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Show THE CH MUSIC. How Ole Bull Made Jobn Ericsson Ao- knowledge the Subtle Power of Music HOW THE IN VENT0E WAS TEAPPED. He Never Knew, Until He Heard Olo Play, What Was Lacking to Make His Life Complete, NEWYoitK.Sept.lc'Aproposof the removal re-moval o( the remains of Ericsson to th land of his birth, and the honor thnt lias bseu done to his memory by the land of his adoption, an incident may bo related that illustrates not only his own, but the character of another among his countrymen country-men whose nsnse is on the roll of the dis-tinguishetl dis-tinguishetl men of Christendom. Ole Bull, tho violinist, and John Ericsson Erics-son were great friends, but obedient to tho same conditions that pull so niaoy of us apart, though the world is so small, they separated in early youth, not to meet ngain until they hod achieved fame, each in his own sphere. The name of one had become lik a household word among the lovers of music, and kin((S and queens delighted to pay tribute to his genius. The othtir plodded along In another path, hut with equal force. Ericsson became the great mechanician of naval warfare, and during the late war roused the north to enthusiasm and startled the world by bis Inventions. The renewal of friendship Utwecn the two men occurred somewhat in this wise. Ole Bull happenina to be in New York on a concert tour, heurd incidentally through a sculptor, who, curiously enough, was tjien making his own last and best "counterfeit "coun-terfeit presentment" in marble, tbat Ericsson Erics-son was likewise in the city a quiet, morose, lonely old man, living without kith or kin a hermit among his own thoughts. "I'll go nd see him," said Ole Bull in his sunshiny way, "and remind him of 'Home, Sweet Home.'" The visit was made, and Ole Bull found tho companion com-panion of his youth in his workshop, surrounded sur-rounded by tools, machinery, designs, models and mechanism used in the development devel-opment of his fruitful work. The nature of the meeting may easily be Imagined. When they parted Ole Bull Invited In-vited ISrlcssoa to attend his concert that night. Tho latter, however, declined, saying say-ing be had no time to waste. The acquaintance thus renewed was continued, con-tinued, and the friends met many times, but the (treat violinist never succeeded in getting Ericsson to attend one of his concerts. con-certs. Perhaps be was piqued by this, tor there was a vein of lovely, artistic egotism In the man, and one day he said to Erics-' Erics-' eon, "If you don't come to me I shall bring my violin here to you, and shall play in your shop." The latter gruffly replied, "I don't care for music, and if you bring the thing here I shall smash it to pieces." Here were two men the reverse of each ' other; one with a temperament warm, impulsive, im-pulsive, with soul gleaming in every finsh of his eye, and a nature so open that nobody no-body need misunderstand it; the other ' cold, stern, thoughtful, practical, dealing on ly with the harsh problems of life's work. Tho artist was aroused to know what effect - his music would liuvo on this grim, matter ' of fact man, and accordingly determined upon an experiment. Taking his violin with him be went to Ericsson's shop. He had removed the screws, strintis and apron, so thut the instrument in-strument would seem to be in bad order. A (fiance at Ericsson's face showed that he was displeased; but when his old friend told him that he had called for tho purpose of (retting his advice how to remedy a terrible ter-rible accident that had occurred to his violin the eyes of the old inventor lighted up, and he was all attention. Ole Bull explained ex-plained the apparent defects; described the scientific and acoustlo properties involved in the construction, the wood, varnish, shape and other details; then be discussed sound waves, tones, resonunco and things that belong to the instinct of the true artist. art-ist. Under tho instructions of Olo Bull, Ericsson proceeded to readjust the severed part of the violin, and when the strings were replaced tho artist, in order to Illustrate Illus-trate his meaning, improvised a few chords nnd then drifted into a rich melody. The workmen werechurmed, dropped their tools and stood In silent wouder. Ericsson Erics-son looked at him with bowed head and moist eyes as ho played on and on, as Ole Bull could play when enthusiastic, and llnally, when he ceased the strains of "Home, Sweet Home," put his arms Bround him nnd exclaimed: "Don't stop; you may go on forever. I nevor know till now what was lacking In my llfo." V. G. DE Fontaine. |