Page 45 - ANDERSEN'S FAIRY TALES

Andersen’s Fairy Tales

of the pseudo-Herschel* had created them; and if they had
been placed in rank and file, and copied by some skilful
painter’s hand, one would, without doubt, have exclaimed
involuntarily, ‘What a beautiful arabesque!’

*This relates to a book published some years ago in
Germany, and said to be by Herschel, which contained a
description of the moon and its inhabitants, written with
such a semblance of truth that many were deceived by the
imposture.
Probably a translation of the celebrated Moon hoax,
written by Richard A. Locke, and originally published in
New York.
They had a language too; but surely nobody can expect
that the soul of the watchman should understand it. Be
that as it may, it did comprehend it; for in our souls there
germinate far greater powers than we poor mortals, despite
all our cleverness, have any notion of. Does she not show
us—she the queen in the land of enchantment—her
astounding dramatic talent in all our dreams? There every
acquaintance appears and speaks upon the stage, so entirely
in character, and with the same tone of voice, that none of
us, when awake, were able to imitate it. How well can she
recall persons to our mind, of whom we have not thought
for years; when suddenly they step forth ‘every inch a

44 of 260