Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-09-09
Customs In Iceland.


In sparsely peopled country, with
out public houses of any sort, hospital
lily is necessary virtue, and the Iceland
ers are hospitable TO all comers, as far as
their means will permit. But TO those
who happen TO live near much-ire-
quented tracks the burden Of hospi-
tality would be ruinous were il not GUS
tomary for them 10 accept pecuniary
present from such guests rs are well able
to afford 1t. From foreign visitors a
present Is always expected, although il
is never demanded, and il is customary
on taking leave for the guest 10 hand =
few marks 10 lis host with n polite
"Vmr saa god"' (Bt so good, or II you
please.) Mango taki' (many thanks)
is the usual reply, with warm graspof
the hand, but not without a careful IN
spection Of the coin. The fare a; an
1celandic ber or farm is often frugal
enough, but the traveller may count at
least upon a drink OF delicious milk, and
need never scruple 20 ask !or t. Unless
he is invited TO cnler Ls will drink Il as
a s;iTrup cup outside the door; for lee
landic diqllt.e iorhids a stranger TO
walk into a house withou. an express
request. During the months when there
is no darkness in Iceland, midnight ar
rivals are Of frequent occurrence; the
numerous dogs, reposing on the grassy
roofs OF the parsonage or farmhouse,
soon arouse the inmates by noisy
greeting to the travellers, aud prepara-
tioas are made for their reception in the
guest-chamber or in the church IL there
il one close by. The church is utilized
for a variety of secular purposes, fire.
quently as = storebouse for the parsons
wool, and Is regards air and light is
usually n preferable bedroom 10 the
guestchamber of the establishment;
being built entirely of wood. without
any turf on the roof, it is also much
drier than ordinary Icelandic habita-
tions.
On one occasion we arrived. party
OF three, n; midnight. and found no one
stirring about the farm excepta woman.
who was watching the cattle in the
home-field or "Tun." Being invited
into the house, we entered the usual
dark passage, sliding aud stumbling
over the slippery and uneven pavement
and knocking our heads against the low
beams Of the roof. The gues.-chamber
contained only one bed. which the good
woman at once proceeded TO arrange
for US all three to sleep in, heads and
tails. like herrings in a barre. Two of
Us being tall and one stout. while the
bed was both short and narrow. II was
Gear that this arrangement would not
be suitable; but politencss sealed our
msuths. and we solemnly watched her
Operations. as she spread the couch
with pillows at both ends, and removed
from It's interior a great variety of house.
hold articles. for which 1t was used as
= general receptacle. As soon as she
had retired our suppressed merrimen;
burst forth, and We soon dragged bed
ding and elderdown quilts of the bed
enough to make two lairs In other parts
OF The room. Although we were of
various nationaities q Dane. an
American, and an Englishman), and
had all three Travelled much and roughed
II in many countries. we had never else
where witnessed similar beimaking nor
seen bedstead used instead of a ward
robe and cupboard. NInescessIh Can
tary.