Washington telegraph., 1847-08-11
VIEW OF SCANDINAVIAN
MYTHOLOGY.


ALL nations have sought. BY means oil
mythology, 10 explain the origin and gov.
efnment u The world tho destiny OF man
in this lie, and bis slate alter death. The
belief and ideas OF the early Scandinayi.
ans ON these points, may be found in an
ancient work entitled the Edda. Accord.
To that work, there was, in tho beginning
oi time neither earth, ocean, nor sky, but
one huge gulf called Cinnumgagap. On
the one side OF this gull lay NiIlhm, 70.
gion Of frost and cold on the other, Mus.
pelshem, where Surlur reigns, the region
Of fire and light. When tho yapors of Nj
ilhem mot the rays from Mu,peshem, they
obtained lite ana became great giant.
called imer. This gian, was evil, as
were all his descendants, who were called
Rimussar. But the three gods, 0din,
Vie. and We, killed Ymcr; ia whose blood
all The Rimlussnr were drowned, save Berg.
lemer. who, with his wife, saved himself
in a boat, aud continued the race of the
Rinlussar. lmer's body was carried by
the gods into Gnnumgagap, and of il they
made the earth. The blood was turned
into seas and lakes-lhe bones Lecame
mounlains-lhe hair grew inlo forests
the beard into grass, and the teeth be.
came stones. The skull was raised above
the earth aud became the ornament. A
dwarf was placed under each corner, call
ed East; West, South, and North. The
gods then took sparks from Auspelshem,
aud placed them as stars in the sky. In
The centre Of the earth, they raised strong
castle. made of Ymer's eyebrows. This
castle was called Midgard, aud there the
gods resided; but the giants were permit.
ted to dwell without on the sea.coasts.-
The gods once found on the shore the trunks
of two dead trees. Oh these they lormed
the first human beings-Ask and Emble-
tom whom the human race have since de.
seendcd and they dwet with the gods in
Midgard.
PERLs uF FALsuooD.-ln the beautiful
language Of an eminent wriler-"When
once coLcealmenl Of deceit has been
pracliscl in matters where all should be
open and rs fair as day-conijenee can
never be restored, any more than You can
iesta,c The 5loom To the grape or the PUN
you have once pressed in your hand. -
How ,ur is thsl and what neglected
ruh by a great portion Of mankind. False.
hood Is not On y one Of the most humiIia
uug Vices. but sooner OF later il is certain
lu cad to many serious crimes. With
partners ia trade with partners IN lle--
wilhlriouds, with lovers, how important is
coalidcncc How essential that all guile
aud hypocracy should be guarded against
ia the Intercourse between snch panirsl
How much misery would be avoided in the
history Of many lives, had truth dul sinceri.
:, been lhc guiding and controlling motives,
instead OF peyaflcalion aud DECEIT
ANY vice" said parent in our hear.
ing, a lew days since, "any vice, at least
among the hailturcs of milder character,
but Asehood. Far better that my child
commit un error or do wrong aud confess
it, lhan escape the penalty, however Sc.
we're, by ialschood and hypocracy. Let me
know The worst, and a remedy may possibly
be applied. But keep me in the dark
let me be misled or deceived, aud it is i'm
possible, TO tell at what uuprcparod hour a
crushing blow. an overwhelming exposure
may COME