New-York tribune., 1874-08-27
THE MILLENNIAL CELEBRATION AT REL
KIAVIK.

klANlk.
PROGRAMME OF THE DAY-sERvIcEs IN THE cArHE-
DRAL-THE CHANT TO "ICELAND's THOUSAND
YEARsv-DINING WITH THE KING-THE POPULAR
FESTIVAL ON THE EASTERN HIL-A POEM AND
SPEECH BY THE AMERICAN sKAID.
frRoM A REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRrBUNEl
REJKIAvIK, Sunday Evening, Aug. 2.-The first OF
the two days set apart for the commemorative
festivities dawned cloudless and splendid. sharp
wind from the north, before sunrise, blew away
every vestlge of mist or cloud; Sn8fell cleaned
like an opal over the water, and when, at
o'clock. gun from the Kings frigate gave signal.
the CLEAN and sparkle of the linked flags, as they
ran UP to peak and yardarm and down to the water
was something really glorious to behold On shore
there were signs of gathering and preparation, and
many line of moving specks on the far hills showed
that the country people were betimes on the way.
The programme for the day consisted of commem-
orative services in the Cathedral, banquet in the
hall of the University, and popular festival on the
hill of Austurveli mile from the town. The last
feature promised to be the most attractive. since,
after songs and speeches. there were to be dancing
and Naqeldrar mykir-" great flying fires" The new
Constitution, which went into force yesterday has
| not been announced with any special ceremonies.
Copies of it had already reached Iceland the people
were very generally acquainted with Its provisions,
and content to accept it as the beginning OF re-
form. The celebrations, here to-day, and on Friday
next at Thingvaa have therefore historical rather
| than political character
| We went ashore at 1Ol o'clock, and found every
| body fastening toward the Cathedral. The open,
| grassy square around the old building was covered
with picturesque groups of people, the lake IN the
rear OF the town gttered in the sun, and the high
peaks of Keylur slept in the blue distance. Genuine
Icelandc costumes appeared at last, and original
| and graceful they The women wore white
helmets of curious pattern, the horn curving over
in 'front.' six inches above the head the base richly
embroidered with gold and white vail thrown
over all and floating upon the shoulders They had
also closely jackets of dark cloth. heavily
braided with gold or silver and broad belts of silver
| fligree work. Not more than half dozen of the
men, in all wore the old national costume. 1t con-
| sists of Jacket and knee-breeches of dark-gray
| homespun CLOTH stockings of the same cloth, seal
skin Shoes and round hat with the brim turned
up. The only ornament is bow of red ribbon at
| the knee
| The King and his cortege had just entered the
cathedral as we reached it, and the foreign naval
officers who had been invited to the ceremony were
| crowdng with the natives into the low northern
portal. We had been furnished with slips of parch-
ment as admission tickets to seats in the main aisle,
and the sacristan placed in front, opposite the
| Bishops pulpit. The choir was singing one OF ten
new anthems composed for the occasion lights were
burning in the chandeliers on the altar, and be-
tween the gallery pillars wreaths of heather decor
ated the walls. choir and galleries. and there was
glow of flowers around Thorwaldsen's baptismal
font The dull red of the walls and dark panels of
the wooden ceiling harmOnized we'll with these SIM
pie adOnments; the building wore an aspect OF
cheerful soemnty, becoming the OCCASION The
seats filled rapidly during the chant, men
and women sitting together as they could find places
Then the service commenced, after the Ancient
Lutheran fashion. In fact it was nearly an exact
repetition of that we had seen in Thorshavn, ex-
cept that the Icelandlc language was used. The
hymns were very simply and grandly sung; and
the Psalm of Praise" written by Matthias Joch-
unison, and composed by Sveinbj6rnsson-the first
musical work by native Icelander, am told-pro-
duced powerful effect In whichever direction l
looked l saw eyes filled with tears. The repetition
of the refrain Islands husund dr. Icelands
thousand years." rang through the Cathedral in
tones which were solemn rather than proud. and
gave expression to the earnest, religious spirit In
which the people have come together.
The sermon, by Bishop PjeturssOn, was quite unIn-
tellipible to me- 1t was delivered in lamenting,
almost lachrymose voice. with scarcely change OF
infection from beginning to end; and the impress
sion, if any were really intended, must have been
much diminished by the copious doses of snuff taken
by the speaker and the appearance of his handker-
chef as it lay on the pulpit-desk. The exercises
lasted for an hour and half, closing with another
glorious anthem. BY following the printed words,
as they were sung by the choir, not only acquired
the accommodation of the language but perceived its
admirable adaptability to music and poetry The
meaning of many of the words came to me, without
their grammar making clear, at least, the general
sense of the hymn.
The programme for the popular celebration in the
evening included procession, which should leave
the Cathedral-square at 81 o'clock Many of the
people. however hurried away before that hour. as
if shy to take part in anything 80 formal, while
groups of Others fingered about the place. waiting
for some voice of organization which never came.
At least up to o'clock, when Mr. Field. DIR. Hayes,
and myself betook ourselves to the royal banquet.
there were indications that any procession would
be formed
At the University Building lackey in a scarlet
coat took our hats and mantles and directed us to
the waiting room up stairs. number of Ioelanders
from the country were allowed to 60 up and down,
to peep into the dining halls inspect the musicians
and their instruments, and otherwise indulge their
curiosity 1t must have been an extraordinary
sight to the most OF them. The royal pantries.
temporized out of the recitation rooms. seemed to
attract them especially, and even the empty dish
had its interest for them until the vands
began to appear. By twos and threes and
half dozens, the guests gathered. Ex-
cept the Icelanders, the Danish poet Carl
Anderson and ourselves all in civil. military
or naval uniform. The Royal Marshal. Baron
Holten, who seems to have been chosen like his
fellow Marshals at all Courts, for love of good
cheer and good-fellowship, Governor Finssen,
Minister Klein, Capt Malte-BruD, Admiral Lager
crautz of the Swedish Navy, the Bishop Chief
Justice Jonasson and finally our hale and hearty