The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1878-05-31
THE IcELANDERs OF KEEwAr1N.

Two of the colonies lately planted In the
Northwest nave attracted much attention.
One OF these is the Mennonite Colony in
Manitoba The other Is the Icelandic set
tement in keewatin. Both have beer
visited by the Governor-G General : and the
condition and probable future of each
carefully inquired into. The Mennonite
settlement Is proving q great success. 1t
Is true that In Che earlier days Of the set
Element the grasshopper was q burden. But
the location is q splendid one, the hopper
has for the present Vanished, and this year
the crops gathered by the Canadian German.
Russians are magnificent ones. ~
The Icelanders, however, have had a
hard time Of 1t In Keewatin. The drst
batch Of them arrived at an u~nseasonabIe
time, at the beginning Of winter. The
second contingent In the year following was
not much moro fortunate. Then the ANAL
pox visited their young settlement, and
ragged all winter. Scurvy also broke out
among them. By one disease or another
some two hundred or more Of the people
died In q few months.
Their colony being established on the
shores OF Lake Winnipeg, their fishing
privileges are very superior, and they are
were unskilled In the use Of the axe. and
knew little about farming, though the tract
on which they are settled contains o great
deal OF nch soil. However, they are said
to be delighted with their location, and are
sending homo glowing accounts of their
prospects to their friends In the Isle of the
Geysers In the Northern Ocean. At the
tnstigation Of Q patriotism Is warm a. that
felt for the land of their nativity by the
children Of the sunny South, they cali thsir
oanadian home New Iceland, but one
pretty spot in it they have fondly named
9imih, which, In their Morse language,
signifies Paradise. They number about
dfteen hundred They have this year
built come two hundred houses. mostiv
comfortable frame structurea They are
displaying, 1t % reported, remarkable DOW.
en- OF adaptation to new circumstances.
They learn English with remarkable f.
ctltty, and the study Of 1t appears to be
general among the younger portion Of the
community. They seem to 30 an indus
trious. energetic, and naturally intsIligsns
peopla.
Think Of their having established . III.
monthly Newspaper among them, and Of
the tact that al Of them above mare
childhood can read and write. They have
besn aided BY q Government loan, and It d
stated thar they ara most anxious to repay
u 70 the Last cent - soon - possible.
Ths Govsrnor-G General had . rood time
among thsm- Accustomed to high laH.
tudes, he felt q homei In their New Icsland.
BE has faith in their future. In one of bis
addresses to them he said: ~ have
pledged my personal credit to my Canadian
friends on he successful Developments Of
your settlemsnt." This faith ssems to b
founded on the qualities they display, for,
he added, III win be universally aeknow.
lsdgsd, that . more valuable Accession 10
ths intelligence. sstriotizm, loyalty, indus.
Try and strength Of the country has never
been introduced into the Dominion"
These people arc likely to become nu-
merous in the Northwest Large families
lre fashionable among them, and they have
dne physique. And II they do well. a.
hey seem sure to do, they will be Joined
'ften BY new swarms from Iceland. II the
accounts Of them are reliable, Canada can
aot have too many Of them. They come
. splendid stock-from one Of the most
rigorous races known to hiatory.-St. John
IN. By Necs.