New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-09-16

residence and returned to town for the Win
ter, according to friendly DANISH custom
every one they knew in the little capital came up
one evening to greet them and express delight at
their return. The large, handsome draw1ng-room
was thronged with bright faces. For the first nall
hour conversation eager and animated every
one was inquirng about and listening to the plans
for amusement study, or work for the Winter, and
the mAch-loved glass of punch was handed round
and slipped by young and old in welcome TO the last
corners to town. Presently the company settled into
groups Of twos and threes, and our accomplished
hostess began to play the piano Just "a she was
rising from her seat Andersen entered the and
instantly became the center of attraction. After
talking 10 him for a while slipped away from hls
circle and amused myself by playing game ol
chess with n gentleman at q taDi" on one
side of the immense salon. My opponent did not
know much of the game, and was Just checK-
mating MIN when voice behind me said pleasantly;
MAY try my luck with you !"
Certainly, with pleasure" replied on turning
NY head and seeing who was my new opponent. lie
was a midde-aged man; had been very dis-
,nguish.d tragcdian and writer of plays, though he
had now retired from public life. and he had the
rare and peculiar gift of making his simplest action
matter of interest TO his friends How il ali came
about cannot tell, but the game had only pro-
ceeded about a quarter Of an hour when from one TO
another large group formed around and watched
our every move. At first they were silent, but az
the contest on the chessbOard grew exciting those
around began to speculate as to which of us would
be victorious. England or Denmark was whls-
pered from ear TO ear till at last, on venturng TO
look upfor a moment, / observed to my dlsmay,
that the whole of the company. headed
by our host, were eagerly watching the
progress of the tiny battle before them.
Ny heart made jump. " must wln' thoueht'
when moment later felt a hard, bOny hand on
my shoulder, and a trembling, compressed voice
whispered audibly in my ear:
why do you play that Come want to read a
story and no one will listen"
started for had forgotten Andersen completely,
and in my foolish excitement about the result OF the
game. replied Presently, dear Andersen; do let
me finish" to which several other impatient voices
added: Eyes, don't disturb them, hush, silence" /
made a false move and few moments later my
antagonist triumphantly checkmated me. After the
buzz of comments and remarks on our game had
subsidized into other channels of conversation, dear
Andersen was missed from the salon. and could not
be found but at last some one of the family dscOv
eredhl sitting in corner Of tiny boudolr, all alone
in an attitude of deep detection. On being enreated
to return TO the drawingroOm he refused saying
that he was hurt and wounded; that he had been
forgotten that his heart ached and that he did not
like 10 be treated in that way; and it was only by
excessive coaxing, and many assurances that no
slight had been intended toward him that he finally
allowed himself to he led back 20 the drawingroom
When shook hands with him at parting that night
he said: Music and talking are nice to have III
drawing-room-but chess, bah 1t is uninteresting.
Besides, dear friend they all wanted to hear my
little story and it was not quite kind of you to pre-
vent their listening TO my beautiful new thoughts;
but dear friend | forgive you why mott Good
night"
COUNTRY LIFE.
The country seat where l was staying was de-
lightfll struggling house, surrounded by beautiful
scenery, and about a dozen miles from Copenhagen
Here we lived a simple, charming ife rising early to
battle in the sparkling waters of the Sound; sitting
under the cool shade of the trees during the noon
dav heat and in the evening taking long walks or
rides over the mountains and through the gland
forests which abound in dear little Denmark.
Andersen was tolerably early riser, but he never
took any trouble to dress until later on in the day
After his cup of coffee il was his custom 10 sit In his
room and write. though many and many time
he would creep down in his old dressing-gown
and slippers and Join our group on the yeranGa;
sometimes if he felt well enough he would read
aloud to us the story he weaving, or fresh idea
about an old one and ask to give him our opinion
on the subject. One morning finding me alone,
with delight that was truly boyish he read 70 me
several letters OF praise and thanks that he had
ceived from two or three of the regnng sOveregns
of Furope and from various men of mark in the lit
erary world, and one that he cherished tenderly IN
large child's hand, evidently English, thanking
him for his pretty tales" As he hid it back in its
place he said: 1t warns my heart when the little
ones tell me they love my tales for my tales they
me-"
And he spoke justly for his writings are full Of the
exquisite beauty of thought and feeling which only
pure true genius could bring forth, and with the
appreciation of all that is lovely in nature, which
makes one invOfuntariy love the man who could
write such exquisite descriptions o. all the common
things that surround u.s. Andersen lived in a world
peculiarly his own: all his thoughts and ideas and
actions being as different from those around him as
is the pearl from all other precious stones. writer In
The Temple Ear Nogazine for February says of him
spent many a delightful hour by his side drinking in
the WondrOus facies of his brain aud llste ming 70 hs
quaint talk which seemed 10 from faraway
world into which he alone had gained admltfance In
the OF the afternoon he liked 10 walk in the fields
with any OF party who inclined. For the hrs
quarter of hour he would not talk much. but sambe
along, pOkng his sicK INTO every hole ana corner OK
touching with IL every odd thing that lay In his path
Then something would attract his noce-a bit OF glass
a faded flower, IA halfeaten insect; matter what 1t
was he would stoop aud PICK 1t up touch II tenderlj
regetfu tone he would begin and tell the story OF no
ite its joys and sorrows, and the sad destiny which
stand listening in husbed awe looking at the thing In his
hand, the dreamy face speaking earnestly
wonder Il the had really soul and body belong
ing this earth that all the rest OF dwell ID
prOsacay, If he would vanish into the spirit realm
IRON he gathered his faDciul IDEAS and be
longer by our side.
HABITS AMONG FRIENDS.
Andersen not only wrote story well, but he
a delightful reader. Often and often, when friends
from town were gathered together in pretty
house by the sea, when the music and laughter
beginning to decline, have watched Andersen rise
from his seat, draw paper from his pocket, and