Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-09-03
Hans Christian Andersen.
TIE DANISH STORY TELLER.

writings throughout Chrstendon, and by
his presence not only In Denmark, his ma.
tive country, but in the literary, artistic.
and court circles of France, Germany, Eng
land, and Italy, where his ndivete and un-
affected simplicity of affection have made
him known and honored. He was born in
Odense, Denmark, OH the second of April,
1906 in the one room which his father and
mother occupied, which served alike for
house and shoemaker's shop: he left the
town when he was fourteen to seek his for
tune, and in 1867 he was received in odense
as the guest of the citizens; the houses
were all illuminated, banquet was given
in his honor, and he was presented with
the freedom of the city. In the sixty-two
years that lie between those dates, and in
the eight years since then, is the story OF a
life, full of varied lights and shades. His
father was young man of poetic mind,
always hungering after a richer life than
that spent in making shoes; his mother, a
simple, superstitious, and affectionate wo-
man. In their one room began his life,
and his earliest recollections furnished him
with scenes which afterwards he wove into
his stories.
"Our little room," he says, (which was
almost filed with the shoemakers bench,
the bed, and my crib, was the abode of my
childhood; the walls, however, were covered
with pictures, and over the work bench
was a cupboard containing books and
song the little kitchen was full OF shining
plates and metal pans, and by means of a
ladder, II was possible TO go out on the
roof, where, in the cutters between our
house and the neighbors', there stood a
great chest filled with soil, my mothers
sole garden, where she grew her vegetables.
In my story of the Snow Queen that gar
den still blooms"
He grew into tall, ungainly lad, as shy
as girl, and yet so simple hearted that he
was ready TO confide to the utmost in any
school he learned just little, but that little
so carelessly that long afterwards he suffer-
ed for the lack Of such common knowledge,
even as how 10 spell. 1t was now, too, that
he began to associate more with others,
and, like his companions, TO go through
the catechism, preparatory 10 Confirmation.
He tells little story here Of himself, which
shows where 1.-THE Red Shoes" came
from.
An old female tailor altered my deceas-
ed fathers great coat into a confirmation
suit for me; never before had / worn so
good coat. had, also, for the first time
in my life, pair of boots. My delight was
extremely great; my only fear was that
everybody would not see them, and there
fore, drew them up over my trousers,
and thus marched through the church.
The boots creaked, and that inwardly
pleased me; for thus the congregation
would hear that they were new. My whole
devotion was disturbed l was aware of IT,,
and it caused me a horrible pang OF con-
science 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 again 1 thought about my new
boots"
When be set ont for Copenhagen, he had
a little sum of money and his confirmation
suit, and uubounded confidence in every
one. He had an innocent way OF going
right up 10 people and asking for what he
wanted. The theatre was to him the most
beautiful place in the world, and he was
ready to do anything that would be in place
there-dance, sing, or act. SO he went TO
the manager, and asked for an engagement.
The manager looked at him, and said,
4" mo, you are too thin for the theatre"
"Oh," replied Andersen, "only engage
me, with one hundred rix dollars banco
salary, and shall soon get fatv' But the
manager gravely bade him go away,-that
only people of education could do anything
at the theatre. Tho poor boy lived, one
scarcely knows how, but he could not help
attracting peoples attention, he was so in
genuous, and at last wise aud good man,
Councillor Collin took him as his own son,
and began to educate him. As Andersen
now learned how to use his mind, all the
odd fancies and make beliefs which had
kept him busy with mock theatres and
puppets and dolls began TO find expression
in writing, and before he had finished his
schooling he was writing stories and
dramas and just before he passed his last
examination, when he was twenty-four
yNdlS Olug nc pNh ~ SOiiSNhiOh VI
poems, and one OF his plays was acted at
the theatre.
Denmark is a little country, but an old
nation inhabits it, and hence it is, in fact,
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 naOnla mot On1u ta1k ahnnt him hut
talk to him, and crilicise him, and tell him
what he ought to do, and what he ought
not to do. Society there is village tea
table of educated people. Andersen, who
had come up from poverty, and was, be-
sides, "a young man ignorant of worldly
wisdom, was badgered good deal, and in
the early days of his authorship had to
struggle hard to maintain position. But
by degrees he commanded attention /;
people began TO see that he had gifts of an
unusual character, and just the thing for
which be was at first blamed-his ndiVete
and childshness-are now what the world
recognizes as his good qualities in litera-
ture.
From that time to This lie has been writ
ing stories-novels for older people-such
as " The ImprovisatOre," which is pic
ture of Italy, and "The Two Baronesses," {"
40. t." and Only a Fiddler" where
the scenes are Danish. He is Danish 10 the
core. The old legends of his ancient eoun-
try, The wild sandheaps of Jutland, the
beech trees, the bright, quarrelsome city
life, the fresh, frank hospitality, all get in
to his stories. But 1t is his little stories
that have won him renOwn. They were
something so new and so pleasing that they
became at once general favorites with
young and old, and in the theatres, Instead
of poetry, the actors would recite "The
Constant Tin SoldierD uThe Ton and