New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-08-05

H., carcer of Hans Christian Andersen is full OF
romantic interest and as instructive as ms own
hooks Born at Odensee. in Denmark. April 2, looo'
tho son of a poor shoemaker, whose family had once
been in comfortable circumstances, no grew up
on imaginative boy, easily imprcssiblo, and
sm,orst;tous to an unusual degree. At the
ace of nine, when he had parey
Ior,ed 70 read and write, his father died, leaving
Tho family destitute A good lady gave the lad
bor,e and made him the companion of her children.
uors h, showed his taste for learning by studying
some tragedies which, with boyish mpulsiyeness ne
tried to initiate. He did not succeed this time Ill
nleasinc his readers, and he was greatly troubled
when they made sport Of him. Being restless boy'
he soon after this went TO work at factory "heio
he tried 10 amuse his fellow workmen by singing
and rccinc dramatic pieces. But the rough fellows
treated him harshy, and he returned nome, whoio
he devoted his time to learning all he could from
,bo few books at his command. People said
he would make good actor Dut HIS
mother WAS intent apprentcing nm 10
ta;lor Before sending him to work
she let him 20 to Copenhagen to see q play per
formed Hans, who was now ii. saw the pay ana
resolved TO 10 an actor. The manager however
would not engage him. he was 80 awkward ana ie-
porant and fer "a time ne earned something ny worh-
ing for n carpenter Being soon idle again. ne went
10 the ROYAL Conservatory where prof' Siponi ro-
ceived him kindly, and. recognizing his taIeh'S
caused him to he instructed a. singer for the stage
AT the end of six months his voice failed hli' anu
his teacher advised him to return home ana learn
trade. This he was too ambitious to no. ana 50 LOT Il
vear or two he struggled or, either as member
of q tbeatrical corps or engaged i'll his Studies
sru,ountipp difficulties which would have dlSheart
cned most boys with sngularly chiid-llKe trus' Ill
Providence not unmnglcd with superstition Dnr-
inc this perod he wrote some tragedies. but no one
deemed them worth performing At this time, when
his pro,pects were so gloomy. good friend came TO
his aid. This was Councillor Collin, benevolent
man. who seeing that Hans was clever and iona OF
study hal him admitted free OF expense INTO the
ROYAL College of Copenhagen. Before this lie had
written poem called inc lying ihi"i''' "'V"
was greatly praised.
MIR Andersen who was now %, studied very hard,
rcsovipc 70 become great scholar While al college
he wrote his first book-"A Journey on Foot TO
Amack" which was so entertaining that IL
made him many friends and brought MN
great fame Soon after that he published
some volumes of poems which were also
greatly praised. Several of his friends now sue
Ceeded i'll getting for him royal stipend to enable
him to travel abroad SO he visited Italy IN 1858
and tho year following gave his impressions OF that
country in his novel the "ImprOyisatorc," which he
gratefully dedicated to his friond Collin. This work
has been translated into almost every European Ian
rnage and is considered to be unrivaled as picture
of scenery and manners in Southern Europe HIS
next novel 60 T." described life in the North, and
in Only Fiddler" which followed, he told some
of the most striking incidents in his early struggles
Mr. Andersen was now very famous, and had
friends everywhere. He travelled a great deal, for
the purpose of learning the customs and manners OF
foreign peoples and describing them III his Do0As
In 1870 he went to Italy, whence he travelled
10 tInir Ian xyl
greatly longcd to sec. Finding that some people
were Jealous of him at home, and disposed
10 h, unfrendly he remained abroad longer than lie
intended visiting Germany England. and Austria
In Germany he was received with great favor, and
in England he made many friends. Finding Old age
coming on he returned homo to enjoy an annuity
which the King of Denmark had given him. WmIe
thus travelling from place to place no was producing
the books which have rendered him so popular
everywhere and gained him especially tho affection
of the Young. The principal of these works
are Fairy Tales picture Book without
Pictures" Travels in the Hartz Noun
tainsD "a Poets Bazaar" "Ahasuorus,"
and New Fairy Tales" All of these have been
translated into nearly every European language, and
have found their way to the PEASANTS hut as well as
to the roval palace. The English TRANSACTIONS have
been mostly from the pen of Mary Hewitt. who snc
ceeded admirably in retaining the charm OF the
authors style.
In his own land Mr. Andersen was greatly honored
In his old age Twenty thousand crowns were
raised TO erect monument at Copenhagen. and other
marks of popular favor accorded him. In this
country also his young friends remembered him in
his declining years. he American Chdrens
Christmas Present made handsome little
sum of money, which was transmitted
10 him by telegraph on Christmas eve. small part
of il was reserved for the purchase of what 1t was
thought ho would value nore-a characteristic
book about this country. Picturesque America
was selected and the finest edition was sent. There
was some delay in its delivery but its final receipt
called out the following letter-probaby the last
piece of bis manuscript that found its way into print
in America:
DEAR SIR: During long period 1t has weighed on my
All fIe syIspah y you have shown nebut my illness has
pressed me down during this severe Winter 80 that
afforded great pleasure to receive the volumes about
America. with their beautiful illustrations after your
having heartily interpret my uteranccs about The
subscription raised III my favor. when the dear chill
dIcn broke their sayir ssboxts III order TO support
their tale.;eer. whom hey believed in want Christ
Mas morning received the advice by telegraph | ex-
pccied the b0oks long, AID had thcu decided inme-
diaiey 20 send you, my 'hc sympathzng friend let
ter in reply. In the mean time, wees ana months
Gen Christensen Newlork, in order TO get information
whether books ing with bookseller or,
perhaps ~ the bottom tie set about simultaneously
with friendly reply 81" advice tina, the steamer had
books rejoice at this gifi. the dearest that could be
granted TO me- from the powerful country whore |
TN Happy 20 have many friends, young ana old Now,
do not only read about but have before my eyes this
beautiful country w'e M age and delicate state Of
health will never allow ne 10 come. How chMlnngH IL
could have been done next year to the great feast but
tins Is quite on OF the question have however reached
greater happiness than millions OF others My 7Oth
birthday day OF sunshine and iiss-fron my native
country and from abroad far away beautiful gifts,
letters aId kilograms, and the charming present from
America arrived have 70 thank Tie Lord Tor such inf
grace. Yes, child Of fortune. My life is the most
beautiful tale. But felt my self OycrpD"eed my deli
health cDi not bear IT, Daring the fortnight after
49,.