Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 September 1875 — Andersen’s Egotism. [ARTICLE]

Andersen’s Egotism.

A writer says of Hans Christian Andersen: “ He had not an idea of self-restraint or of apropos, and his intense egotism was nourished by everybody and everything. It never occurred to him that he was not the center of everyone’s life and thoughts. He once entered a room, shook hands all round, and then descrying a stranger, a young English lady just arrived at Copenhagen, he went up to her, took her by both hands, addressed her as * the English Rose, who had come to Denmark to see a great poet,’ added, ‘ all your friends will be happy that you are with Andersen,’ and went off to fetch a photograph of himself, which he bestowed on her with much emphasis. The admiring circle perceived nothing'either absurd or blamable in this or any other manifestation of Andersen’s vanity; and, indeed, its frankness, its sim-

pie reliance on everyone’s absolute admiration, preserved it from ridicule or censure; it was so childlike. He never conceived the notion of .satire, he did not feat it, therefore; and though his vanity was easily hurt, and he would pout and sulk like an offended child until coaxed into good humor again, he never suspected a shade of ridicule of him in anyone’s manner or mind. Wherever he was, he was invariably served first at table, and he was deeply grieved at a departure from this custom on the occasion of ‘the English Rose’s’ arrival at the house, near Copenhagen, where he was then staying. He became silent, then sulked, would noteat, and disappeared early in the evening. The next morning their hostess came to the English guest and asked her if she would mind not "being helped first, ‘it made dear And’semso unhappy; he went to the kitchen and told the servants he could see they no longer loved him, since they thought more of the English lady than of him.’j” Hartford is as thick with thieves, burglars and pickpockets as toids after a shower! but they have been pretty carefully looked after by the police. Quite a number of spectators at the races had to ask their neighbors the “ time o’ day.” “ Why don’t you Carry your wallet where I carry mine? and then you wouldn’t have it stolen!” said a man on the race-ground to a disconsolate who had been relieved of his money. “ Where do you carry yours, then?” Slapping his hand on a deep sifte-pocket; he exclaimed,. “ Here! but by thunder its gone.”— New Haven, Register. A schoolboy says that when his teacher undertakes to “ show him what is what,” he only finds out which is switch.