New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-02-24

than or they sank II they were unable men, into the
ranks below them. we-English-s speaking men, from
the h CHEST the lowestare literally kinsmen; anu 50
utterly arc old euds buried that in the children OF the
prnoo of wales there Ia mingled the blood OF William
OF Normandy with the blood OF the very Harold VINO
| fell at Hastings.
How did the wild Vikings become Christian menu An
that work was done slowly. st. OLAF indeed forced
Christianity OF the Mortimer at the point OF the
sword But who forced the Norsemen of Scotland
England Ireland Neustria Russia, and all the Eastern
Baltici II seems to have been absorbed by them grad
ualy but willingly, as Gospei-Good News from God
And whence came that Christianity Much Of 1t. az IN
the case of the Danes and still moro OF the French NOR
mans came direct from Rome the city which-et them
defy It's influence they wouldwas still the foup OF
a theology as well OF all civilization But we must
believe Also that much Of 1t came from that mysterious
ancient Western Church. the Church Of st. Patre Saint
BRIDGET SAINT Columbia which had covered with rude
ces and chapes the rocky sets OF the North Atlantic
even ~ Iceland itself
Woman had doubtless no little 10 do with this Chris
tianzing Many stout Norseman espoused wife ana
her creed together And, doubt in manners as well
as I'm religion the Morse were humanzed ana ciVzed
by their contact with Cels both In Scotland AMI an
Ireland Both peoples had valor intellect, imagina-
ton but the Cet had that which the bury Angular
Morse character, however deep aud stately and bo"
ever humorous wanted-namey, music OF nature, ten
derness, grace, rapidly, payfulness-u't the qi'is
combining with the scandinavian, anu III ScOtdni WIN
the Angie elements OF character which have produced
In Ireland and In Scotland two schools OF lyric poetry
second to none In the world.
The old Norsemen converted to what was then
dark and awful oreeda creed OF ascettc selftorturo
and purgatOra fires for those who escaped endless tor
ment. But because 1t was sad creed II suited all the
better men Who when conscience was once awakened
In Them had but too much reason u be sad And the
ministers and costers which sprang up over tho whole
~ North symbols splendid
pentance and for the sins OF their fore
fathers. And yet, perhaps, their Christianity did not
make them sad II but the Other and healthier side
OF that sadness which they had heather. For u the
old sagas there is Of that enjoyment OF life winch
shines out everywhere through Greek poetry even in
its deepest tragedies To the NOrseman nature was not
| as in Mr.. Longieows exquisite poem, the kind old
nurse, but weird witchwife, the mother OF storm
demons and frost giants who must be fought steadily
These Norsemen liyed-nOt to live, but TO dle what
was death to them What was IL to the JOms0urger
viking who, when led out to execution, said to the
headsman "Die! With all pleasure We used 70 ques
| ton in Jomsburg whether felt anything when his
head was off Now shall know. But II do. take care
for shall smite thee with my knife And, meanwhile
spoil net this long hair of mine 1t Is 30 beautiful
Yet how oil love these strong, boodstained men
Your own poets love them-nOt merely Tor thcir Dolu
daring; or stern endurance; or wise THRIFT; or grim
humor-but because their blood runs In the VEINS OF all
us Englishspeaklg people. oHe caiiho' ro"u 'uo ''o
OF your Western men-ihe writings Of Bret Hart, or
Colonel John Hay for instauce-whout feeling at every
turn that the old Morse alive again, beyond tue
very ocean which they crossed first $50 years ago
And then he told story OF the old battle OF StickeS'
bad and a wounded who, after the BATTLE are" an
iron weapon from his own heart But on the iron was
| barb ON which hung flesh from the heart-some red
some while And when he saw that he said "The KING
has fed us well. fat, even TO the hearts roots'
Aud so eant back, and dead. Does not the STORY
sound-aowng for all change OF manners, as wei as Vi
plaoe-like scene out OF Bret Harte' or 'onn
Hay-a scene OF the dry humor and rough heroism oil
the far Westi As long as you have your Jim Budsoes
and Flynns OF Virginia. the old Morse blood Is surely
not extinct the old Morse spirit is not dead.
need not tell you with what applause this lecture
was received Canon Kingsley has already taken deep
hold on the heart OF Boston. lie comes to us Ike our
ong-lost brother, and are proud of the common
descent VIC caim-the kindred blood that thrcbs III his
veins aud ours. L. G. ~