Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1854-02-03
Ida PfeIfier, the Lady Traveller Again.

pauleu W yOui iHdShduOu OuT heIolus uuN
rler round the globe; we are now prepared
to follow her in her wanderings to Iceland.
Our starting point is Vienna. Vienna is the
capital Of Austria. 1t is situated in fertile
,,iain, on the south bank Of the Danube, and
contains many elegant palaces, churches, and
other public buildings. On the 10th Of April
Mrs. Pfeiffer left Vienna all alone, and Turn
cd her face northward. She arrived at Co
penhagen the capital Of Denmark. The
Danes pay great attention TO Education,
Common Schools are established throughout
the kingdom, and are supported at the public
expense. Copenhagen is situated on the
eastern shore of the Island Of Zealand, and is
one Of the best built Cities in Europe. From
this city our lady traveller set out for Iceland,
:" and after voyage Of eleven days, anchor
was let 90 in the haibor of lIavenford which
is about nine miles from Reikjsvick the capi-
tai Of Iceland" Haveniord is anything but
city The entire town consists of three
dwellings built Of wo cd, few more houses
Of the same material, and several huts inhab-
tied by the peasantry" Miserable wretch
ed smoking novels The fuel used. is turf
with an addition of sh-bones and blubber for
kndling, the smoke, therefore, cannot be We
ry agreeable.
Resting here few hours, we will set out
with our Lady traveller for the Capital of the
Island.
We are naturally inclined TO expect the
capital of nation to be great city, il not in
population, in wealth and magniicence. But
not so with the Capital OF Iceland. it is nothing
more than an insignificant village. If we
were to reside in Iceland we should have to
become accustomed 30 live and sleep without
night, from the middle of May till about the
last Of July. 1t would seem strange 10 lis TO
see twilight and dawn blended together, " and
the morning light breaking forth before the
! rays of the evening have faded" For a time
| we would hardly know when to so 10 sleep
nor when 10 wake up 1t would be good
country for loafers, for there they could stay
out all the time, and when their good wives
should bring them to an account for their alb
sence all 5iiglt, they could successfully answer
] as an excuse, that there pas no night But
Iceland, is happily free from this class Of yag
abonds They are said to be hospitable in thcil
manners, honest temperate, and industrious il
, their habits, and better educated than the com
, mon people Of most European countries Blu
we could get along better with this peculiarly
: than with their diet, aud singular mode 0
/. cooking. Everything must be cooked "
= with sugar. flashed fish, boiled eggs pota
toes, cabbage, all are sweetcned. This mod
of cooking. however. is confined to the bette
: class "The ordinary fare of the peasantr.
d is repulsive beyond description.
+. The churches of Iceland are small infe'io
/; structures. "They are used, not merely fo
y religious worship, but like yankee work
I. shop, for a little OF everything. They are tn
y village store houses, where are deposited foot
tools, clothing, and other articles too nume
Gus to mention. They are also used f
;e sleeping palaces for travellers, Often di
ut Madame Ida pass the night alone in one {
)" those sacred temples, sleeping on pile {
6 wool or some blankets while around he
7 lay saddles, Shoes, hats, dresses, and implt
n menls of hunting, fishing, agriculture, trave
" in admirable disorder" Well, we are no
a, en- route for the hot springs, and on our wa
&c we will visit Thingvalla. TIE gale of Thin;
10 valla is the loveiicst portion of Iceland. II
Lake of Thingvalla is a beautiful body
water two miles in length, and, in some plac
20 nearly as wide. But there is the village
'e Thingvalla, once the most important town
n the Island. But We must not tarry, The h
be springs are forty miles distant, and the Wi
I'd is through desolate Wild without a sota
pc house. q" Passing through the Valley Of t
'V ridumu5e river, we reach in due time the fl
hot spring. around which are severa o he
Some are boiling and bu6bIing in their roc
10 cauldrons: "Others of more aspiring incn
p" tlons spout cts INTO the air." But The gree
i" est sight we shall see is the reddish ro
~. "Tunga Huer" which rises up from the n
rd rass to the height of twenty feet, and is abe
la' fifteen in length. From two of its sic
gush forth sixteen springs. Though not
6cult Of access. the rock is somewhat dang
N. Gus. The upper stratum is soft and war
lie of The consistency Of mud, mixed with sa
Of aad pebbles" Let us stand a: its base a
,o' look st Madame Ida sscenting 10 its sunni
there she stands "forgetfll OF the dang
in hearing the Kissing of the waters pent up
rk. the heart Of that old denizen of the deso
in Morass. enveoped in the dense clouds
'he steam,lo ST 10 wonder and admiration Of the
mighdness Of the creator" After visiting
cayG Of Surlhellix which extends several mi