From the Hans Christian Andersen biography "The Life of Hans Christian Andersen. Day By Day", written by DPhil Johan de Mylius:
1860
The Workers' Association of 18601860: The Workers' Association of 1860
4 January
Return to Copenhagen.
14 January
Is invited to dine with King Frederik VII. HCA stays till 11 pm and reads aloud.
16 January
Once again, HCA reads aloud for the Workers' Association [presumably the new one of 1860]; "there were crushing crowds outside but I was able to remain completely calm and read well and was greatly applauded", writes HCA in the almanac. In a letter dated 21st January to Mrs Scavenius at Basnæs Estate (not printed), he writes:
On Monday I read aloud for the Workers' Association, which I am sure Your Grace has read about in [the newspaper] Berlings Tidende; It is surely of immeasurable benefit that several professors and poly-technicians have joined forces to arrange lectures for the working class, 3 times a week. It was then decided to also try giving these people a little poetry, and it turned out to be extremely popular. The hall was completely full, 700 people I think, and many more stood out on the street and certainly were noisy, as they could not get in. They demanded the windows be opened so they could hear me. They understood perfectly what I read aloud and in the end there was such quietness, such attention, that one could have heard a pin dropping on the floor; I do hope and believe that I have achieved something good with this reading of a couple of fairy-tales. Everything is now calm again in here, thank God, and I do not think it was quite as bad as some say. I was not actually out late in the evening and thus did not perceive anything at all".
24 January
Start of publication in the newspaper Berlingske Tidende of the series "A Visit to Charles Dickens in the Summer of 1857" (continued on 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th and 31st January as well as on 1st & 2nd February).
8 February
Reads once more for the Workers' Association. In an unpublished letter to Mrs Scavenius at Basnæs Estate, HCA states: "for a fairly over-filled house and a very grateful audience, I read: "The Girl Who Trod on the Loaf"; "The Ugly Duckling" and "She Was Good for Nothing"; this last one brought tears to peoples' eyes".
9 February
HCA is one of the hosts of a gala evening held at the Casino theatre on the evening of this day. The profit was to go to the Childrens' Hospital.
18 February
HCA has his will certified by the notary public and gives it to Edvard Collin.
17 March
Reads aloud once more for the Workers' Association.
18 March
The poem "Jylland" (Jutland) is published (with music by Peter Heise) in the magazine Illustreret Tidende.
30 March
Reads aloud for the Students' Association.