The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-08-07
Death of Hans Christian Andersen.

A despatch from Copenhagen announces
the death of Hans Christian Andersen, the
well-known poet and novelist. He was
born on the end of April, 1905, at Odence,
in the Island of Funen. His father, a
shoemaker in needy circumstances, seems
to have been superior to his class in literary
taste and requirement, and was familiar
with Holberg's comedies and the "Arabian
Nights" which he found little difficulty in
teaching his son to appreciate. In this
quaint old town he grew mp an imaginative
boy, easily impressed and superstitious to
an unusual degree. His education, chiefly
acquired at a charity school, was limited
to a bare knowledge of reading and writ
ing, but thanks to an unusually retentive
memory and an ambition to learn, he was
able to read with tolerable facility, and
could repeat a number Of national ballads
and fragments of poetry and plays. At
nine years of age he lost his father, whose
influence had not been lost upon him, and
shortly afterwards he gained an entrance
into the house of the widow of clergy
man, where he was engaged to read aloud
to the family. Some tragedies having been
put in his hand, with boyish impulsiveness
he at once determined to become dramat-
list, and actually wrote some tragedies, full
of horrors, and expressed in whimsically-
styled language, which excited such a
storm of ridicule that his sensitive spirit
was deeply wounded. After a short So
journ in a mandatory, where he was i'll
treated by the workingmen whom he had
amused by singing and reciting to them
passages from Holberg, he returned home
and for awhile led an inactive life, devoting
himself to singing and devouring every
scrap of literature which fell in his way.
He possessed an agreeable voice, and as he
had long shown taste for dramatic litera-
ture and the stage which he lost no oppor-
tunity of gratifying, his mother was adj
vised to send him to the theatre. She
determined, however, to make a tailor of
him, but before his apprenticeship began
he obtained permission to 60 to Copenhagen
and witness the performance of a play.
On Sep. 5, 1919, he found himself in Copen-
hagen with ten rix dollars in his pocket,
and after gratifying the desire which had
brought him there, sought to get an en-
gagement at the theatre in some humble
capacity. He was rejected on account of
bis awkwardness and ignorance, and was
obliged to apply to joiner for employ
ment. He did not remain long with him,
and again found himself a stranger in a
large city, without friends or money, when
heard his voice. He presented himself to
Professor Siboni, director of the Royal
Conservatory, who received him with kind
ness, and recognizing his talents, caused
him to be instructed as a singer for the
stage. At the end of half a year his voice,
which was in the transition state, failed
him, and his teacher advised him to return
home and learn a trade. The boys ambi
ton would not allow him to listen to this
suggestion, and he applied for assistance
to the poet Guldborg, who proved kind
friend. For year or two he struggled on
either as member of the theatrical corps,
or engaged in his studies, surmounting diff
ficulties which would have disheartened
most men, with a singulary child like trust
in Providence not unmingled with supersti-
ton. During this period he wrote some
tragedies which excited the attention of
Ohlenschlager and others, but which he
was unable to have produced upon the
stage. At this juncture Councillor Collin,
a benevolent and clear sighted man, be-
came director of the theatre, and perceiv-
ing the genius that slumbered in the young
man, procured his admission, free of ex-
pense, into one of the government schools.
This was the turning point in his life; he
embarked in this new career with enthssi-
assn. was admitted into the Royal College
of Copenhagen, and completing his studies
there produced, in 1928, his first work in
print, entitled GA Journey on Foot to
Amack," which was received with extraor-
binary favor, and gained him the acquaint-
ance of some of the most influential peo-
Pile in Copenhagen. Some volumes of
poems which succeeded increased his rep
utation. Ohlenschlager, Ingemann, and
other friends having procured a royal
stipend to enable him to travel, in
1888 he visited Italy-a country whose
impression he has recorded in his
novel, the /" Improvisatore," which he ded-
dedicated with every mark of affection to
his friend Collin. 1t has been translated
into almost every European language, and
stands unrivalled as a picture of scenery
and manners in Southern Europe. His
next novel, go. IT, in contrast to this,
describes life in the North, and "Only a
Fiddler" some of the most striking scenes
sides these, "Fairy Tales, ~ ga Picture
Book without Pictures, " ''Travels in the
Hartz Mountains "a Poets Bazaar"
Ahasuerus," New Fairy Tales" and
various other volumes of yerse and dramas
In 1916 he visited England, where he made
many friends, and subsequently wrote one
of his longest works, the 1.-TWO Baron
esses," in the English language. His
works reflect his own kindly and open dis
position, and are marked by humor, in
vention, and poets enthusiasm. His
fairy tales for children are the most charm
ing things of the kind conceivable, and
have been read with delight in every mod
ern language.
In person he was tall and ungainly, while
in manner he was somewhat embarrassed,
but his countenance was open and honest.
In his conversation he was frank and un-
restrained. Possessing a delicate irony,
joined to the thoughtful habit of the far
North and richness of imagination truly
Oriental, the combination resulted in max
ing of him one of the most thoroughly
original writers Of the nineteenth century.