ericsson proceeded to read Just the severed
part of the violin, and when the strings
were replaced the artist, in order to illus
trate his meaning, improvised few
chords and then drifted into rich melody.
The workmen were charmed dropped their
tools and stood in silent wonder. Erics
son looked at him with bowed head and
moist eyes as he played on and on, as Ole
Bull could play when enthusiastic, and
finally, when he ceased the strains OF
Home, Sweet Home" put his arms
| la;, i.
you may go on forever. | never knew till
now what was lacking in my life"
! +. G. DE FoNTAINE.