Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1803-03-11

fun never rites buta few degrees above
the horizon and where fable night reigns
for feveral months together; have tate
for literature, and particularly for politics
and poetry.
/" On Heekls, and on the rocks OF tie
fixty Gxth segrec Of North latitude (lays
an Ingenious writer) political literature is
not 70 barren as might be expected from
the foil and climate. The inhabisant OF
the cold regions of Iceland has, indeed,
ever had warm heart for literature. 10
the printing Office at Hoolum, eaablilhed
two hundred and fxty- eight years ago,
a monthly infelligencef is printed, which
bears the name of the Iceland News.
paper.
As we'll the poetical tate Of thofe
Moog@nie geniufes, as the mildnefs and
fuaviiy Of their difpoftions, appear from
the following anicdote.
1t has been credibly related, that when
any two Icelanders have an affair. of Eho-
noar, or quarrel, as it is vulgarly CALL
ed, inaead Of boxing and brufing foge-
ther, like lurdy Eng!ihnen of the lower
cIaaes; or whipping one another through
the lung, with fwords, or mutually ia-
jeeting kadea pills, as has been common
among the more polite and fashionable
people, as wellin America as in mott parts
Of Europe ;-ihey fcourge each other
Carefully minding never to break the fkin
or fetch bloody with fender twigs, pluck.
ed from the neighbourhood Of Parnaaus.
That is to fay, the contending parties go
ing forth and taking confpicuous asnd,
amida the aGembled friends and acquain-
lance of both Gdes, exert their talents IN
ridiculing and buAeting each other in
rhyme and he that is able to keep up
this pugnacalar poetry with the mott fpi-
rit, and to continue, it the longea, is de-
clared to be the conquerer. In this way,
a difputc between them is decided and,
a, the fame time, all the company are
highly amufed and diverted.
Thus the lads, in Iceland, learn tie art
of verifying, for.defence, and for annoy
ing their rivals; even as people of oihes
nations learn boxing and fencing. When
I dra fet myfeIf down TO fcribblc upon
this fnbjetf, it was my intention TO have
recommended this bloodlefs mode of du-
cling to my dear coun,rymen; in lieu of
the fanguinsry practice that is now in ia
(hion. Happy, methought, vould it be if
the American bucks, taking leGon from
the Iceland gen,ry, might learn to fettle
their affairs of honor in this harmless
manner. But, on the other hand, it ought
to be coniidered that the Americans are
not b0,n poets, and with the mott fire.
nuous efforts, leldom rife above mediocre
ty ;-that the faculty ofgetsing and keep
ing money is accounted, in this country,
the mott efimablc Of all talents, whereas
m9Jt-yiddsa genius ieldom fails to be
poor-and finally, that the Iceland cuf
tom might caufe the whole country to be
deluged with wretched poetry, by tempt
ing many people, as we'll females as males,
TO murder rhyme, who have hitherto been
pure from this crying fin. Therefore, fe-
riouly weighing thefe objections, and
nicely balancing the 9ros and cons, have
concluded 10 give up my project and TO
leave duelling as found it-lea the re.
medy hould prove worfe than the diieafe.
Protector.