The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1900-11-09
Old Bulls Emerald Ring.

ne recent CeleDratlOn by l'rOf. and
Mrs. l.. Ogden Doremus of the tiflieth
anniversary OF their marriage brings to
mind Il singular dramatic episode. Dr..
Doremu> and Ole Bull. the yiolinist, were
III .imate friends. During one of the early
visits OF the Swedish yiolnist to this
country he exhibited to Dr. Dorcmus
with cons .derab.e PRIDE, an emerald set in
a rims. given to him by the King of Swe-
den. the emerald was of great size
and had the let cr b" cut into its face
Shortly atterwarl Ole Bull Wax exhibit
ing the ring in crowded room. The
rny went from hand to hand. but never
got back to the owner. The loss OF the
Jewel made Bull fairly ill. He hurried
for counsel to DR.. Doremu<. his bosom
friend. The rcom was searched. but the
ring was no; found Yet the suspicion OF
theft could not be fastened upon any one
person. Bull told DR.. DorpmuS that he
priced the ring above all his other pos
sessions, as 1t represented one Of the first
expressions of friendship from a fellow
countryman.
\ few years later. Edwin Booth, the
actor. received from Wel-knoWn law
yer Of New York present OF an emerald
scarfpin. The actor was not easily
moved by such tokens of admiration. but
this gift impressed him. as the first letter
Of his surname appeared on the face Of
the emerald. Booth never wore the pin.
but placed it with other valuable gifts.
where it remained until 4 strange episode,
brought it to light.
During the period when Booths thea
ter IN Iwenty-third street was the dra-
matte center Of the city. a grand per-
formance of ''Hamlet' had been planned.
Booth remarked to DR.. Doremus that Il
selection by some famous vocalist or mu-
sician during the longest entr actt
would add to the impressivenesS of the
occasion. DR.. Doremus said he would
and he Immediately wired Ole Bull. who
was III Chicago. to come to New York as
4 special favor to Booth and himself
The violinist wired back that he would
break his engagement and come. Ole
Bulls tlddling. was one Of the strongest
features of the programme. He was en-
cored again and again. and finally came
actor.
Booth was deeply moved by what Bull
had done. and asked DR.. DoremuS what
he should do in return. Don't offer
him money!, answered DR.. DoremuS.
Give him something of your own that
you, prize highly. Il know what l
shall DO" the, actor answered. enthusi-
that | prize highly but never use. Let
me show it to you Booth took from
his secretary drawer the pin the lawyer
had given him long before When DR..
Doremus saw the stone he gasped. He
took it to the light and examined it close
~. 1t was the same stone Bull had
| shown him in a ring years before.
The chemist told the actor the strange
story. Booth did not hesitate to mention
the name Of the lawyer who had given it
to him. Ole Bull was then DR.. DoremuS'
guest. 1t was arranged that Dr. Dore-
mus should give dinner OF few con-
genial spirits in honor Of Edwin Booth
and Ole Bull. The actor. in the mean
time had the emerald set into a heavy
gold ring. The daily papers of the time
commented on the dinner, but the real
significance Of the event was known only
to three of the persons present. During
the harmony over the liqueurs and ci-
CARS. Booth stood. and in a few we'll
chosen words thanked the violinist for
his grand work at the theater. and
begged him to accept token Of his re-
gard. Ole Bull stood to receive the gift.
! When he opened the box he sank back in
his chair. buried his face in his hands
and wept. Later, when the violinist
apologized for his loss of control. Booth
answered. Mr.. Bull. tears are thou
sand times more eloquent than words. "
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