Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-03-18

sketch of Hans Christian Andersen-Bay.
ard TaylOr's Interview with the Danish
Novelist-His Appearance Manners, and
Conversation.
Bayard Taylor contributes to the last num-
Der of the New York Independent a sketch
OF Hans Christian Andersen, the Danish
novelist and from the sketch we make
these extracts:
hans Christian Andersen is one of the
few fortunate authors whose works are raey
Win the peculiar flavor of their native soil,
yet harmonize with the natural taste Of ali
other lands. The naive simplicity of his
style the richness and quiantness Of hisfaDcy.
and minute delicacy of touch in his de-
scriptlve passages which reminds one of the
pencil OF Teniers, may be enjoyed by those
most remote from the moors of Jutland ard
the cliff bound Baltic isles whence his
themes are mostly drawn-yet doubly en-
joyed by the few to whom the originals Of
his landscapes are familiar.
He who would truly enjoy Oehlensehlager
and Heiberg and Baggesen and Andersen,
must know Denmark. The latter, especially,
although he has travelled mnch and has
occasionally laid the scenes OF his stories in
foreign lands, is Danish, not only IN the
character of his mind, but in his most sue
cessful subjects. He was born on the Island
OF Funen, in 1905, and until 1893, ! believe,
resided either there or in Copenhagen, with
out ever having trodden the mainland of
Europe. The son of poor shoemaker, a
shy and prosecuted factory-boy, a supernu-
Imerary on the stage, charity scholar he
hos worked his way steadily inward
through that tireless energy which is nothing
less than concentrated enthusiasm. until
now he stands acknowledged as the first of
living Danish authors-in fact, without a
rival anywhere in bis own special province
of literature.
l can not remember when first became
acquainted with Anderson's writings but I
thlnk 1t was during my first residence in
Germany in ls45. Shortly afterward, Mary
HoWltts translation of the Inlprovisdtore,
80. z" and other works appeared. Tbey
were reprinted in this country. and became
Immediately popular. His Story of M Lits
was published in Boston in lS47. It is a
charming autobiography, little petulaut,
perhaps little too free in the narration of
his private hostilities, but as frank and mic
tuTesque as that of Benvenuto Cellini. lam
rather surprised that it should have passed
oat OF print so soon. Like Oehlenschlager.
Anderson wrote many of his books in Ger
man as well as in DANISH, but his Tioo Bar
onesses, which he wrote in English, was not
SO successful. All educated Danes speak
German, and the affinity between the two
languages renders double authorship com
paratively easy. -
An intimate frieRd of mine, who was liv-
ing IN Copenhagen5ln the year 1852, made
the acquaintance 81 Andersen, One dav
while looking over the poets library. he
found copy ofmy first book of travel, and
called Anderse1's attention to it. The latter
remarked that he was sorry the author should
have died before he had an opportunity of
writing some additional volumes My friend
undecelved him, of course, and the result was
a cordial invitation, on his part, for me TO
visit him at Copenhagen. was then travel
ing in the East, and received his message at
Oonstanhnople. 1t was then in my plan to
become acquainted with Northern Europe.
but many seas and continents still Law Be-.
tween the invitation and its fulflIment.
Time nor space, however, can cheat a man
out OF that which he is sure he shall have.
Six years afterward | came down from the
Arctic Thule to find the first tokens of spring
on the shores of iceland. / had but a day
or two to spend in Copenhagen, and the
sight OF that capital-Thorwalden Museum,
the Rosenberg Palace, and the Collection of
Northern Antiquities-gave me enough to
DO but set aside portion of my time for
Hans christian Andersen. He was then liv-
ing in his comfortable bachelor rooms. not
far from the Kongens Nytorv, where was
lodged. On sending messenger to announce
my readiness to make his acquaintance, ac-
cordipg to promise, | received word that he
was just going out to fulfill an engagement
ior the evening, but would call upon me the
next day.
was sitting at my window, the following
afternoon, busily engaged in sketching the
Nytorv, with its bronze statue of Christian
~ in the center, when some one knocked at
the door. Without waiting for summons.
the door opened, and a tall awkward, sham
bling figure entered. The first idea which
occurred to me was, "Here is a man who ia
perfectly at home wherever he goes" With
out moments hesitation sprang up quite
forgetting that we had never met before. and
cried out, Andersen, how are you? 2" as to
an old friend. He greeted me with both
last" Then, still holding my hands, he said !:
"To think that you might have passed
through Copenhagen, without my knowing
1t How should have been vexedp' Pres
emily we were seated face to face, and in a
few minutes knew his features as well as il
had seen them for years.
He is nearly six feet high, but very loosely
put together, large jointed, angular, and un
calmly in his movements. His head is
thrown back in way common to near
sighted persons, and he also has the peculiar
ity of partly closing the eyelids when look
ing at you. His features are as i'll assorted
as his limbs: the eyes are gray and project
ing; the nose large and not quite straight,
the mouth broad, and the teeth Irregular
His forehead is high and narrow, but we'll
developed at the temples, and his hair thin
and sandy-gray. Yet the plainness of his
face is attractive, through its air of frank
ness, honesty and kindness. His manner is
as simple and natural as that of child. He
has been called egotistical but his egotism
is only naive and unthinking sincerity,
He has that winning and confding way
which not only encourages, but almost COM
pels confidence in others. Such a man is
not only unembarrassed himself but his
presence is an antidote to the embarrass-
ment of others. This fact accounts for his
personal popularity with all classes of men,
from peasants 10 kings. He is a Knight OF
DaunebroR, with the honorary titles of Pro-
fessor and Doctor, yet it will never be posi-
BILE to call him any thing else than Hans
Christian Andersen. , - . W..
Our conversation related mostly to personal
matters, and, therefore, need not be reported.
He mentioned bis desire to visit the u nited
States, but confessed that be had a great
dread of sea-sickness. Nevertheless he en-
joys travel very much, and usually makes a
trip to Switzerland, Italy or England every
of Dickens, of whom he spoke with much
affection as an old aud intimate friend. He
also explained to me the plot of his nevel,
TO Be or Not To Be, (Which was moi then
published, and ended by presenting me with
an illustrsted edition of his stories. aIt-r
~ At last the hour ofparting came He was
TO join dinner-paEty, and was to take the
evening boat for Hamburg. "Now, don't
forget me" was his adien, "for we shall Ger.
iainly meet again" The pleasant assurance
with which he spoke was in itself half 0
propbesy; and hope, with a hope which il
almosttb The same thing as belief that he spoke
the truth. .fs ..-........ r.,ir.., ..-'.''-
The LoHDoN SHOE BLACK BRIaADE.--Tht
London shoe; black brigade has been quite
prosperous. There are eight divisions, Oh
rather battalions, of the polishets; rank auC
file, 33l total annual earnings, $23, 235
Their anniversaries are attended by lords