The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-03-16
CONVERSATION CLUB.
Thoughts from Many Members Many
Topics.

Thoughts from Many Members on Many
Topics.
Rules Of The Gub-1. Write briefly. Write only
on one side OF the paper. Write 10 the point. l.
Write on one subject. 8. Write your best. 6. Each
week the names of those writing the best letters
style opposition, spelling, pennIanship and gen.
eral merit considered-will be named at the head
Of this column OH the Honor Roll. First honor
will include all of these requirements. Second
honor will include deficiency in SOME one point
No others will be named
OUR ROLL CALL.
FThe letters VS.. mean veterans son, v.d. veter-
ans daughter and Wv. veteran widow; members
ofassociations will be marked S.V. and D.V.l
John r. Madden. Nor walk Conn; Charles and
Dan Jehl, VS., Walker, Lnnn Co, Iowa: Marshall
Morgan, VS.. 40 Heifrich Court, Barre. Pa;
Alice A. Depue, v.d.. Thease NJ. Depne. v.d.. and
NJ. Carney, Myriland avenue Pittsburg. Pa; Belle
Lexington, v.d.. Laur. Ill; George w. Robinson,
IA Seymour street, Waterbury. Conn: w. III. Wat
Minnie NJ. Weakly, v.d.. Washington, Kan; Abra-
ham La Roe. VS.. New Foupdland n j.; Flora
Pence. Fosters Mills, Pa w. II. Phillips. KiIgore,
o., would exchange letters; 8. E. Peek, Yuma,
Mo. TOTAL. ID. l02
DREAM OF A POET.
FRIENDS OF THE @. c.: There are but few peo-
pie who have not heard of Ole Bull, the great
musician and violinis, but not many, perhaps,
know of the ideal colony he sought to found In
America.
The small and neglected. almost deserted, ham:
pretty and most pathetic 1t is a tale of poets
dream and disappointment Of the founding Of a
colony. with bright prospects for the future and its
breaking up for the want of a little money.
About 1917 Ole Bull. The famous Norwegian vio-
linist imbued with the idea Of establishing asy
lum in this country for his countrymen who came
to America purchased 125 900 acres of land In the
wilderness of Potter Co.. Pa, which, he said re-
minded him. more than any other place in the
United States OF his own country.
Here he resolved to found New Norway"
c0nsecrated TO liberty and Independence and pro-
tected by the Unions mighty flag.
About 800 of his countTymen, charmed with the
prospects he held out to hem settled on the land.
Cosy little homes like those they had left behind
them. sprang up as If by magic and Oeona was
founded and named in his honor.
Here, on prominence commanding magnifi-
cent view of the surrounding country the yiolinist
built his CASTLE and here he intended to remain FOR
the rest of his days.
But a cloud soon began to overspread the Sum-
mer sky OF the young colony, and especially OF
Ole Bull, the giving out of his supply OF money
ere the colony WIS completed.
Having recourse to that never falling source OF
wealth. his violin, Ole Bull set out on tour of the
country. But while in the South he was stricken
with yellow fever, and Illness Of several weeks
compelled him TO cancel ali engagements.
Returning TO Oleona after time, the saddened
old man received AN added sorrow. He found that.
through the rascality of an ngent, the deed by
which he held possession OF flle land was fraudu-
lent. and all the improvements made by the little
colony had been on the land OF another.
Maddened with grief, he went to Philadelphia
and sought the agent who had so cruelty used him.
worry: that ali was right, aud the matter Of the
deed could be strsightaned out in q short time
The agent urged him to eat. and as he had tasted
for many hours he WAS prevailed upon to sit down
to the good things that were placed before him.
But he was suddenly filled with an aversion for
the food and from The table without touching
it, The agent confessed on his deathbed that he
had poisond the food that he gave him to eat.
The owner of the land when he heard the true
state OF affairs, offered it at very low figure;
but the money Of the colony was completely ex-
hausted. and the people were unable to accept the
Offer -
Then one by one the heart broken settlers left
Oleona and became scattered. and their village was
overgrown with brush and trees
Only the tnmbed-dowp castle of the Inflated
founder is left to mark the site OF the Norwegian
village, and that. too, will soon be OF the past as
the ravages of our northern climate have already
made sad work with it.
These facts cleaned from the settlers and
from personal observation.-B. Il. Baker, Roulette,
Pa
M0NTEsINo AND LAS CAsAs.
DEAR c. G. FRIENDS: Antonio Montesino and
Bartholomew Las Casas were the first anti-slavery
agitators in America.
Father Montesno preached sermon against
slavery in San Domingo in l5ll. He told the
naughty Spanards that they were SHINING against
God and that they had no better chance of going
to heaven than the most savage heathens and
barbRriaus.
The proud, fierce and bigoted Spaniards, stung
TO the quick by sermon like that ordered him 10
retract his offensive words. They thought he
would do 1t the next Sunday
Sunday morning the church was crowded with
people who had come TO hear Monfesino's recant-