how an
author who had written works of greater pretension, could think of
making his appearance with something so childish as these tales. And
some kind friends, grown-up people, whose opinion was not unimportant,
advised him by all means to give up writing such stories as he had no
talent for them; and it was only later, that, to use Andersen's own
words, "every door and heart in Denmark was open to them." But all of
you, not critics by profession, you welcomed them at once; as soon as
you saw them you perceived their beauty--you cherished and gave them a
place in your heart. And this is the reason why I say that you are
sage and excellent critics; and if you can preserve the same
simple-heartedness, finding pleasure in what is natural and truthful,
and allow yourselves to be guided by the instincts of your pure
uncorrupted nature, you may always be so.

You will like to know that Thorwaldsen, the great Thorwaldsen, loved
to hear Andersen repeat these tales. It is true he has quite a
peculiar way of relating them, which adds greatly to their charm. I
begged him one day to tell me the story of "The Top and Ball," and he
immediately sat down on the sofa and began. Though I knew it by heart
from beginning to end, so often had I read it over, yet it now seemed
quite new, from his manner of telling it; and I was as amused and
laughed as much as though I had never heard it before. That very
pretty one, "Ole Luckoie," was written when in the society of
Thorwaldsen; and "often at dusk," so Andersen relates, "when the
family circle were sitting in the summer house, would Thorwaldsen
glide gently in, and, tapping me on the shoulder, ask, 'Are we little
ones to have no story tonight?' It pleased him to hear the same story
over and over again; and often, while employed on his grandest works,
he would stand with a smiling countenance and listen to the tale of
'Top and Ball,' and 'The Ugly Duck.'" The last is my favorite also.

From Rome, where this occurred, you must now take a jump with me to
Hamburg; for I have to tell you an anecdote that happened there to
Andersen, also, about his stories which he relates in his "Life." He
had gone to see Otto Speckter, whose clever and characteristic
pictures most of you will certainly know, and he intended to go
afterwards to the play. Speckter accompanied him. "We passed an
elegant house. 'We must first go in here, my dear friend,' said he; 'a
very rich family lives there, friends of mine,