The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1894-04-10
HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN.

We are republishing in The Constitution,
some of the best short stories OF the
great Danish writer, Hans Christian An
dersen, 1.-The Chlldren's Friend" as he
is called in his native land. Doubtless
many of these stories are already familiar
to many of our young readers. but they
are well worth reading again. There never
lived man who wrote purer, sweeter sto-
rieS than Hans Christian Andersen. His
style is regarded as a model OF purity, and
those who read his stories when children
never grow tired of them in after years.
We will continue to publish each week for
some time selection from among the best
of Andersens short stories for the children.
Do you know, children, that the great
man to whose fairy tales so many little peo-
pie have listened with delight was the son
of poor shoemaker and received scanty
education at charity school?
Born in the city of Ordense. in Denmark,
in the year 1905, he died in Copenhagen in
1875; but many of those years which were
crowned with such honor were years OF hard
work, disappointment and poverty.
1.-THE land of promise" says a great
writer, belonging to our own country, lies
ever beyond the mountain" This was a
beautiful way of telling us that no success
is ever attained without many struggles,
and in the boyhood of Hans Andersen we
have an excellent illustration of the truth
of the saying.
The boys rather died when he only
nine years old, and not long arterward the
kind widow OF a clergyman took pity upon
the deSolate little fellow and engaged nm
to read aloud to the family.
When he grew q little older and it was
necessary for him to enter upon work in
earnest, employment was secured Tor HIM at
a mandatory, but the workmen, who were
a rough lot SO in-treated HIM that he was
compelled to give up this employment The
workmen must have been very thoughtleSs
lt,S-h linda fn,
sion had the Sweet-Voiced, bright child en-
livened the time for them by singing and
recItlnB.
Some friends who had been struck with
his agreeable voice, advised his mother TO
send him to the theater but TINS she would
not do. having decided to make a tailor of
him. he never appeared to favor this idea,
but before his apprenticeship begun. OBJ
tanned permission 10 so TO Copenhagen and
witness the performance of play. Accord
ingly, in 1919, and a the age OF fourteen,
he found himself alone in the big city, with
only very little money He sought en-
eagement at the theater, but was not &C
ceptable because of his aWkWardnesS and
ignorance. Soon afterward he presented
himself to Professor Siboni, director OF the
Royal Conservatory. who was exceedingly
kind to him and caused him to be instructed
d singer for the stage.
At the end of six months, however, his
voice failed him, and he then went to a
poet named Guldherg, and told his story
by this kind mans aid he able to
struggle on for several years, and during
TINS time III ms struggling youth. he seems
to have spent every moment possible foI
study, for the little glimpse at the big
world had shown him how very ignorant he
was. Finally good man named Collin
a councillor, who had something OF
young Andersen, and his patient toll, Sc
cured his admission into of the gov
/ eminent schools free of expense, and it is
to his kindness that we are indebted fol
those wonderful fairy tales which 50 many
small people all over the world have en-
joyed; for If Hans had not received Il more
thorough education than that gotten at the
charity school he surely could have written
nothing worth reading.
Was he not pucky and courageous
fellow?