Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 August 1875 — The Late Hans Christian Andersen. [ARTICLE]

The Late Hans Christian Andersen.

Hans Christian Andersen was bom at Odense, on the island of Funen, April 2, 1805. His father was a shoemaker In very indigent circumstances, although he belonged to a family that had once been rich. He used to seek relief from the bitterness of his lot by relating to his children and friends stories of the wealth and splendor of his ancestors. Thus the imagination of young Hans was early trained in a fanciful school. When he was nine years old his father died. His mother wished to apprentice him to a tailor, but was prevailed oh by a fortuneteller to send him to Copenhagen. Here he tried to obtain a situation at a theater, but his application was refused because of '.his thin and unprepossessing appearance. Having a fine voice, he for a time found employment as a singer. But after a short time he lost his voice and was again virtually thrown upon the charity of the world. ' His good fortune, however, did ■not entirely desert him, and he swxm found generous and enlightened patrons. One who had the sagacity to perceive Andersen’s more than ordinary powers obtained permission of the King to send the boy to a free academy to be educated at the expense of the Btate. While still young Hans had written sev- . er&l short poems, among which “ The Dying Child” was particularly admired, The King of Denmark extended to him pecuniary aid, and he traveled through France, Germany and Italy. After his return, in 1834, he produced a successful romance, entitled "The Improvisatore.” This work, for its delineations of the scenery and the life and manners of the people of Southern Europe, obtained the favorable mention of critics, and to-day stands unsurpassed. In 1835 he produced an■other work, “ O. Z.,” containing a description of life in the North. The story of his early life is told in another of his works, "Only a Fiddler.” He was the author of many other books, but in none of them is his original genius so conspicuous as in his fairv tales, of which he has published several volumes. These stories for little folks are characterized by quaint humor, rich imagination and deep pathos. There is hardly one of hia works that has not been translated into the European languages. Two years ago it was reported that Andersen was in straitened circumstances, and an appeal was made to the children of America, who had so long been delighted readers of his books, for contributions. A considerable sum was raised and offered to him, which he was loth to receive, because the story of his poverty was untrue. The writer believes that the fund so raised was then devoted to the purchase of a set of his own books, magnificently bound, which were presented to him. His letter relative to the benevolent projects in his behalf was published last year, and will be remembered as a touching acknowledgment of the kindness shown him. The world in losing Hans Christian Andersen is bereft of one of its greatest modern writers, and one of its purest and best men.— Chicago InterOcean.