The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-05-20
OLE OIL BULL in BRONZE.
A Heroic Statue Of the Great Mu-
sician is Unveiled
a Beautiful Site in Loring Park In Minne-
apolts Is Selected for the Tribute of
Loyal NOrwegians to Their
Famous Countryman.

apoiis is Selected for the Tribute of
Loyal Norwegians to Their
Famous Countryman.
Minneapolis, MIMI, May, 1.-THE Nor.
Weglans OF America have shown their love
OF lhelr famous countryman.
Inc noble statue of Ole Bull stands on a
NIUE Knoll In Loring park, symbol of
the love of his countrymen and monu-
ment 10 the genius of Jakob Fjelde
l. Ire great bronze figure cast in heroic
mold and standing in the familiar atti-
tude CT 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
was an occasion fraught with the
deepest significance. Never before in the
history Of Minnesota had like concourse
OF people met 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 Of it's manifold beau
ties. The great statue of Ole Bull which
burst upon the gaze of the admiring thou
sands yesterday afternoon in the full light
OF the May sunshine, was an event of ex-
traordinary interest to the citizens of Min
uSopCiiS. IL SISIldllAeu Tue CITY duVduCc
in that civilization which is at once the
glory and hope of the true artist. Mime
apols, the metropolis Of the northwest,
has been first to give enduring expression
to the universal esteem in which the great
music master is held in America.
Professol Folwell was quick to perceive
the sublmity and grandeur Of the specta-
Gle which met his gaze during the delivery
OF his address. Turning from the formal
acknowledgment of the beautiful gift to
the park board ne spoke of the significance
Of the occasion in the history of Mime
apolis. 1t 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 s;gnalized marked an era
In the intellectual development Of the
northwest.
The day was perfect. AS rare day
in June and $50 cloudless. clear and truly
beautiful that God alone was to be seen in
heaven"
A warm sun. tempered by 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 l
o'clock traffic on the street car lines of
Hcnnepin avenue was heavy. and two
hours afterwards increased to alarming pro-
portions. At 2:30 o'clock the whole district
in the vicinity of Loring 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
nepn avenue was black with the mighty
throng. The scene from the speakers
stand was most inspiring. AS far as the
eye could in every direction great
masses of humanity extended and it is
estimated that at least $4,000 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 of
the supreme court, the executive commit
tee OF the monument, the orators of the
lay and many others who have been iden-
titled with the movement. To the left
Of the speaker stand sat Governor C1ough
and his staff in full uniform. and just
back of them the members of the city
council. Directly in front sat the Nor
wesian singing mad turner societies. In
the rear of the stand vas the bandstand,
holding Danz 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 ! O'clock and. preceded by the Svea
band maj ched to Third street. At Nicol-
let they were joined by the Sons of Nor
way. and the march was taken up Nicollet
avenue to tiA mark in the following pro-
cession:
Platoon NJ r-ounleu police, Sons of Nor
way, Norsemen's Singing Society. Svea
Singing Society. Svea band. Norwegian
Norwegian Abstinence Society, Norwegian
Y. NJ. c. A. and the Viking League. The
line Of march was up Nicollet to Tenth
street, thence down Harmon place to the
park. At Third street and Hennepn the
parade was joined by the Sonner af Norge
and East Sides.
There were over 1000 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
mailing distance of the speakers stand
could hear Mr.. Arctander's most eloquent
tribute to his renowned countryman, but
those who listened to his impassioned ad-
dress will never forget it, The address
was prose poem for the subject was one
dear to the speakers heart, and it was de-
livered with an eloquence and earnestness
Temarka BILE on such an occasion.
Near the close Of his remarks Mr.. Arc
lander turned to 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