FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
BEAUTY OF FORM AND BEAUTY OF MIND
by Hans Christian Andersen
THERE was once a sculptor； named Alfred； who having won the
large gold medal and obtained a travelling scholarship； went to Italy；
and then came back to his native land。 He was young at that time…
indeed； he is young still； although he is ten years older than he
was then。 On his return； he went to visit one of the little towns in
the island of Zealand。 The whole town knew who the stranger was； and
one of the richest men in the place gave a party in his honor； and all
who were of any consequence； or who possessed some property； were
invited。 It was quite an event； and all the town knew of it； so that
it was not necessary to announce it by beat of drum。
Apprentice…boys； children of the poor； and even the poor people
themselves； stood before the house； watching the lighted windows；
and the watchman might easily fancy he was giving a party also；
there were so many people in the streets。 There was quite an air of
festivity about it； and the house was full of it； for Mr。 Alfred；
the sculptor； was there。 He talked and told anecdotes； and every one
listened to him with pleasure； not unmingled with awe； but none felt
so much respect for him as did the elderly widow of a naval officer。
She seemed； so far as Mr。 Alfred was concerned； to be like a piece
of fresh blotting…paper that absorbed all he said and asked for
more。 She was very appreciative； and incredibly ignorant… a kind of
female Gaspar Hauser。
〃I should like to see Rome；〃 she said； 〃it must be a lovely
city； or so many foreigners would not be constantly arriving there。
Now； do give me a description of Rome。 How does the city look when you
enter in at the gate？〃
〃I cannot very well describe it；〃 said the sculptor； 〃but you
enter on a large open space； in the centre of which stands an obelisk；
which is a thousand years old。〃
〃An organist！〃 exclaimed the lady； who had never heard the word
'obelisk。' Several of the guests could scarcely forbear laughing；
and the sculptor would have had some difficulty in keeping his
countenance； but the smile on his lips faded away； for he caught sight
of a pair of dark…blue eyes close by the side of the inquisitive lady。
They belonged to her daughter； and surely no one who had such a
daughter could be silly。 The mother was like a fountain of
questions； and the daughter； who listened but never spoke； might
have passed for the beautiful maid of the fountain。 How charming she
was！ She was a study for the sculptor to contemplate； but not to
converse with； for she did not speak； or； at least； very seldom。
〃Has the pope a great family？〃 inquired the lady。
The young man answered considerately； as if the question had
been a different one； 〃No； he does not come from a great family。〃
〃That is not what I asked；〃 persisted the widow； 〃I mean； has he a
wife and children？〃
〃The pope is not allowed to marry；〃 replied the gentleman。
〃I don't like that；〃 was the lady's remark。
She certainly might have asked more sensible questions； but if she
had not been allowed to say just what she liked； would her daughter
have been there； leaning so gracefully on her shoulder； and looking
straight before her； with a smile that was almost mournful on her
face？
Mr。 Alfred again spoke of Italy； and of the glorious colors in
Italian scenery； the purple hills； the deep blue of the Mediterranean；
the azure of southern skies； whose brightness and glory could only
be surpassed in the north by the deep…blue eyes of a maiden； and he
said this with a peculiar intonation； but she who should have
understood his meaning looked quite unconscious of it； which also
was charming。
〃Beautiful Italy！〃 sighed some of the guests。
〃Oh； to travel there！〃 exclaimed others。
〃Charming！ Charming！〃 echoed from every voice。
〃I may perhaps win a hundred thousand dollars in the lottery；〃
said the naval officer's widow； 〃and if I do； we will travel… I and my
daughter； and you； Mr。 Alfred； must be our guide。 We can all three
travel together； with one or two more of our good friends。〃 And she
nodded in such a friendly way at the company； that each imagined
himself to be the favored person who was to accompany them to Italy。
〃Yes； we must go；〃 she continued； 〃but not to those parts where
there are robbers。 We will keep to Rome。 In the public roads one is
always safe。〃
The daughter sighed very gently； and how much there may be in a
sigh； or attributed to it！ The young man attributed a great deal of
meaning to this sigh。 Those deep…blue eyes； which had been lit up this
evening in honor of him； must conceal treasures； treasures of heart
and mind； richer than all the glories of Rome； and so when he left the
party that night； he had lost it completely to the young lady。 The
house of the naval officer's widow was the one most constantly visited
by Mr。 Alfred； the sculptor。 It was soon understood that his visits
were not intended for that lady； though they were the persons who kept
up the conversation。 He came for the sake of the daughter。 They called
her Kaela。 Her name was really Karen Malena； and these two names had
been contracted into the one name Kaela。 She was really beautiful； but
some said she was rather dull； and slept late of a morning。
〃She has been accustomed to that；〃 her mother said。 〃She is a
beauty； and they are always easily tired。 She does sleep rather
late； but that makes her eyes so clear。〃
What power seemed to lie in the depths of those dark eyes！ The
young man felt the truth of the proverb； 〃Still waters run deep：〃
and his heart had sunk into their depths。 He often talked of his
adventures； and the mamma was as simple and eager in her questions
as on the first evening they met。 It was a pleasure to hear Alfred
describe anything。 He showed them colored plates of Naples； and
spoke of excursions to Mount Vesuvius； and the eruptions of fire
from it。 The naval officer's widow had never heard of them before。
〃Good heavens！〃 she exclaimed。 〃So that is a burning mountain； but
is it not very dangerous to the people who live near it？〃
〃Whole cities have been destroyed；〃 he replied； 〃for instance；
Herculaneum and Pompeii。〃
〃Oh； the poor people！ And you saw all that with your own eyes？〃
〃No； I did not see any of the eruptions which are represented in
those pictures； but I will show you a sketch of my own； which
represents an eruption I once saw。〃
He placed a pencil sketch on the table； and mamma； who had been
over…powered with the appearance of the colored plates； threw a glance
at the pale drawing and cried in astonishment； 〃What； did you see it
throw up white fire？〃
For a moment； Alfred's respect for Kaela's mamma underwent a
sudden shock； and lessened considerably； but； dazzled by the light
which surrounded Kaela； he soon found it quite natural that the old
lady should have no eye for color。 After all； it was of very little
consequence； for Kaela's mamma had the best of all possessions；
namely； Kaela herself。
Alfred and Kaela were betrothed； which was a very natural
result； and the betrothal was announced in the newspaper of the little
town。 Mama purchased thirty copies of the paper； that she might cut
out the paragraph and send it to friends and acquaintances。 The
betrothed pair were very happy； and the mother was happy too。 She said
it seemed like connecting herself with Thorwalsden。
〃You are a true successor of Thorwalsden；〃 she said to Alfred； and
it seemed to him as if； in this instance； mamma had said a clever
thing。 Kaela was silent； but her eyes shone； her lips smiled； every
movement was graceful；… in fact； she was beautiful； that cannot be
repeated too often。 Alfred decided to take a bust of Kaela as well
as of her mother。 They sat to him accordingly； and saw how he
moulded and formed the soft clay with his fingers。
〃I suppose it is only on our account that you perform this
common…place work yourself； instead of leaving it to your servant to
do all that sticking together。〃
〃It is really necessary that I should mould the clay myself；〃 he
replied。
〃Ah； yes； you are always so polite；〃 said mamma； with a smile； and
Kaela silently pressed his hand； all soiled as it was with the clay。
Then he unfolded to them both the beauties of Nature； in all her
works； he pointed out to them how； in the scale of creation； inanimate
matter was inferior to animate nature； the plant above the mineral；
the animal above the plant； and man above them all。 He strove to
show them how the beauty of the mind could be displayed in the outward
form； and that it was the sculptor's task to seize upon that beauty of
expression； and produce it in his works。 Kaela stood silent； but
nodded in approbation of what he said； while mamma…in…law made the
following confession：…
〃It is difficult to follow you； but I go hobbling along after
you with my thoughts； though what you say makes my head whirl round
and round。 Still I contrive to lay hold on some of it。〃
Kaela's beauty had a firm hold on Alfred； it filled his soul；
and held a mastery over him。 Beauty beamed from Kaela's every feature；
glittered in her eyes； lurked in the corners of her mouth； and
pervaded every movement of her agile fingers。 Alfred； the sculptor；
saw this。 He spoke only to her； thought only of her； and the two
became one； and so it may be said she spoke much； for he was always
talking to her； and he and she were one。 Such was the betrothal； and
then came the wedding； with bride's…maids and wedding presents； all
duly mentioned in the wedding speech。 Mamma…in…law had set up
Thorwalsden's bust at the end of the table； attired in a
dressing…gown； it was her fancy that he should be a guest。 Songs
were sung； and cheers given； for it was a gay wedding； and they were a
handsome pair。 〃Pygmalion loved his Galatea；〃 said one of the songs。
〃Ah； that is some of your mythologies；〃