Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-12-14
NO. 295.
THE ICELANDIC HOUSE.

The modern Icelanders have not much
improved on the old type, as house now
consists OF q conglomeration of small
buildings in all some fifty feet long and
twenty-five or thirty deep. The dwelling
house proper is in the centre, fanked on
each side BY cow-sheds, smithy. and the
outhouses; the turf and lava walls two or
three feet thick; the gable roof is boarded.
covered with thick layer of grassy turf,
and surmounted by weather-cock. The
entrance OF such farm-houses as we saw
in the interior (the city houses being mod.
ern IN style and conveniences) was by
long, dark, narrow, ill-ventlilated passage.
with stone floor, uneven, muddy, and wet.
besides and so low that you bump your head
at every step until you learn to bend your
body almost double; this leads through
the house to the kitchen, where the fire OF
peat or dung or bones or wood is kept up,
This is the only fire in the house, no matter
how cold the weather may be, and you
can imagine that the atmosphere from fuel
anc occupants Is not Of the purest; and,
IN fact, to our senses quite uncomfortable.
Fortunately, their sense of smell is dead
ened by the national habit of snuff-taking;
whether the women indulge in this can
not say. but it is probable that with age
feminity loses its characteristic love of
good looks with them. as with US, and that
certain masculine habits, in the direction
OF tobacco. are allowed to disfgure the
female countenance, which then assumes
that of man. The irregular dwelling
rooms open on each side. in which scythes
and saddles, Gods heads and cradles, nets
and spinning wheels, wet clothes and mus
ty meat, and the innumerable articles OF
housekeeping, husbandry. and clothing
are mingled on floor and wall in dire con-
fusion; in fact, tidy housekeeper would
60 crazy here in half an hour. Down
stairs and in the lofts are ranges of boxes
or hunks. separated only by head-board,
filled with feathers, seaweed, or hay, and
covered with old clothes, worn blankets
and musty skins. A whole family usually
sleep in one room. for warmth, and two or
three in bunk is the common order OF
things in large family. No air can get
in unless through cracks in walls, doors,
and windows, and the idea of the necess-
ty, or even the desirability Of fresh air
never enters their heads. One may well
believe the assurances OF travellers that
their poorer houses and their persons are
infested with vermin; as we slept on the
ground, away from all house, under our
tent, we were entirely free from these an
noyances; we did not even enjoy the hospi-
tality of church, whose sacred precincts
these degraded dipterous insects do not
scruple to enter and occupy. Sometimes
openings are found in these close rooms,
carefully closed by corks, which, at the
earnest solicitation OF suifocating travel
er, are removed for minute or two and
closed as soon as the cold air Is felt.
Though their houses were rudely fur
nished, and not over-clean, they are total
ly unlike the uncomfortable cabins and
shanties OF our poorer classes in and near
large cities. There were no signs of des.
titution, and. though homely, they were
sufficient for their simple wants.-An
american IN Iceland.