The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-01-05
Hans Christian Andersen and His Fairy Tales
BY PROFESSOR GEoRG. BRANDEs

pad humor came to the surface.
snort time after the appearance
Henrik Ibsen's ''Pretenders'
iouhd himself at q party where ne
literature was discussed? At I'll
table much was said about the ne
drama and its still rather Lucknow
author. Andersen was sitting next
q lady who had the impudence
ask him what he thought OF lIenr
Ibsen
me only answer she received VI
the question uttered In his most In
parent tone. did you ever he4
OF Danish poet named Hans Chri
iaIl Andersen, madam 2"
tie was never more pleasant rl1s
"hen he occasionally came In see nj
III the ridiculousIy small room / %
cupled on sixth floor. He came II
SAT down on the small settee, whid|
was the only seat / had to offer h.rt
looked around TO see if the wind9N
were closed, for he was very sena|
tive to draughts, and took a man{
script frcm his pocket. In a feI
words he prepared me for what WI
IN store for me. He had ahead
read the tale aloud to two or third
important personages who had bed
exceedingly delighted with 1t. Aft(
.ae introduction a young iisten{
IKE myself could not help knowifd
mat all / was expected 80 do ~
10 grip the poets hand too deepj
moved tor words. He read as IL
the presence of Il great audience 81
In my little den in the garrrt thsi
was Just room enough for his Ill
body and bigger gestures. but ne ri
Just as anxious in his efforts to prV
duce the desired effect 80 il he lid
heen facing hundreds Of people In
Dig nall When you had eSpresss|
your delight with the whole tale n
did not object to discuss details.
me most charming memory I .aj
or Andersen were hts visits TO III
mother In 1872. He did not call d
her TO read aloud, but to spend
pleasant hour or two and never haJ
neard him tell his memories as wd
as then
Among these stories In one that I'D
hot been published In his. hinErapA
but which is very characteristic. n,
wards the end OF the year fs44
was several times invited TO visit I'll
Danish royal family In the Island
t'oehr. AS a youth he had bed
deeply Inundated. The minister WI
was 70 prepare him for his first cord
kmunfon thought him too poor arl
sent him TO his vicar. Andersen hal
pened TO hear that this minister nd
been transferred TO Foehr 'Thd
] asked the King" he said ito n
me have the use OF the royal cal
riage with coachman, outriders an
footmen in the royal scarlet liver]
The king replied. with the greate|
pleasure" and so rode In the royl
,carriage TO the minister's house, ar|
| during my whole visit the carriad
was waiting outside. That was nd
revenge"
This little anecdote gives vivid id
Of Andersen, his bitterness toward
those who had nnce Inundated htI
and his almost childish ambition.
He was not fortunate tn his Ion
affairs. The women with whom I
fell in love during his youth did nj
! return his feelings. They were r,
PEELED by his uRlineas. preferred n
rivals and caused him much sufYeI
Sag One Of them careless1y LEI
the letter In which he proposed /
her in book belonging to a publ
library. Another the famous singe
Jenny Lind offered to be n sister
him. But one. the most beautiful
all, an immortal. whom he love
longer and more pasKtonately ths
any mortal creature was calls
Glory. She cared nothing for his
pearance. her voice reached farthI
than that or Jenny Lind, end
made the name of Andersen famoi
/ all over the world