, 1874-09-23
ICELANDIC MILLENARY FES-
TIVAL.
(rhe Daily News.)
Concluded.
REYKJAYIK. Anonst II

WIN ~ oASS
ers as the King came into port, had been
all that could be desired. Fine weather
at Thingvellir, where perhaps 1900 or
1900 persons were gathered together,
sleeping in tents for the most part, but
many in the open air, was 80 important
to the success of the proceedings that no
one found cause to complain when O
steady rain set in as soon as preparations
were being made for the return Journey
TO Reykjavik. Among 5000 horses hob
bling on different parts of the plain, natu-
rally it was no easy task without much
search and delay to get those together
that belonged to o particular party. Sun
dry horses had gone astray, but the hob
blers put round their fore feet would not
permit them to stray far. In many instan-
ces during the night their rope banda
ges had been scratched off, and then, if
the horse took it into his head to wander,
under a day or two perhaps he would not
again be found. However, these instan-
ces, although they did occur, were rare.
The ride home upon these fleet and Wig
orous ponies through the wind and rain
in the darkness reminded one of Burgers
"Lenore," for the ponies, when warmed
up to their work, leave ground at a very
rapid pace behind them. There are not
many visitors from abroad at the festival.
Beyond the King and his suite, officers
of the Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, and
French men-ofwar, the Populations from
the scandinavian Universities, about q
dozen Englishmen, a few Americans, one
Russian, and one Hungarian, there were
no foreigners present.
The Americans left on Saturday, and
thus missed, perhaps. the most interesting
affair that has taken place-certainly the
most enjoyable for foreigners during the
mlllenary jubilee. 1t was the ball given
last evening in the schoolhouse of Rey-
kjavlk. The King was present and Prince
VaIdemar. Invitations to the population
were given in q primitive fashion, by mes
sengors, verbally, and soon after nine the
dancing commenced. This was a grand
occasion to see the youth and beauty of
Reykjavik in their national costumes.
There appears to be q divided opinion
among the IceIandic maidens whether
this shall be retained. It would be q pi-
ty to let so costly and characteristic a dress
die out of fashion. The men have no ma
tlonal dress. For the most part the
maidens wore a pure white robe with q
golden girdIe, formed of plaques of elabor-
ate workmanship. The headdress re-
sembles q helmet-somewhat after the
fashion of a casque of . French dragoon
of fine white linen o band studded
with golden stars or chased Ornamental
ton eneircles the brow, while over the
whole is thrown a light tulle veil. Ia the
word "golden" the poetic sense of colour,
and not the adjective of the actual met
al is intended to be expressed. The helm
OF Liberty gives the wearer a very
Amazon-llke appearance, and recalls to
mind the warlike and independent spirit
OF the Icelanders of old.
The King joined promiscuously in the
dance, and not only showed himself to be
King by the force Of circumstances, but
a King who loved his people, aud who
made their joys his joys. All the arms
and tiags in Reykjavik were called into
.requisition. Muskets and pistols, and
swords and "colours," were arranged
with great taste aud in pretty designs on