The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1874-09-17
ICELAND'S MILLENNIAL.
Bayard TayIOr's Description Of the Morse
IAIanders' Celebration of their Thou
sandth Anniversary.

RoJEav1k Letter to N. Y. Tribune.
The first of the two days set apart for
the commemorative festivities dawned
cloudless and splendid. A sharp wind
from the north, before sunrise, blew
away every vestige of mist or cloud I:
Sn8fell cleaned like an opal over the
water, and when, at 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
speeks 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, banquet in the hall of the uni
versity, and a popular festival on the
hill of Asturveili, a mile from the town.
The last feature promised to be the
most attractive, since, after songs and
speeches, there were to be dancing and
RugeIdraT H1yleLiT-" great flying fires. 4"
The new constitution, which went into
force yesterday, has not been announced
with any special ceremonies. Copies of
it have already reached Iceland, the
people were very generally acquainted
with the provisions, and content to ac-
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 1870 o'clock, and
found everything fastening toward the
cathedral. The open, grassy square
around the old building was severed
with picturesque groups of people :;
the lake in the rear of the town gilt
tered in the sun, and the high peaks of
Keylur slept in the blue distance.
Genuine Icelandic costumes appeared
at last, and original and graceful they
we're. The women wore white helmets
of a curious pattern, the horn curving
over in front, six inches above the head,
the base richly embrc idered with gold,
and a 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 filigree work.
Not more than half dozen of the men,
in all, wore the old national costume.
1t consists of a jacket and knee
breaches 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 il,
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 q glow of
flowers around Thorwaldsen's baptis-
NAL font. The dull red of the walls and
dark panes of the wooden ceiling har-
monized we'll 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 Ice1andic
| language was used. The hymns were
very simply and grandly sung; and the
psalm of Praise, p" written by Matthias
| Jochumsson and composed by Svein-
| biOrnsson-the first musical work of a
native Icelander, I am told-produced
q powerful effect. Ih.iwhichsver. dEee-
| ton looked, saw eyes filled with
} tears; The repetition of the refrain ;
! Islands tbJtSIEyld GT-'1celand's thous-
and years, rang through the cathedral
in tones which were solemn rather than
! proud, and gave expression to the ear
nest, religious spirit in which, the peo-
| pie have come together.
At the university building lackey in
scarlet coat took our hats and mantles,
| and directed MS to the waiting-room up
stairs. A number of Icelanders from
the country we're allowed to go up and
down, to peep into tire dining-halls,
inspect the musicians and their in
struments, and otherwise indulge their
curiosity. It must have been an extra
ordinary sight to most of them. The
royal pantries, extemporized out of the
recitation rooms, seemed to attract them
especially, and even the empty dish
had its interest for them until the viands
began to appear. BY twos and threes
and half dozens the guests gathered.
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 fell
low-marshals at all courts, for love of
good cheer and good-fellOwship, Gov.
Finssen, Minister Klein, Capt. Matte
Brun, Admiral Lagercrautz of the
Swedish navy, the Bishop, Chief JUS
tice johnson, aud finally our hale and
hearty friend DIR. Ajaltalin, 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 a
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 Waldemar
is younger than thought-not more
that rs or 19-and still boyishly diff
dent in his manner. He seemed in
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
commonplace INDUCED in where both
sides are restricted by etiquette of place
and persons. There was no more than
was necessary for pollteness on either
side.
Nothing was done, of course, until
the kings arrival. Then. in flung a
salute with hand grenades, two gunners
were badly wounded, one losing his
RIGHT hand. Finally, when the royal
progress had been made through lines
of eagerly staring and embarrassed ma
tives, the singing began. In Iceland
nothing is done without singing, and it
is the most attractive part of the cele-
bration thus far. The song was fol-
lowed by speeches from the rostrum,
chiefly greetings to the people, winding
up with sentiments and cheers. Admit
raj Lagercrautz spoke for Sweden, Rolf
sen. the author, for Norway land his