The New York herald., 1874-08-01
Iceland.

There ore few of our readers, no matter
how much they may be absorbed in immediate
and personal affairs, who will not give
thought to the interesting people far removed
in the cold and lonely northern seas, who to-
day celebrate the thousandth year of their
national existence. 1t is difficult to think OF
Iceland as real country with real people,
and history also of more than ordinary in
terest 1t has grown into fable or poem
in our modern thought, and we think of it as
we do of the land of the "Arabian Nights
and the cities of Haroun al Raschid; as q
country of the imagination, existing only in
the fancy of poets and writer's of fairy tales.
To be sure, we should have more than an
ordinary interest in Iceland, as the home of
those hardy Norsemen who, according to
Scandinavian legends, first discovered Amer
lea It was something to have found this
Continent, even if these Norsemen afterwards
lost it, and we are not without hope that the
scientific men who attend this celebration
men, for instance like DR.. L I. Hayes, the
celebrated Arctic explorer, who represents the
New York HERALD-will bring back with
them new data to enable us to determine
how closely we are related to the Morse
men, or whether the influence of those
early discoveries is at all impressed upon
the character and traditions Of our
aboriginal tribes. 1t has long been with us
debated question whether the various forms
of human life and development that existed
in America before the advent of Columbus
were independent of the forms that ex-
listed in the older commandments. The ira
dition that some of the early discoverers of
America remained in this country and became
assimilated with our Indian tribes has long
existed in Iceland, and it would be in
esting to discover whether or not it is true.
In other respects Iceland is country we'll
worth the closest study. Here are manifesto
tions of nature, wild and bold volcanic and
Arctic forms, peculiarly interesting to US in an
age when there are no seas to explore but
those around the North Pole Here is all
island not more than two-thirds the size of
Pennsylvania, with the population Of o
second class American inland town, that
is simply desert studded with geysers
and volcanoes, that has been abandoned in
the far northern ocean, and around the rim of
which still clings small, resolute, intelligent
and patriotic population. Although every
natural and supernatural influence seems to
have combined to make the island impossible
as the home of men, those who dwell there
show love for it unsurpassed by
that Of the Frenchman for his vine
hills or the Swiss for his valley. For centuries
it has been bitter and almost hopeless
contest Here man has had to battle with the
ice and the frost, the earthquakes and the
volcanic eruptions; the winters when there is
no day and the summers when there is no
night; the barren soil, which grudges meagre
harvest; the absence of the resources and COM
forts Of ordinary civilization country without
shops or prisons or carriages; without an army,
o navy or policeman without AN established
Church or militia-simply. as we have said,
one vast desert, fringed by belt of pasture
land. Yet, as showing how. even in the most
adverse conditions, mankind is equal to any
duty Providence imposes upon it, in no coun-
try more than in Iceland do we find a cul-
tured, kind and honest people, content in the
enjoyment OF simple, virtuous life, and sur
passed by none other in intelligence, courage
and patriotism.
Trouble In tho Pa