But for the fact that friends of the late Mr, Andersen are still alive fund remember his early days well, would be almost impossible to credit the carver of the deceased as now related, Born in Denmark, he diacided to become a marine engineer und was trained in Scotland—in the famous yard of Messrs. Denny, it believed, He made his first voytage to the East in a very small steamer, which he left at Singapore. Then he drifted to China, and pro-ably only a man of such a hardy cigarette-making machine to Mr.
Mustant, and it was agreed to take tap this new business. Among those who paid for the machine are pro-ably two men still in Shanghai. Tt was operated in a building next to Messrs. Lane. Crawford & Ca. establishment in Nanking Road, and Ig still in existence, Mr, Andersen was put on ax engineer of this plant, and i hed a curious utility.
The people wir were running knew nothing cnout the curing of tobacen or the favouring of it, and while they could turn out the ces a day by this no idea as to how to keep condition. If they were told on the day they were made, well and good, but within a week they were was not profitable At this time a representative of the American Tobacco Ca, believed to he Mr Duke, found himself in Shanghai He complained to Messrs, Mustard that by manufacturing themselves they were competing with his com-patly. The matter was then adjust ed by the American Tobacco taking over the machine, but the Question immediately came up ax to what was to Lo done with Mr, Anderson. Ultimately it was agreed that he should be riven a position in the firm of Mustard & Ca,, and this proved to be the event which. led to his fortune, constitution as he had could have stood what he went through, His The Head of Mustard first night's lodging is said to have been in the Bund gardens, or whatever the foreshore wag like about 1870 when he landed here, and it was not by any means one night that he spent in this manner. was said that there were days when hho went without food, and that the Jobs he got were few and far between. Once he was lurky and was able to make a trip to the Philippines as engineer aboard a st bhut apparently hig sources of income at this stage were of the most precarious nature. Ultimately went to the north, and either built or was manager for what eas then known as Li Hung-chang's naval dockyard at Taku, This kept him cing for some time, but then he came back to Shanghai, and his arrival here coincided "with the growth of -the great tobacco industey im Chis Cigarette Making in Nanking Road Mr. Mustard—the head of Mustard & Co—was agent. for the American Tobacco Ca., and consider-fed that he did a good business if he sold 1,000 cases of cigarettes a month. Then another American, and offered to sell a While Mr, Andersen commenced work in Mustard & Ca., Mr. Duke opened negotiations with the famous Brigtol firm of Wills, and these ultimately led to the formation of the British-American Tobacco Ca. with its subsequent numerous subsidiaries. It is understood that the jem acquired Mustard & Ca, who from being their agents in China, became a" branch organization. This, however, did not take place for some time, and within a very short period of Mr. Andersen's joining: the firm, Mr. Mustard, and his partner, Mr. C. C, Benneit, died, This left Me. Andersen not only head of Mustard & Ca. but of the tobacco interests which were then rapidly developing, and shares in the new companies were acquind by hin at prices which would make investors in these concerns weep to-day.
His old acquaintances state that! often at that time Mr. Andersen did not have the money to take" up. these shares, but he went on the principle that he had followed all Uhrough his life that he would work until he had the necessary cash. He had teen utterly reckless in money matters during his hard-up days: lip would lose $100 at poker in a night and then would work des-berately hard until this sum was paid off, and so it was with his newly acquired shares. What a magnificent Investment thege Were well-known, and it is extremely interesting to note that when the tide of his fortune had turned he} showed himself a careful man in regard to money matters as well as being an extremely shrewd business In the U. 8. Navy ig understood that the deceased kept a diary which is now in the hands of his executors, and if it covers his early days in Shanghai it should prove of the rarest inter-He had done so many things, had so many jobs and been 90 often oat of a job, that it could not fail to be wonderful reading. For instance it is known that he was at one time in the American Navy when the U. S. Asiatic Fleet went to Korea, having the position of an engineer, and his experience on this, and other occasions must have been of an exceptional nature, But his whole life was exceptional, and it wag somewhat more than surprising. to the Danish National Museum Year or two ago to receive the unifent gift of £50,000" from It Ix understood that the only relative of the deceased was a nephew who was at one time in Shanghai, Mr. Andersen had not been in good health for some time, although one of his old friends had seen him as late as Saturday atter- 1 noon. The funeral took place on Thursday The Funeral The funeral took place on Thursday at Pahsienjao Cemetery, Pastor Morgensen officiating, The casket was borne to the graveside Messrs. Andersen, O, Jorgen Thoresen, T. E. Skidmore, T. Rothe, Robert Bailey, N. C. Fosier, and A, Trevor-Thomas There was a large gathering present, Including Mr. S. Langkaer, Consul-General for Denmark, Judge Sir P Mr. V. Meyer, of Andersen, Meyer & Ca., and others.
The chief mourners were Mr Lankjsbr Dartish Connul-Geneval, Mr. J. Ambrose, and Mr, V. Meyer An address was delivered by the Danish Consul-General, who said:—
The committee of the National Museum Fund in Denmark have risked me, here at the interment of Laurits Andersen, to give expression to the ieratitude' of the Danish lo for his great the Na. tional Museum ensue and the sid bereavement, by his death, of all who have this ewuse at heart, Cone ditions in Denmark at the time the National Museum question - was Faixed, wore such that there is no doubt but that Laurits Andersen's donation in aid of the nation-wide subscription greatly influenced the ate fate of the cause, This xi of such imposing magnitude according to Danish standards, coming unexpectedly as-it did from man unknown at home but of: whom it was learnt that he left home a young man without any means and won through after a Tong struggle here in the Far East, held something of the glamour of fairy-tale, lending such impulsive warmth to the national feeling for the cause that there could no longer he any doubt that this was a tional cause brooking mo delay, wore the times never '80 bad, We must all regret that Laurits Andersen did not live to see the erection of the new National Museum. However, he had the satisfaction of learning the decision of Parliament on the question and of knowing our unique and" irreplaceable national treasures safe guarded in future, These tidings reached him on his death-bed and were the last great joy of his earthly life.
There is no doubt that the National Museum cause was the cause sarest Laurits Andersen's heart, and I think on the other hand that his gift in aid of the cause and the appreciation shown from all quarters at home—from His Majesty the King, from the Danish Government and from the whole nation—shed light and joy on the last years of his life 'As the representative of my country here I feel called upon to express "deep and heart-felt grat tude for what he has done for the Danish people, not as regards this cause alone bat for all that his life and work will come' to mean to hhis country. It need be a secret no longer that in accordance with Andersen's wish the greater far of the forte be bu ind wil ge towards Donna "Acordie to'nso fund sininintered fe Donec wit esttad forthe furteranes"ot Danio cade end inguasy ant tot Mig ok and guetieny Tarourh tha Itt an well through the Natonat"
Taney odes seme down to poverty, and to "one tee rations il Show har She thoughout lis Lie, week county cre and who ose true led for ken the conntey of ha Sleek tothe int? Honour ta his memrst here were many fora tribes include' one from on eae Of Denture asd" verst "et table the al Wo bai Ham Means augen ts Sol louey, ili. Ins Andersen', Undervianl minlteriet; " Generalkonsut, 'S. Laaiee Hontimasaget; Directors of the: Britich lean Tobacco, Cow Ltd. Londor American" Tobiteeo Ca. Chin Prius Valdemar Os. Princesse Fond: ai The wills; "Mir. and Movers Mr. 0. Thoreseny and Mrs, Ty it Skidmoroy Mee and
re: robert Ball roster; Mee A rr "jo aad Andersen; "A. 'V, Jorgen 3 Rothe; C. Brunt. itenvik Troch mn Park Chew! Wing
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.