Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-07-27
HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN.
THE DANISH STORY TELLER

one room which his father and mother occu-
ricd. which served alike for house and shoe
makers shop; he left the town when he was
fourteen to seek his fortune, and ID 1867 he
was received In Odense as the guest OF the clt
zeps; the houses were all Illuminated, ban
ouet was given 10 his honor, and he was pre-.
sentcd with the freedom OF the city. ln the
sixty-two years that liz between those dates,
and the six years since then, Is the story OF
lite full OF varied lights and shades Ills fath-
or wasa Young man of poetic mind, always
hupgering after richer life than that spent 10
making shoes; his mother, simple, superStl-
tious aud affectionate woman. In their one
room began his life, and his earliest reco!iec-
,ions furnished him with scenes which alter
wards be wove into his stories.
Our little room," be says, which was al.
most filled with the shoenaker's BENCH the
bed and nv crib, was the abode OF my child
hood: the walls, however, were covered with
nicures. and over the work bench was cub
board containing books and songs; the little
kitchen was full of shining plates aud metal
paus, and by means of a ladder 1t was possible
TO 90 out on the roof, where, IN the cutters be-
tween our house aud The uelghbors, there
stood q great chest filled with soil, my mother S
sole garden, where she grew her vegetables
10 my story OF the 'ono" queen tha' earuen
still blooms.
He grew into tall, ungaiply lad, as shy as
girl, and yet so simple hearted that he was
ready to con6de to the utmost in any one who
smiled on him. At charity school he lean ned
inst little, but that little so carelesSly that
long afterwards he suffered for the lack of such
common knowledge even as how to spell. Ii
was now, too that be began to associate more
with others, and, like his companions, to. 60
through the Catechism, preparatory to Con
frmatiou. Hc tells little story here OF him.
self, which shows where The lied Shoes
came from.
IAN old female tailor altered my deceased
fathers great coat into confirmation suit for
me: never before had | worn SO good coat
had, also, for the first time 10 my life, pair
of boots. My delight was extremely great;
NV only fear Was that everybody would not
see them, and, therefore, drew them up over
nv trousers, and thus marched through the
church. The boots creeked and that inwardly
pleased me; for thus the congregation would
hear that they were new My Whole devotion
was disturbed; | was aware of it, and 1t
caused me horrible pang OF conscience that
my thoughts should be as much with my new
boots as with God. prayed Him earnestly
from my heart to forgive me, and then agalu l
thought about my new boots.
When he Set out for Copenhagen, he had
httle SUN of money and his confirmation
suit, and uubouuded confidence 10 every one.
The Door boy lived, one scarcely knows how
but he could not help attracting peoples attcu-
ton, ne was 80 Ingenious aud at last a wise
and good man, Councillor Collin, took hun as
his own son. and began to educate him. AS
Andersen now learned how to use his mlnu, all
the odd fancies and make beliefs which had
kent him busy with mock theatres aud puppets
and dolls. began to fad expression IN writing,
and bstore he had finished his schooling, he
was writing stories and dramas: aod just before
he passed his last examination, when he was
twenty. -four years old, he brought out collec-
ton OF poems, and one OF his plays Was acted at
the theatre. >,
Denmark is little country but an old nation
inhablts it, and hence it is, In tact, that society
there is something like great family. Every
one knows every one, and personal affairs get
talked about and new author, or artist, or actor
is at once taken in hand; people not only talk
about him, but talk to him, aud criticize him,
and tell him what be ought not to DO. Society
there is a village tea-table Of educated people.
Andersen, who come up from poverty, and
was besides young man ignorant OF worldly
wisdom, was badgercd good deal, and IN the
early days OF his authorship, aud had to strug-
gle hard to maintain position. But by de-
grees, he commanded attention aud respect;
people began to sec that he had gifts OF an un-
usual character and just the thing. Tor when
he was at first blamed-his "nalvete and
childishness-are now what the world recognl-
zes as good qualities iu literature.
From that time tc this he has been writing
stories; novels for older people, such as The
Improvisatore, which is picture of Italy,
and 1.-The Two Baronesses, 20. t., and
.sOply Fiddler" where the scenes are Dan
ish. lie is Danish to the core. The old le
gepds OF his ancient country, the wild sand
heaps OF Jutland the beech trees, the bright
ouarrelsome city life, the fresh, frank hospl
tality, all get into his stories. But it is his
little stories that have won him renown. They
were something so new and pleasing, that they
became at once general tavorltes with young
aud old, and in the theatres, instead OF poetry
the actors would rccite The Constant LIN
Soldier" The Top and Ball or The Swine,
herd" Thorwaldsen, the famous sculptor, was
Dane, and was delighted with Andersen
stories. In his company be wrote "Ole ohu'
Eye" and "ofteD, says Andersen IN the
twilight when the family circle sat IN the open c
garden parlor, Thorwaldsen would come softly
behind me. and clapping me on the shoulder,
would ask. Shall We little ones hear any tales
tonight
When he began writing his stories, ne
sought only to tell over again old legends, OF
Denmark. which he had heard as child; but
as his interest increased, he invented his stor-
les, and soon every Christmas brought new
volume from him.
Andersen has Dever married, and lives a
rambling sort of lte sometimes in Copenha.
gen, but quite as often travelling iu Spain,
Switzerland, Germauy, France, Holland, Eug-
land, Italy. He is great favorlte at variou;;
courts, and has had many honors from crowned
heads, but his true distinction consists IN the
fact that every home is open to him, and the
poor as we'll as the rich know his kindly na
ture He himself, in "The Story of my Llie,
relates bright little scene. He was away from
home, at Hamburg, we believe, and in com
pany with Otto Speckter. the clever artist who
has illustrated his stories, was setting out tol
the opera house.