The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1864-06-10


an ice-green wave tearing through the
foam, to lash against the walls; the thun-
der and believing of the water, which
makes the rock shudder under foot, are
all stamped upon my mind with vivid
ness which 1t will take years to efface.-
The Almanuagja is nothing to this chasn;
and Schaff hausen, after all Turner's eff
forts to give it dignity, is dwarfed by Bet
tifoss. My sketch gives but poor idea
of the falls, the majesty of which it is
beyond human skill to portray, One man
only could have given true version of
its magnifcence, and he is dead-that
man was Turner. $500.
81 have no hesitation in saying that
Dettifoss is not only the finest sight in
Iceland, but is quite unequaled in Europe;
it amply repays a journey to it in its
Businesses; and l am sure that any future
visitor will be of opinion that I have uu-
derrated its wonders"
A fresh view of Icelandic life is given
in the following account of marriage
feast:
81 made myself as tidy as circumstan.
ces would permit, and then entered the
guest room, which was thronged with peo-
pie. The middle of the chamber was oc.
cupied by long table covered with eata-
bles and drinkabes. These consisted of
ships biscuits, skonrogs or hard biscuits,
which can only be broken with a hammer
or stone, cakes of -four and sugar, with
corn, pan cakes, cold boiled ducks eggs
and bottles of corn brandy. A bowl of
curd was broaght in for Grimm and me,
and we made hearty supper off it, the
biscuit and the eggs. .-.
81 had now an opportunity of seeing
the festive Icelandic female costume
This consists of black cloth skirt, white
sleeves, a green OF black velvet bodice,
worked over with silver flowers in the
most beautiful and tasteful manner, and
fastened in front by silver bodkin, which
laces the sides together by passing through
silver rings with tiukling balls and flow
ers of the same metal attached to them.
On the head is worn tall white cap, fas-
tened to the hair by pins with beautifully
wrought silver gilt heads. This cap is,
however, set aside in the evening, for the
more convenient coquettish black skull
cap with long silk tassel, which is in COM
mon use. The hair of Icelandic ladies
hangs to the shoulder and is then cut of.
Round the neck is worn small black or
colored handkerchief, tied in bow.
had brought some brooches with n to
Iceland as presents, but these | found
were quite useless, as the ladies neve.
wear shawls or kerchiefs folded over their
bosoms which could be fastened by a
brooch. I learned, to my regret, that
was too late for the religious portion Of
the wedding; however, was in time for
all the convivialities. These lasted till
or three in the morning, and consisted in
eating and sln ging."
A scene in cottage displays the in.
quisitive habits of the common folks of
Iceland
81 was awakened on the following morn
ing by the entrance of young man with
some goose eggs for sale. He was not
long solitary, for his father pushed in af-
ter him to see that his son was fairly re-
munerated, and his younger brothers fol-
lowed that they might have look at the
Enskrmatbr QEnglishman) who was going
to buy some goose-eggs Grimm crawlod
out of bed to inspect the articles, my host
came in to argue about them, followed by
his better half and the red haired servant
girl, both filed with feminine inquisitive.
ness, the latter pursued by her admirer, and
the admirer in turn followed by his BROTH
ers. Then, my hosts little snub-nosed
daughters, who were carrying on tlirta-
ton with the brothers of the maid s admi.
rer, poked their snub noses in at the door,
and presently becoming emboldened en-
tered the room, with four dogs which they
had been feeding. Finally, some folks from
Mothrudair, who had arrived on the pre-
ceding day with train of horses, finding
that my room was the general rendezvous,
edged themselves in as well. As every
one had something of his own to say on
the subject of the eggs, and was perfectly
Indifferent to the opinion of the others,
the room became a perfect Babel. My
comb and brush were in the window, and
as I knew that these would be tried upon
different heads in rotation, if once any of
the throng caught sight of them, | had to
stife all my sense of rropriety, jump out
of bed, dash through the crowd and cap.
ture my goods. | went through my dress
ing operations without drawing attention
from the eggs, which were still the en-
crossing topic of conversation"
A scene 10 an Icelandic farm house is
thus described
"The old man received US very kindly
1t was morning, aud be, with his wife aud
servant, were already up, brisk as bees,
aud ready for long talk. Twas tired out
and longed for bed, but hardly liked to get
in before them, yet Grimm had just be
gun the Grimsey story, and that with all
its grievances, would last an hour at least.
l fairly fell asleep with my head on the
table, and was reused by Grim, who re-
commended me to go to bed. "But," said