The New York herald., 1874-08-14
ICELAND.
Tho Preparations OF tho Natives for the
Millennial Celebration.

Tho Preparations OF tho Native. for tho
Mtllennfal Celebration.
(From the Llverpoor Postl
The prospects OF the thousandth anniversary OF
Iceland are great deal brighter now than thev
were two months ago. The winter was very
severe. II began about the Goth or September.
with intense rosts and heavy snow storms The
Greenland Ice surrounded the north and north
west OF the island. The COWS. sheep and ponies
had to be housed and fed all through the winter.
About the middle OF April most OF the farmers
had exhausted their stores or hay, and general
loss OF livestock and subsequent famine seemed
imminent This certainly would have taken
place II the change In the weather had happened
fortnight later than 1t did. Fortunate
~ the frost and snow storms were sue
ceeded BY thaw and rain from the Goth Of April
70 this time. Although the spring has been rather
cold and wet, there Is already good crop OF grass,
and no serious loss has been sustained in any part
OF the island. Besides, the fshing mas been very
successful especially round Reykjavik, so much so
that the Danish traders at ReykJavtk had TO order
more ships from Denmark than they have ever
done before to carry or the fish.
Relieved from the benumbing influence Of the
cold and the anxiety OF impending famine the Ice
landers are now putting forth ali their energy to
prepare 0r the celebration OF the th0usandth
anniversary OF the settlement OF the island, ana
the reception OF their King, WHO Is expected
IN Iceland on the 29th Of July. Iceland has never
seen 1--we KING before. II we except one of the
oAu oistrlct kings OF Norway, who was blinded
by darald Falrnalr, and then sent to Iceland be-
cause he managed to make himself 80 troublesome
even after ne was blinded that Harad did not see
any OIner way with nirn tnan to send hlm to Ice
land, where he died. Since then = crowned head
wonder, therefore, that the good people at Reykia-
vlH are little excited about the reception OF such
VIII IL not wanting to give their sovereign a be-
coming reception but on account OF their scanJy
means they are naturally anxious about their abil
ity to do 80.
The governor is going to vacate his residence
ana leave 1t to His Maesty's disposal during has
stay The gentlemen forming his retinue are to
be quartered on the government Orlcials OF the
place. In consequence OF this tae wnoie place ts
turned upside down; everybody Is cleaning and
securing the house wives are at their wits end max
ing their dwellings, look respectable ;cOb webs unds-
tur0ed i0r years are swept away there Is not
where paperlng and painting is not gong on The
girls are all making themselves new gowns, shaped
10 the style OF the national dress, in which to meet
Ills Majesty. Even the streets are to be swept and
made tidy, which they have not been the last
Thousand years; and the Od0rlferOus Offai OF the
fish on the beach Is at last to get more fitting
resting place.
1t rs expected that His Majesty will go to Geysir
by way OF Thlngvellir. AT the latter place he will
receive the loyal addresses OF representatives OF
tue Inhabitants from all parts OF the country, who
| Will be assembled there about the beginning OF
August.
| lii the country districts great prepara lions are
also being made iOr celebrating the anniversary.
1t Is proposed that as many possible OF the IN
hab1tantS OF eacn district are to together
place and enjoy themselves as best they can. These
meetings are to take place in July, before the hay
also to be chosen bv each district to 20 to the
general meeting at Thingvellir about the begin
ming OF August: Divine service Is to be performed
In HI the churches Oil the I'd OF August IN CON-
memOratiOn Of this remarkable event.
The programme OF these commemorative gath
erings Includes, besides reJOlclnes and merrymak-
ing, some propositions OF more practical imp0r-
tance, for 1t Is proposed at the same time to talk
about and set on loot several scuemes beneficial 70
the whole island, well as smaller schemes
concerning each district. One or the most i'm
portant OF these schemes is to establish steam
communication between the several ports OF the
island. In connection with this coast navigation
II Is also proposed to run steamer direct between
steamer has been found utterly insufficient.
me iceanders @ il are thus 10 good earnest pre-
paIg ior taes m notSal S coming Of which Is
constitution Is to come into force at that date.
Then too, the rule of the Danish government Will
cease. 1t Is curious to observe that the last acts
o. their administration have been TO build prison
At Rcykjavlk, which has been untenanted for q
year. Long may IT be SO. Just now they have
been ordering similar prisons be erected In va
rious parts Oi the island This is, however, for no
political reasons, but merely little piece OF JOB
berry, TO give the builder VI these houses some en-
large innux OF foreigners is expected on this
occasion. 1t Is known already that addresses, and
perhaps deputations Also are to be sent from Nor
way, sweden, Denmark and some parts OF Ger.
u great deal OF interest. Professor Fisk OF the
cornell University, invited his cOuntrymen to
send collection OF books to the libraries Of
Reykjavtk and Akureyrt this Invitation met with
hearty response from many distinguished men,
among whom may be mentioned Lord Dunern
and Longfellow. The result was . collection OF
some 5000 or 1000 volumes, now on the way to
Iceland. In connection with this It may be men
send E1O0 worth OF books to the College OF Reyka-
vik as an acknowledgment of the kindness English
Many American visitors are expected at the oeie-
brati0n OF the anniversary, among whom have
been mentioned DR.. Hayes (who goes for the NEW
that Canon Kingsley is going to Iceland with the
latter. II has even been rum0red that the United
states government are gong to send q irigate to
Reykjavlk to meet the King OF Denmark. Alto
gerher this summer promises to he lively one Tor
ha Icc}a