New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-04-15
PUTTING THE CENTENNIAL OUT or
COUN1ENAhCE.

1t will be Just O thousand years ago this
Summer since a fierce Viking from Norway,
sailing to and fro according to his habit in
search of new worlds in which to steal and
kill, ran aground upon mass Of volcanic
mountains rising out of the misty confines of
the Arctic Sea, and wrapped in the unbroken
SHOWS and scorie of ages, while sulphurous
flames and boiling fountains burst from the
plains below. The Viking called it Iceland,
and Harold the Far-haired became proprietor
thereof and it certainly speaks very little for
the comfort OF domestic advantages of that
picturesque state of society sung by sages and
by seers, in which fair haired Vikings played
such an active part, to know that a brisk en-
igration at once set in from Norway to this
desolate beach, which Nature had apparently
thrown away for Fire and Frost to destroy.
The descendants of these first settlers yet
people the island, and propose to celebrate in
a few weeks the thousandth anniversary of
that far-off day which made them inheritOrs
of its sulphur, seals, and lava. The details Of
the celebration are not yet resolved upon, but
we, their American neighbors, are expected to
join in some sort of way, and that with the
moro heartiness because the return of the
island to her ancient rights of self government
is also to be made subject for rejoicing.
Of course, this celebration puts new face
on our Centennial. Indeed, a prOvokingly new
face. When we turn with these solitary peO-
Die to search for their ancestors back in tho
distant ages gone down into the eter-
nal darkness and silence of Polar seas,
George Washington, and Bunker HILL and the
brick State-house, and the brass bell in Pha-
delphia appear as things of yesterday-vulgarly
and Extensively modern. We are disguised
with our own youth: we discover that we are
but boys, at the end of single school term,
and the less perhaps that is said Of our doings
the better. To be sure, we have grown bigger
and broader than our grave and ancient neigh
Dor, and can make louder noise at our birth
day but is bigness virtue in anything but
cattle at prize show7 and will our size and
weight really be written down to our credit by
the Judge who takes account Of the national
The Icelander during this decade of centuries
has built no cities, fought no civil war, made
no brut of any sort in the world His history
during these thousand years simply is that he
has always been poor, digging sulphur, or
gathering moss from the rocks or dragging
seals from the water as his meager contribu-
tions to the traffic of the world; that he has
always been contented, taking both his poverty
and his work easily; that without free schools
he is educated; that he has sung one great
undying song on behalf Of his native land;
that, while compelled to live in dirty houses OF
lava and clay, his moral nature and habits are
exceptionally clean; that, having been granted
nothing of the beauty and warmth OF Gods
world, he yet gives to Him singular adher-
ence and gratitude. His record is, in brief.
that of a man who has for thousand years
had faith in his country, in himself, and in his
God. What like message shall we send back
of ourselves on our first birthday to hint
1t is proposed to found, or rather
increase, q national library and museum at
Reykjavik. the Icelandic capital, as lasting
commemoratiOn of this anniversary, and con-
tributions Of American books, Sc, are asked
for it. The Pennsylvania Historical Society in
Philadelphia has offered to receive any such
books from authors and publishers, and to
forward them. AS this is probably the only
practical way in which We can aid our ancient
neighbors in their rejoicing, We hope 1t may
be done in a manner suited to their dignity OF
years and ours of size.