Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-09-03

one reason why ne WIOte lneSe Stories,
which he did not publish till amer he was
known as the author of 1.-THE Improvisa
tore" was that he was heartily tired of the
perpetual criticism which the people were
making of him, and wished to do some
thing for those who could enjoy reading
without forever explaining what they liked
and what they did not like. For the first
tine he found himself in wholly congen.
ial circle; his quaintest fancies pleased
and we're not jeered at.
Andersen never married, and lived a
rambling sor. of life, sometimes in Copen-
hagen, but quite as often travelling in
Spain, Switzerland, Germany, France,
Holland, England, Italy. He was great
favorite at various courts, aud has had
many honors from crowned heads, but his
true distinction consists in the fact that
every home was open TO him, and the poor
as well as the rich knew his kindly nature.
He himself, in "1'he Story of my Life"
relates bright little scene. He was away
from home, at Hamburg, we believe, and
in company with Otto Speckter, the clever
artist who has illustrated his stories, was
setting out for The opera-house.
On our way" he says, 1--WE came to an
elegant house. We must first go in here,
dear FRIEND said he; "a wealthy family
lives here, friends of mine, aud friends of
your stories the children will be happy
But the OPERA, said I. 'only for two
minutes, returned he and drew me into
the house, mentioned my name, and the
circle of children collected around me.
nd oil laIa la.
one.' told one, and then FASTENED away
to the theatre. That was an extraordinary
visit said l. AN excellent one; one en-
tirely out Of the common wayp said he ex-
ul,inGly. 'Only think the children are
full of Andersen and his stories; he sud-
denly makes his appearance amongst them,
tells one OF them himself, and then is gone!
vanished That is OF itselflike fairy tale
to the children, that will remain vividly
in their remembrance myself was
amused by it,"
These travels OF Andersen's have borne
fruit in many ways. They kept the poets
mind fresh and inquistive, and furnished
him with an inexhaustible fund of material;
SO that not only has he written sketches
and whole volumes of travel, but has used
the material as foundation and suggestion
for his novels, dramas, and stories. In the
collected series of his writings there are
volumes On Spain and Portugal y "The
Poets Bazaar" which is a narrative of
travel chiefly in Italy, Greece, and the
Orient " Pictures of Travel in Sweden,
the Hartz Mountains, and Switzerland.
And what host of eminent men of letters
he has seen and known! His autobio-
graphy, W hich ended in the original edition
in 1855, was continued for the American
edition 10 1867, and the translation made
| and published first in America under the
title The Story of my Life" is crowded
with gossip and bright "reminiscences of
litterateurs, artists, musicians, and states
men in Scandinavia, Thorwaldsen, Och
lenschlager, Hertz, Ingemann, Fredrika
Bremen, Jenny Lind, Bjornson, Orsted,
and host of others; in Germany, Mendels-
sohu, Goethe's family, Bettina, Heine,
Tieck in France, Victor Hugo, Lamar
| tine, Rachel, Balzac, De VIgny in Eng
land, Dickens, jeffrey, the Howitts, Bun
sen, Lady Blessington, the Palmerstons.
Like a child, reaching out his hand 10 every
kind-hearted person he meets, this singu-
larly gifted and affectionate nature has
made his name one which kindles the en-
thusiasm of young and old.
For the past two or three years Andersen
has suffered from i'll health, which has so
| preyed upon his mind as TO affect his dis
| position in the matter of writing, and only
now and then has he taken his pen in his
hand even letter writing has been a bur-
den, and his letters have been very de-
| spondent in tone. 1t has been his fortune
| In this time to receive fresh evidence of the
| good will and affection borne toward him
| by two continents at home, steps have
been taken 10 erect a monument to his
memory, a most unusual testimony in
Denmark, where, We think, no writer has
hitherto been so honored in his Lifetime.
In America mistaken report that he was
in need at once called out spontaneous
| sympathy and contributions OF money,
which he accepted out of consideration for
the affection that prompted them, though
he regretted the misunderstanding which
had conveyed so false an impression.
While he has never been rich, 1t was i'm
possible that he should ever be poor, so
warmly was he held in the affection of a
| wide circle of friends. Later still more
acceptable present of books was made by
his American fiiends. He died August 4,
1875, in Copenhagen, in his 7lst year.