The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1895-12-22
FROM OLE BULLS HOME.
Some "reminiscences Of the Master
Of the Violin.
A DAY AT PICTURESQUE "RlvEvlEW."
1t Reminds One OF tho Castles OF tho
knights Of The North Here His
Widow Liv~s Ia Peace.
BOSTON. Nov. q.
Ills very foot had music int
When he came up the stair"


All the world has known and loved
Ole Bull, who. with his charmed touch
upon his beloved violin, controlled the
emotions of vast audiences as no other
player before or since has done, but
very little is known to the world at
large OF the sweet-faced woman who
bears his illustrious name, the adored
vile or his latter years She Is reti-
cent and very much opposed to public
ity so far as she herself is concerned.
a gentle. gracious lady, who delights to
honor her husbands memory, as she
does in every act Of her life
After once seeing her II Is difficult
Go think or her other than very
young woman, although she is presum-
ably in the forties. She is deliciously
Girlish, both in form and face with n
sweet, unaffectedness of manner re-
freshing to meet after SO much posing.
Artistic is the word which best de-
scribes her. A mass of richly tinted
hair is worn in loose, graceful way.
framing her peculiarly magnetic face.
Hcr gowns are usually black with a
soft frou frou about them, suggestive
OF silken lining. A fitting mistress for
the artistic home over which she pre-
sides in section of quaint old Cam
bridge. where the air is freighted with
sweet country odors, ana the clamor of
the city sounds dim ana far away.
tlNerView Is 4 picturesque pile OF
masonry. built in the true Norwegian
siyie, with he main entrance directly
a. the PACK under massive portico.
The cold stone entrance once passed.
the art atmosphere Of the abode in
stantly surrounds and fascinates one.
a short flight of broad stone stems
leads To the first and main floor. and
r"re such vista OF artistic luxury as
Ereets the eye. To the right is the ia
nous Norwegian room, a fac smile OF
ole Bulls faNorite room in his Norwe-
Eian home The walls are set in small
panels OF heavy oak, the beams over.
head In fun view. Every article of fur.
niture is reelected In the polished floor.
The diamond paned windows are top
ped with exquisite carvings represent
ing the Norsemen and Vikings OF old.
Curious armor CLEANS on the walls.
while rare pieces Of pottery are be-
slowed here and there In odd hooks.
Along one side OF the room is dlvan
OF luxurious width piled with cozy pill
lows a broad writing table occupies
one end of the room, its covering Of
bright scarlet lighting up the whole
room. a writer's paraphernalia COW
cred It, and here Mrs. ole Bull does
much OF her literary work.
The breath Of the Land OF the Mid
night Sun" pervades this room; here,
in the soft light OF the waxen tapers
one might lounge and dream of Nor.
way. with its fJords. It's grand old
Viking kings, and all the beautiful
legends connected with II.
Passing though a spacious ante
room. one finds ones self In the long
drawing-r occupying all one side
OF the mansion. Objects or beauty ana
interest meet the eye on every side. "a
curious circular stairway makes pic
turesque one corner Of the room. Here
again the highly polished floors reflect
the choice and rare furnishings hut
the object OF especial interest to me
was the bust OF Ole Bull, brought out
in singular clearness by the light or
the wax candles burning near It,
against the background Of rich velvet
draperles. The great musicians be
nign features are splendidly portrayed
In the marble, which Is the work OF XII
son, the sculptor rms spot is eVi-
IDENTIFY a shrine for all visitors.
A glimpse Of the dining-room may he
seen. with it's circular walls of vivid
Indian red full of odd hooks contalu-
ing antique pottery. In the drawing
room IS the collection of famous vio-
Inns, many OF them presents to the only
''nddler" the world ever knew. Among
them Is a "Strad.," one OF the set
made by the great StradiVari In 1857
for the King of Spain, The violin is
inlaid with ivory, and has a beautiful
scrol-w ork running around the sides
and scroll.
A Nicholas Amati was one OF his fav-
oriteS. hut the one for which he evinced
the highest regard Is Gaspard Ill
Sale. In color 1t is rich golden
brown: it has a decorated scroll, whose
graceful curve ends in a head, half
cherub h1lf human. This was carved
In the sixteenth century by Benvenuto
Cellini The violin was put into
museum to preserve it when Inns
pruck was invaded by the French, but
was pilfered by a soldier. and sold for
a trifie TO Rhehezek. q collector OF vlo-
Inns. From the moment he saw II, ole
Bull lopged for 1t. but RbehaZek,
though very poor. refused to part with
It. however. he relented enough TO say:
"If ever do part with 1t. you are the
only one who shall have II. and that
for one hundred golden ducats.'
Years later, when dining with Men
delssohn and List, a note with an
immense seal was brought Ole Bun.
offered the violin at his fathers price.
Ole Bull shouted Joyfuliy: st Is mine,
1t is miner His friend List said
gravely: Young man from Norway.
are you crazy?" And Mendelssohn ex-
claimed. IT'S an extravaganza Of
which only adder is capable"
These priceless souvenirs OF the great
musician are loved and cared for by
his widow; though they recall, as life
less objects Will, scenes Of triumph
ana dazzlng brlliancy, bringing the
present into painful contrast.
Mrs. Ole Bull IL an American by
birth having been born In oxford,
n. Y; her maiden name was Sarah
Chapman rhorp, a name with which
the public grew familiar. for az
young girl she displayed remarkable
musical ability. Through certain cir
cumstances she came to be the accom-.
lanist Of Ole Bull, and acre one can
trace the lines of the exquisite love
tale which might be told II only such
things were not too sacred for the pub
liz eye.
In 1870 they were married. and life
of ideality commenced. which even
death has never wholly dspelled.
Mrs. ole Bulls allegiance 10 her hus-
bands country has never waned. The
home in Bergen is listed yearly; in
deed. 1t Ia always in readiness for her
arrival. One child. Olea, now a
happy wife. residing In Buffalo. ". Y.
was the outcome OF the marriage.
She often accompa MES her mother 10
Norway. the home OF her childhood.
Mrs. Ole Bull. while claiming 10 but
little. II any, literary work, has written
the memoirs
She entertalns but little. preferrlng
20 gather about her only her intlm ate
personal friends. though she Is sweet
and womanly 10 ALL She is at present
nycaad4nolU ~ M