The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-08-05
OBITUARY.
Hans cHR1srrAN ANDERSEN.


Seventy years before. he had come into this world,
as he himself describes, ga living and weeping
child" He was born in the town oil Odense, in
Denmark, In 4 mean room In the lOwly house
where dwelt his parents-poor people, whose Only
wealth was love and thts same crying and weep
ing child new born TO them. Andersen's father
was u man OF poetical mind ana strongly gifted,
though he won his daily bread by the making ana
mending or shoes. And it was nom his father
that the child inherited tine strange gifts that
were one day to make him famous Tor his mother
was a very commonplace good woman who loved
her husband ana their child and MINDED the
limited household AFFAIRS not thinking OF any
thing beyond. Certain pecultaritles were re-
marked in his character, even in infancy.
He was dreamy, thoughtful boy, shy
and retiring. having no association with
children OF his own age. He relates tnat
one day being met by man who lifted his
whip to strike him, he regarded him earnestly,
and exclaimed, chow dare you strike me when
God can see IL fn The strong. stern man. adj
dressed In this unexpected manner by the child,
became at once mid. and although described
as q passionate ana unfeeling person IN this IN
stance his Ill bumor was subdued. He patted Hans
on the cheek and gave him money. When this
Incident was repeated to his mother she OBJ
served TO those around her. "He is d strange
child, my Hans Cnristlan everyoody's Kind TO
him." Hans grew up spoiled child. His father
was devotedly attached 10 MIN, ana took great
delight in making toys Tor his amusement. He
would also read to him the plays OF Holberg. the
Danish "Molleren and some ARABIAN tales and
was continually occupied in storing his mind
with scraps of poetry and traditional history.
He appears TO have been man OF peculiar tenn
permanent, having received u good education;
but ne was the victim OF misfortunes
that had soured his mind aLd given
him gloomy ideas OF human nature
PROBABLY these impressions had their IN
nuence on the mind OF Hans at somewhat later
period, for he became pious and supersutous and
yet evlnced great prediction for the theatre,
which his means, however, would not often allow
him to CRAFTY but he would contrive. from the
play bills, TO compose piece In his own mind,
with dialogues suited to the characters represent
ing II, aud this was his first unconscious attempt
at poetising. His latner dying while he still
young Hans was left very much to his own re-
sources, his mother being reduced to undertake
washing Tor several families as u means OF sub
sstence. Soon alter he was apprent iced TO
tailor but he felt himself destined Tor some higher
work. 30 after some time he obtained his mothers
consent to his going TO the great city Of Copenha-
gen, for to his boyisn Imagination tt was great
city. On the 5th OF september. 1914. he first
looked down nom the heights OF Fredericksber
on the city OF Copenhagen. 1t the day OF the
outbreak OF the so.called jews quarrel, and the
commotlon and excitement OF the city, which he
now witnessed for the first time, made deep inn
preston on the poet he had scarcely ten dollars
IN his pocket and knew no one, but his natural
inclination led him to thstneatre. Here his want
of worldly experience very nearly got hin INTO
trouble. Tor, being offered bill OF the play by
Of the bill sellers, he took it and thanked the
man, thinking IL was an act Of polite attention on
his part. The bill seller became angry ut what he
considered joke OF his expense, and young
Andersen was obliged TO leave IN order to avoid
quarrel. Ten years later his first dramatic piece
was produced at this house. His great
aim in life at this period was be an actor; but
though many prominent professionals tried 10 aid
10 tnls desire, against their own convictions, his
ungalnly person offered an obstacle only to be
overcome by the greatest tenaclty OF VIII, and
this tenaclty Andersen possessed. He at last
succeeded and appeared as "a spirit" IN ballet.
His exultauon was unbounded-nis name was In
prInt-..I 1ancied l could see nlmbus OF lmmor-
tahty; l was continually looking al the printed
paper; l carried the programme OF ne balet
with me at night TO bed, lay and read my name
| by candle lght-in short, / was happy" Such Is
the picture he gives US of Rls feelings. He was SO
fortunate however, as to attract the no.ice OF a
! widow named Bunkenod, whose husband, a cler
gymaD, had written several poems OF consider.
! which hau become very popular, and mere
IL was maj Hans heard the word poet
pressed itself on his mind as something
Sacred and it also In the house OF tuls lady
that he first read Shakespeare, Il bad translation.
1t Is true but bold In description and full OF heroic
Incident. me great delight experienced by the
perusal OF This work occdsioned his makng some
juvenile attempts at play writing, the iailure or
winch he amusingly describes. His passion for
readiug-the numerous dramatic scenes he had
! learned by heAlt-and remarkably me voice he
possessed IA this tnle excited the Interest OF sew
era ln1uen lal Iannlies, and the rlendless boy at
length attracted notice. and through the kino ness
OF Councillor CONN, one OF the most disting uished
men in Denmark, .hln2 Frederlck was induced to
| grant hlm small annuity, place was also pro-
! cured Tor him at the High School at Sagelse,
! where he received a hoeral education. From this
| scnool be went to college, and became very soon
Iayorably known TO tue puobc by true poetlcal
works. 'ingemann,n "Oehlenscnla .er' and others
| then oDtained Tor INN royal stlpeud, To enable
| him TO travel; ana he visited Germany, France,
switzerland and Italy Italy anu the poeucai
him; anu he wrote the a" lmprOvisatore,n ons or
the most exquisite works, whether Tor truthful
delineatlOn oil character or pure anu noole sentl-
ment, that ever was penned TINS work most
tremendously combines the warm coiorlng ano IN
tensity OF Italian life with the lresnest ADD strong
simplicity OF the north. HIS romance 40. f."
followed; THIS Is a true picture OF the secluded,
sober lie OF the wortn, aud is a great iavorite
! there. HIS third WORK, "Only Fiddler" is re-
marKable Tor Its strong Drawn personal anu ma
! tIonAl characteristics, founded upon mis- own eX-
perence IN early nre. Perhaps there never WAS
a more affecting picture OF the hopeless attempts
Of u genus o. second rate order TO COMBAT against
| and rise above poverty and ADVERSE circum-
stances than Is gwen III tue lie OF poor
av his mu Hea n'e and he Is never trea eng
/ US or the beauties OF that historic land. "WnaI
grandeur oI naIurep' he excnlms, describing his
! entrance into Lombardy. "Our heavily laden
coacn WITH its team vi horses was like fly ON
gigantic block; we crept along the rocky road
wnlcn, at Napoeon's command. had Dioken
through this spine Of the EARN; tine glass green
glaciers snone over us; it grew colder and colder;
the shep aerds were wrapped in c0wnides aud the
Jews Kept up good hres In their stores; t was lull
winter here, but in few minutes the coach was
rolling aiong under chestnut trees, whose long
ana green leaves glttered In the warm sunshine.
Domo dOssala's market places and streets gave
us IN a miniature picture OF the national street
| Lie.
!" Lago Magglore shone between the dark blue
MOUNTAINS beautiful lsets, ike bouquets, loatod
on upon tue water; bat lt was ciouuy; the SKIES
were gray In Denmark. When evening came
! all was again whllfed away, the air snOne trans
parent and serene, and the skies seemed to noat
| thrice as nIgn as at home. The vines nung up III
| long erals along the road as lOr feast. Never
have seen Italy 80 beautiful THIS visit TO Italy
suggested his novel 1.-The improvlsat0re." Tho
BOOK was ut first coldly received Oy the critics.
/ 1ne lrst edition was sold ana second printed,
and yet the newspapers kept silent; but the
author had the Satisfaction oi hearing IN round