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

times in remarkably quaint form, as the following
incident will illustrate. One morning during my
stay in Denmark we had particularly bright ana
amusing breakfast party. Andersen enjoyed him.
self exceedingly, was in good spirits, and had eaten
his breakfast with great appetite. just before We Al
loft the table MP rose his tall figure. Bending over
the table shutting his eyes, and stretching out MS
hands, he said grace in a low, reverential tone:
IL thank Thee God, that thou hast permitted
me 10 enjoy breakfast charming as those oi.eh
enjoyed in Sevenoaks in the home OF the dear MI
Bentley. Amen@
His manners at table were rather trying TO
strangers as he had habit of pulling his food ABOUT
with his hand. and taking far more his plate than
he could possibly want and to hide this peculiarly
which he never seemed to overcome. he always
covered his plate with his napkin as soon as be had
finished what he wshedto eat. Andersen was always
willing to give helping hand to all the young men
of talent who came to him for advice. IL he had
nothing else 10 give, he would speak kindly and en-
couragingly to those who were anxious to become
known, and no ever applied to nm IN vain.
Many household has been made happy, many adun
heart frightened by hearing Hans Christian Andersen
discourse in his earnest manner on the goodness
of the world If will only see it as 1t really WIN
the ewes that truth and Nature gave u.s. ana
not through the dark spectacles of despair
and dsmay. Andersen lived and died
bachelor. He had no relations and seemed
alone rs regards his family. He rarely ate meal
in his own rooms-except of course, his early cup Oh
coffee before rising. Wherever he went he was
welcome and dearly beloved guest and several OF
his daily friends always had knife and iorK lid
ready for him their table, in the fancy sezed
him to dine at any particular house. 1t was haplt
too of his go and call on a certain number OF his
friends every day. Often ho would not sit down.
nor take off his heavy fur coat, remarking, when
urged TO stay for half an hour:
mo, no; | merely came 70 touch your hand ana
say good morning. have no time
"Will ven dine with us to-day, dear Andersen
ayes. perhaps but they want me at -. III
see later on" And with friendly nod he would
disappear An hour after he would put bis head
inside the door again.
Don't be disappointed, my friends: tomorrow
will come to you; but could not refuse Mrs -
and without waiting for a response, he would us
appear again. As rule, he dined with the same
people on the same day of each week, holding him.
self however, at liberty TO accept any lmproihptu
invitation that pleased his fancy at the moment.
HIS WRITINGS.
The poverty of his childhood the straltened CIR
cumstances of hs early manhood, his travels ana
successes in later life are all exquisitely depicted IN
The story of Ny Life,' which he wrote few years
apo In foreign countries lie is most known by his
wonderful fairy tales and his Tales for Children, but
in his own country he is honored az a poet and Tor
his large prose works, wherein the rich poetic vein
of his master mind finds vent in gorgeous descrip-
tons of scenery and beautiful dream-and pictures.
His 90. T." and the "Improvisatore" are perhaps
the most popular of his rOmances, though - Inc Two
Baronesses is considered by some one Of the best
.f Ii "A -, tfaI
attention to novel writing doubt if Hans Andersen
would ever have become favOrite writer with the
devoted nove!-reader" His own life was too pure
and too simple for him To understand the strong,
deep passions of an intense nature. In my daily
and hourly intercourse with him during q period Oh
two months, he gave me the impression of being an
individual whose body had grown up into the pro-
portions of man, but whose mind and feelings and
sentiments were those of intensely dreamy.
IMAGINATIVE child His mind was indeed without
guile for in conversation he would handle subjects
with all the simplicity ease, and naivete OF child,
that few men would venture 10 approach without
extreme reserve and evident constrant. lie passed
HE daily life in his own imagination taking very
little heed of the people around him, whose actions
he could not fathom, because he himself had
never experienced the wants and desires pc
culiar to their stronger and more passionate natures
Although he wrote extensively his works
never realized to him anything like n cuff
fciency 10 enable him TO live comfortably on the
proceeds Of their sale. He said rather sadly TO
me, "My translatOrs have grown rich. while VINO
gave the thoughts and words have remained poor.
He enjoyed small pension from the Government or
Denmark and hiswan simple that he dld not
need to be rich to satisfy them. Children worslped
him as soon as he appeared in drawng-room they
IL. L. add nfarsl0 IA
Chamber on his knees, hold his hands, hang to his
coat-tails and take complete possession OF
him to his own amusement and intense salts
faction. a story, dear Andersen, story, only
one.r they would shout az they dragged him to
the incest arm chair, and planted him in the warm
est corner of the room. The dear old man would
smile his eyes would twinkle, and lifting the young
eat 10 his knee he would begin TO tell how the little
fir tree became a Christmas tree; or how old LuKOie
holds his umbrella over sleeping childrcns heads
and makes them dream Of pleasant things II they
have been good. or perhaps he would Tor Tie
thousandth time tell the tale of the Ugly DucKne'
or the cad history of The Little Mermaid" VINO
lonred for soul He understood children in all Their
,yondrous and varying moods for he was but a child
bmself-for them he sung his sweetest and wrote Ms
best for them his brain was ever active, ever
searching and bringing forth the marvellous ana
,yondrous that child's mind rcvels i'll. HIS plays
lack fire and power his novels are passionless, his
poetry is forgotten as soon as read-but his
stories for children. his fairy lore, contain
I, charm in their mystic beauty. and dream,
Ike truth which will hold their own ana
live for ages long after his other larger works have
been lo.t in oblivion. And 10 inscription could DE
more appropriate 10 this king Of stOry-telers VINO
never wrared a child or repulsed him by talking OF
things too deep for his understanding than the one
80 touchngly entwned IN laurel and lard the DINER
thaP9 a.
"T6on art not dead though thine eyes are closed.
In cbildrens hearts thou shalt live forever" No
this simple. genial, chdlke messenger from
Heaven. Hans Christian Andersen; Not household
but will mourn him hardly child who VIII NOT
- 80 vav foreyer and will never again be able