Omaha daily bee., 1874-06-20

Geographical Society at the celebra-
ton. Mr.. Field has just returned
from California and will sail for
England on the 18th inst, intend
ing to 60 by steamer from Leith in
Scotland to the Iceland festival.
DR.. Hayes has been trying
to get together a party Of eight
to sail to Iceland in q schooner.
He told q Tribune reporter on Fri
day that he had secured the staunch
schooner Mary d. Leech, and would
have the sole conduct of the excur-
sion. Four gentlemen have agreed
to join the party, and inquiries nave
been made about the trip by nearly
$50 Others, but most Of the inquirers
do not like the notion of seafaring
In a schooner. If he does not fill up
the peuired number, eight, within
ten days OIL. whereabouts, DR.. Hayes
will abandon the enterprise, and
will sail for England ON the oath
inst, and go to Iceland from
Scotland by steamer. The expense
OF the excursion party would be
about $1,000. 1t was originally in
tended to sail on the 10th of this
month, but delay in forming the
party will defer the departure till
the end of this month. The first
place touched at will be Halifax,
whence the schooner will sail for
Greenland. After remaining there
two days to give the passengers an
opportunity to see something of life
and scenery in Greenland, the
schooner will sail for Iceland.
On the first day of August the
anniversary celebration will begin
at the capital, Reykjavik, where the.
King Of Denmark will confer q tree
constitution upon the Icelanders.
On the second day there will be re-
vived the old custom Of the assem-
bly, Of the representatives of the diff
ferent districts of Iceland, each dis
trict being called SisOl, and the
head man, a short of sheriff, being
called a Sisel-mann. The assem-
bly, will meet on the lava plain of
Shingvalla, . level six miles by
eight, formed by lava from the
famous volcano Skaptan Yokal.
The Allthing or assembly of the
whole people will celebrate the an
niversary on the Log-borg or Low.
mount. There will be fetes, rejoic-
ings, and other anniversary exer-
cises during the remainder of the
millennial week.
DIR. Hayes proposes to remain
with his party in Iceland for two or
three weeks after the celebration,
visiting places of interest In the
country. They will 60 to the Gey-
sers and to Mount Hecla, which DR..
Hayes declares he shall try to ascend
"a feat never yet accomplished.
The hight Of the mountain is 1,lSO
feet. DIR. Hayes asserts that Au-
gust IL a very agreeable month in
Iceland, without excessive heat or
uncomfortable cold. After seeing
the notable features of Iceland the
party will return to this country,
possibly stopping at Labrador on the
way.
DIR. Hayes anticipates that there
will be a large gathering of persons
of high position from the Continent
of Europe and from England. The
King Of Denmark and the Danes
who go with him will sail from
Copenhagen. Those who go from
Great Britain will go from Glasgow
and Leith in Scotland, from which
ports there is weekly steamer to
Iceland in the summer. The Occa-
sion, says DIR. Hays, Is looked upon
as of great interest and importance,
because 1t Is the first instance In
history of the the celebration of its
anniversary by q nation
which has preserved its original
Of government for that time.
at should be of particular interest
to Americans as republicans, be-
cause, although Iceland nominally
first to Norway and then
to Denmark, it has been in effect q
republic from the beginning. The
republic was founded in 874 by the
old Jarls and mobiles of Norway.
who were driven away from their
country by the TYRANNY of
Harold Harftagr."-New York Hib-
une, June 18th.