River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-05-20
OLE BULL In BRONZE.
A Heroic Statue OF the Great Mu-
stefan is Unveiled.
A Beautiful Site In Loring Park In Mime
apolis 4. Selected for the Tribute of
Loyal Norwegisns to Their
Famous Countryman.
Minneapolis, Mimi, Nav, 1.-THE Nor
wepians az America have shown their love

Minneapolis, Mimi, MAY, 1.-THE Nor
wegians OF America have shown their love
Of their famous countryman.
The noble statue OF Ole Bull stands on a
little knoll in Loring park, a symbol OF
the love OF his countrymen and monu-
ment 10 the genius Of Jakoo Fjelde.
The great bronze figure cast in heroic
mold and standing ia. the familiar atti-
tude Of play was unveiled yesterday after
noon in the presence OF countless thou
sands OF the sons and daughters OF Nor
way. who had assembled on the day OF
their national independence to honor their
beloved countryman.
II was an occasion fraught with the
deepest significance. Never before In the
history OF Minnesota had a like concourse
Of people me- to pay homage to the genius
or man. Never before had the beautiful
park system which has made Minneapolis
famous received an art treasure TO add to
natures adornment 4 its manifold beau
ties. The great statue OF Ole Bull, which
burst upon the gaze of the admiring thou
sands yesterday afternoon I'm the fal light
OF the May sunshine. was an event OF ex-
traordInary interest to the citizens OF Min
neapolls II sgnalized the city's advance
In that civilization which Is at once the
glory and hope OF the true artist. Mime
apoIi9. the metropolis OF the northwest,
has been first 10 give enduring expression
70 the universal esteem In which the great
music master is held in America.
Professol Folwell was quick TO perceive
the sublimlty and grandeur OF the specta-
Gle which met his gaze during the delivery
Of his address Turning from the formal
Acknowledgement of the beautiful gift 10
the park board he spoke OF the significance
OF the occasion in the history of Mime
apolis. II was not alone that the park
board had been honored, but the recogni-
ton OF art, the highest achievement OF hui
man endeavor which the magnificent spec
tacle before him slgnalzed marked an era
in the intellectual development OF the
northwest.
The day was perfect. As rare "a day
in June and $50 cloudless, clear and truly
beautiful that God alone was TO be seen in
heaven"
A warm sun. tempered by a light breeze
which swept through the beautiful park.
smiled upon the imposing ceremony and
witnessed the elimination OF months OF
heroic effort on the part OF the executive
committee.
The great crowd was perhaps the most
significant fact in connection with the I'M
yelling OF the statue. As early as i
o'clock traffic on the street car lines of
Hennepin avenue was heavy. and two
hours afterwards increased to alarming pro-
portions At 2:So o'clock the whole district
IN the vicinity Of LoriDg park was one
dense mass OF humanity. The patriotic
people poured In from every direction and
In great numbers. The quiet and shady
confines OF Harmon place were crowded for
blocks and Fifteenth street as far as Hen
nepfn avenue was black with the mighty
throng. The scene from the speakers
stand was most inspiring. As far as the
eve could see In every direction great
masses OF humanity extended and II Is
estimated that at least 5000 persons wit
messed the unwilling OF the monument.
When John w. Arctander arose to speak
sea OF faces confronted him from all
sides Directly in front of him and looking
on Harmon place the vast crowd had over
flowed on the lawns OF private dwellings
and the street for several blocks was
packed with people.
ON the speakers stand were assembled
the members OF the park board. judges or
the supreme court. the executive commit
tee of the monument, the orators OF the
day and many others who have been iden-
tilted with the movement. To the left
Of the speakers stand sat Governor Clough
and his staff in full uniform. and Just
back of them the members or the city
council Directly In front sat the Nor
wegian singing mad turner societies. In
the rear of the stand was the oandstand,
holding DAM full orchestra
While the immense crowd was swaying
to and fro in a fever OF expectation, the
approach of the great parade was heralded
by the martial music OF the Normanna
and Svea bands Their coming was the
signal for a hasty arrangement of details
on the part of the executive committee.
and an extraordinary effort was made to
make a place for the newcomers. The
parade which had been considered but
lightly, proved to be most imposing cav
alcade The societies met at DANA hall
at l o'clock and, preceded by the Svea
band. marched to Third street. At Nicol-
let they were Joined by the Sons of Nor
way and the maj CHI was taken up Nicollet
avenue to the park In the following pro-
cession:
platoon OF mounted police. Sons Of Nor
way Norsemen's Singing Society, Svea
Singing Society. Svea band. Norwegian
Turner's Society Dana, Fran. Hugnad.
Norwegian Abstinence Society, Norwegian
Y NJ c. A. and the Viking League. The
line OF march was up Ncollet to Tenth
street, thence down Harmon place TO the
park. At Third street and Hennepin the
parade was Joined by the Sonner af Norge
! and other Norwegian societies OF the North
and East Sides
There were over 100 men in the parade.
The imposing ceremony was inaugurated
| by the playing of the Ole Bull festival
| march, composed for the occasion by Pro-
fessor Guile. The composition was ex-
ceedingly happy and breathed the spirit
OF the Norseland in common with the
other festivities OF the day.
The forceful and eloquent address OF
| John w. Arctander followed. Mr.. Arc
| tander's nobel enthusiasm which has car
/ ried him through the various vicissitudes
OF the great monument undertaking. i'm
! pressed itself upon his vast audience. Not
| all of those who struggled to get within
! haIling distance of the speakers stand
| could hear Mr.. Arctander's most eloquent
| tribute to his renowned countryman. but
those who listened to his impassloned adj
/ dress will never forget IT, The address
/ he euhfaQf Ea
/ dear TO the speakers heart. and it was de-
| livered with an eloquence and earnestness
remarkable on such an occasion.
! Near the close OF his remarks Mr.. Arc
| lander turned 10 Miss Ragnhild Sorenson.
! the fair daughter of a Norseman upon
! whom the distinguished honor OF lifting
! aside the veil which hid the beautiful art
| treasurer had devolved, and requested her
! to ''let the veil which had hidden Ole
! Bull from view fall that the people might
do homage TO his genius" Miss Sorenson
| stepped forward, dressed all in white. and
| the instant her gloved hand touched the
/ lever the veil fell and the beautiful statue
| stood revealed. hush fell upon the
| great assemblage, but i'm another moment
! a great burst OF admiration went up from
"the silent. circled. peopled walls"
| For few moments the vast throng stood
| gazing at The great work nj Jakob Fjelde.
| unable to refrain from EXPLANATIONS OF de-
| light. 1t was sometime before Mr.. Arc
| tander's poetic caution, Listen. and YOU
will hear the strains OF his VIOLIN" pene-
! trated the dense mass OF humanity. Then
| the sweet strains OF Alexander Bulls vio-
| lin stole on the senses and the great as
! semblage was hushed. Mr.. Bull played one
| OF his fathers favorite compositions and
was accorded the closest attention. His
/ playing was marked by sincerity and
warmth and betrayed little of the nervous
| ness which the performer felt. storm
| OF applause followed, which only subsidized
when Mr. Bull delivered his brief address
appropriate to the occasion.
/ ---------