The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1874-09-11

Bayard TayIOr's Description of the Morse |
Islanders Celebration Of their Thou
sandth Anniversary.
Rojkiavik Letter to n. Y. Tribune.
The first of the two days set apart for
the commemorative festivities dawned
cIoudless and splendid. A sharp wind
from the north, before sunrise, blew
away every Vestige of mist or cloud
SnafeIl cleaned like an opal over the
water, and when, at s o'clock, a gun
from the kings frigate gave signal, the
CLEAN and sparkle of the linked flags,
as they ran up to peak and yard-arm
and down to the water, was something
really glorious to behold. On shore
there were signs of gathering and pre-
| paratiOn, and many a line of moving
! specks on the far hills showed that the
/ country people were betimes on the
way.
! The programme of the day consisted
of commemorative services in the cathe-
/ dral, a banquet in the hall of the uni
versity, and a popular festival on the
! hill of Asturvelli, mile from the town.
The last feature promised to be the
most attractive, since, after songs and
| speeches, there were to be dancing and
| fugetdrGr n1yktiT-" great flying fires. "
The new constitution, which went into
! y
with any special ceremonies. Copies of
it have already reached Iceland, the
people were very generally acquainted
with the provisions, and content to &C.
| cept it as the beginning of a reform
! The celebrations here to-day, and on
Friday next at Thingvalla, have there
| fore historical rather than a political
character.
Six o'clock, and the peoples festival
| had commenced on the eastern hill.
We went ashore at 1890 o'clock, and
found everything 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 gilt
tered in the sun, and the high peaks of
KeyIur slept in the blue distance.
| Genuine Icelandic costumes appeared
at last, and original and graceful they
were. The women wore white helmets
| of curious pattern, the horn curving
| over in front, six inches above the head,
the base richly embrt idered with gold,
and white veil thrown over all and
floating upon the shoulders. They had
also closely fitting jackets of dark cloth,
| heavily braided with gold or silver, and
/ broad belts of silver fligree work
Not more than half a dozen Of the men,
in all, wore the old national costume.
It consists of a jacket and knee
brooches of dark gray hOmespun cloth,
stockings of the same cloth, seal skin
shoes, and a round hat with the brim
turned up. The only ornament is a
bow of red ribbon at the knee.
The king and his cortege had just en-
tered the cathedral as we reached it,
and the foreign naval officers who had
been invited to the ceremony were
crowding with the natives into the low
northern portal. We had been furnish
ed with slips of parchment as admission
tickets to seats in the main aisle, and
the sacristan placed US IN front, oppo-
site the bishops pulpit. The choir was
singing one of ten new anthems com
posed for the occasion; lights were
burning in the chandeliers, on the altar
and between the galley-pillars; wreaths
of heather decorated the walls, choir
and galleries, and there was glow of
flowers around Thorwaldsen's baptis-
NAL font. The dull red OF the walls and
dark panes of the wooden ceiling har-
monized well with these simple adorn-
ments; the building wore as aspect of
cheerful solemnity, becoming the Occa-
sion. The seats filled rapidly during
the chant, men and women sitting to-
gether as they could find places. Then
the service commenced, after Ancient
Lutheran fashion. In fact it was nearly
an exact repetition of that we had seen
in Thcrshaven, except that the Icelandic
language was used. The hymns were
very simply and grandly sung; and the
''Psalm of Praise, written by Matthias
Jochumsson and composed by Svein-
4 biornssOn-the first musical work of a
| native Icelander, I am told-produced
FL r IL
{ ton looked, / saw eyes filed with
l tears. The repetition of the refrain
2 Islands tb1tSlald aT-'Tceland's thous-
, and years, rang through the cathedral
in tones which were solemn rather than
proud, and gave expression to the ear
D nest, religious spirit In which the peo-
/ pie have come together.
' At the university building Iackey in
e scarlet coat took our hats and mantles,
= and directed MS to the waiting-room M
D stairs, A number of Icelanders from
the country were allowed to go up and
down, to peep into the dining-halls,
E inspect the musicians and their in
! | struments, and otherwise indulge then
; curiosity. It must have been an extra
@ ordinary sight to most of them. The
Q royal pantries, extemporized out of the
: | recitation rooms, seemed to attract them
n had its interest for them until the viands
2 began to appear. By twos and threes
o and half dozens the guests gathered.
q Except the Icelanders, the Danish poet
Carl Anderson and ourselves, all were
, in civil, military or naval uniform. The
: Royal Marshal, Baron HOlten, who
seems TO have been chosen, like his fel-
low-marshals at all courts, for love OF
good cheer and good-fellowship, Gov.
Finssen, Minister Klein, Capt. Matte
t Bruu. Admiral Lagercrautz of the
Swedish navy, the Bishop, Chief JUS
; tice johnson, aud finally our hale and
! hearty friend DR.. Aialtalin, were among
the number. Last of all came Madame
Finssen, preceding the King and Prince
: Waldemar. Tall and stately, IN her
black MORE robe, she was as composed
and perfect in manner as when we saw
: her descend the garden steps 10 welcome
his majesty.
: The king walked around the circle
: without any ceremony, exchanging q
: few words with each person as he passed.
. The marshal did not make his appear
ance when our turn came, so we were
self-introdced as American guests and
not as individuals. Prince WaldemaI
is younger than thought-nOt more
2 that Is or 19-and still boyishly diff
T | dent IN his manner. He seemed IN
r clined to keep in the background as
= much as possible. I found Christian
= TX. as frank, simple and cordial as he
? appeared at first. What he said it Is
: not necessary to repeat, being the usual