Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-08-22

landed and been officially received First the
Governor, Herr Finsen, made loyal and du-
tiul address then Herr Raaslov, the Burgo-
master of Thorshasn, followed, but at the
conclusion OF his speech he fell suddenly to
the earth--and died! The event was tragic
rather than ominous, for tie unfortunate Bur
gomaster had been both unwcll and excited
for some days previous.
We visited the Postmaster and arranged
for the forwarding Of our letters, then re-
turned board to sleep. The King and
Prince Waldemar were the Governors guests,
and every tolerabie house in the place was
occupied with civil and naval officers. At
ten O'Clock it was still daylight
This morning ThoFshavn looked its best
and brightest Every farmer and fisherman
wore his Sunday dress, looked fresh and
clean, and had gloss on his curling yellow
locks. The houses were decorated with
strings Of fish, hung up to dry, which impart-
ed their odors to the air. Passing the Gov
ernors house l noticed lar e gray cat wait
ing her chance to see the King, as the Old
proverb gave her the liberty. His Majesty
was ut breakfast, and everything was quiet
about the house. We went to the top of a
hill behind the fort, whence there was good
view of the country. The gay flags waving
from every verdant roof, the decorated yes
sels in the harbor, and the CLEAN of flowers
from small but lovingly tended gardens made
so much brightness that we no longer missed
the sun. Fields of grass, oats ard potatoes,
inciosed by stone wa lis, streatched tor mile
or two back of the town; then rose semi
circle of dark gray mountains, their crests
plryitg hide and seek with the rolling mists.
We visited the Post-ofice, the School, and
various other places but there were Danish
guests at all, and every body was at breakfast.
At II went to church, a neat " hite building
large enough to accommodate 900 persons.
The clergyman, Herr Hammersheim, who
has done excellent service in collecting and
preserving the folklore Of the Farce Islands
kindly ordered the saCrisian to give us pew.
The people f5Cke1 In until all The seats were
taken-sturdy, un-burnt frames, women ap-
parenily as hardy as men. Ihe iarmer were
picturesque in their knee breeches, the latter
almost ugly in head-dress OF tlack SILK,
tied so as to bulge out at the sides and to
show long, pointed ends. AS the crowd grew
dense about US very percep'ible odor OF
dried fish and old leather filled the AIR
The bells chmed, not very muslcaly the
front door Of the church-the portal OF state
was unboited, and finally Gov. Flnsen, IN
full uniform, holding white plumed chapeau
on his arm, entered, preceding the Ming
Christian TX and Prince Waldemar followed,
the latter in plain morning suit OF gray.
The King must DC near GO years OF age, but
looks considerably younger. lie has good
nose and chin, wears a heavy moustache, and
womb he quite handsome but Tor lack OF
expression in the eyes. He walked quickly
up the aisle, n0dding to the right and LETT, and
took his place near the altar, whereon las
is customary in the Lutheran ChuI ch of Den
mark and Sweden) large wax candies were
burning. Prince W aIdemar is a ruddy, gray
ma of IL stp 81
Of Justice, Klein, a chamberlain or two, ma
val officers, Carl Andersen the poet, and
others about twenty in all, followed the royal
peTs0nages, took their seats and the services
began.
The hymns were sung by the congregation
TO the accompaniment Of feeble organ
Neither in time nor i'll tune were they sue
cessful; | detected few good, unframed
voices, but the most had no idea " hatever OF
choral singing. Then the clergyman iutoned
a prayer, and read the chapter for the day,
the congregation rising to their feet as he be
gan. The sermon was short and of safe
character. 1t included none but the stock
theological phrases, and probably did not pro-
yoke Thought in the mind of any person
present. was very grateful, however, for
Us breyity stor the close heat and increasing
pungency of The fish and leather odor was
last making the church insupportabe. Two
long hymns and another chanted lesson closed
the services. The clergyman wore black
surplice, and broad Eizabethan ruff around
his neck.
The people, noticed, all saluted the King
very respectfully, but with a simple, quiet
dignity Of their own. There was no running
after him, no pressing TO get near, no cheer
ing or any other token of special enthusiasm
Personally, | believe he is liked; but he rep
resents dynasty almost new, and possesses
20 traditions of loyalty. The Faroese have
always been more literally trea,ed by Den
mark than the Icelanders, and they have no
important favors TO ask at this time. This is,
IL is true, the first time a King OF Denmark
has visited the Islands; but il hardly has a
further significance.
Since church many boats have come off
with Faroese visitors to the two steam frig-
ates, the ylland and the Heindal. There is
rough sea outside, and hard rowing in the
harbor, but the people laugh as they pass, and
make the most Of their holiday. A little
while ago the king and prince came off to
dinner, drawn by diminu;ive steam launch
which belongs TO the frgate. We had the
Danish standard run up to the main, dipped
the English and American flags, and saluted
the party from our quarter deck, as il passed
under our stern. They leave for Iceland TO
morrow afternoon, AM we shall have about
twelve hours start of them.
We have attempted no excursion into the
interior, for there are no roads and almost
40 horses. 1t would probably be impossible
to mount all of US at once. Strome has a
length Of IL or 20 miles, but very little OF
the soil can be cultivated, and the population
is mostly centered in the little coves where
fishing boats can find shelter.
This will be my last chance of forward
ing letter for two or three weeks to come
II. I.