The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-09-09

triet desolsted by the more southeriv erup-
tlon OF March that the saddest accounts
reach US. This district includes the two most,
fertile valleys in Iceland. JOkul5al and Flo
suaisoersd, as well as six thriving COM
nunes, covering ao sree with the adjacent
pastures, OF about 5000 square miles. A few
nours OF d y turned into night were enough
10 cover this whole trace with a thick ernst
OF pumice-stone and ashes which clokes
ali verdure: fields and sells are alike barren.
snu LOT while, perhaps, are doomed TO bar
renness. The first effort was To clear the
manfred grass-fields. if only one cow for
every farm could be supported on the
grass OF the clearing, but westerly storms
nave, IN some cases as often as three times,
covered the ciearage over again with VOL
canic deposit, and this labor of reclamation
Is now TOO narrow and too late. As to the
unmanured grsss-fields, the bog lands, thew
700 have suffered; the thaw-waters from
the snow-felds have
OVERLAND THEM WITH sCoRIE AND ASHES
so that for years there can be no hope of a
nay harvest. For years the choicest past
ures. too, in Iceland-the small valleys
rlver-courses, dells, and deans-will be ash
heaps without blade of grass for sheen to
nioole at. The immediate result will be
tnis-pasture and grass failing. the greater
part OF the sheep and cattle will have to be-
Killed Tor food Cows and ewes in
strange pastures viii not yield much
milk in Iceland, and next winter
me supply of milk in each house
hold VIII probably barely suffice for the ten
der children. Meanwhile, the people will
be living chiefly on salt meat. Scorbutic
disease has been their scourge in past seasons
OF famine, and that is one OF the things thev
most dread for next winter IS thoy will lack
tue usual store of anti-scorbutic nourish-
ment-bntter, sour curds, and whey. The
health OF the people next winter depends
chlef1y on saving the COWS. This is the spe-
clal object of the appeal to England which
is represented by the Mansion House COM
mlttee. We are asked to subscribe
only enough to warrant those
interested in the matter in
charterlng a vessel and sending it out to
Iceland laden with grain suitable for fodder
and food. We, who have just sent two
ships fraught with costly appliances and
WIN more precious lives on quest OF which
the benefit TO humanity, however brilliant,
Is as yet prospective and coniectrral. we
now know, may soon he atarving in the
North Sea at two days. voyage from our
shores. HE gives twice who gives quickly"
We are in August, and winter win soon be
on Iceland.
coINcIDENT CALAMITIEs
will render the year 1879 memorable for
food and fire; but if the spirit of this
country is not strangely altered, I'VE may
trust that the year 1875 will be remembered
also for smother and a happy cause for a
new proof that the humanity of England.
like her justice, can look to the East and to
the West, TO the South and to the North,
and can recognize not merely the respon-
sibility of riches, and the opportunity of
charity, wherever, and IN the midst OF desc
laticn which no human foresight could have
averied and which the unaided sufferers
can not remedy, there goes up the voice of
men ready TO perish. Denmark and Nor
way are helping Iceland, Iceland ia helping
herself, and let England, without delay,
help too.