New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-01-04

piled. In the meantime, partly for the library 80
the society. partly for his private library he gain
cred from every nook and corner OF Iceland ana
from foreign countries vast number Of books ana
written documents relating 10 the modern pc )d
Of IceIand's history and literature. His ooilec-
ton now at his death becomes the property OF the
lcelaudic nation.
Indebted as Iceland is TO Jon Sigurdsson for his
learned labors they are far from onsiituting MS
chef claim to her regard. AZ early as 1919 no
threw himself with all his customary energy INTO
lie movement which. without q leader bad IL
ready commenced. with the view OF ontalnIhg nom
Denmark the aoknowled gment Of lcelands aulols,
Cln0us nights. Denmark claimed that by var ne oi
old cOmpaCts and by the events OF her Whne nISt"-
ry.she had political connection Whatever WIZ tuo
people or Government OF Denmatk t t sue wa
neither 4 colony nor dependency OF that po"ei
that she had Acknowledged the sOverclgnty OF lHe
kings of Norway the express CONDITION tha' sIis
should retain thc privilege of seligOYcfnment, ana
that her allegiance due. Therefore, only 10 in
KIM of Denmark as the successor al the hlheH III
NORWAY aud that every other living Dane "as 10
Der simply foreigner. occupying merely tht ItIa-
zion politically of an Englshm9n or NOrVeRlhu'
70 ms view the popular pariY-that Is, thc " holo
people-persistenil chung. Inry sie9eIa9', DE ac-
fused 10 send representatives 10 me I,"hlah u
lament; they stead .astly refused 10 De pouha ~
any of the acts Of that body They made demands
even higher. They asserted that they wouid accept
no definite settlement of any KIND unless the Danish
Government az the same TINE accouh'eu io nv
moneys received from the uusanctiqned sac oi ia,
was at once accepted rs the acn1W geu chlnplVu
Of this cause One Of his caTIo-t steps was 10 pup
ish n life of franklin holding MP that eharaci er rs
a model designed to encourage among us country
men mercantile Thrift. earnest attention 10 ihell
own private affairs ana the most WatchInl interest
in All public matters. From this time. SIDE ny size
With ms scholastic researches he continued his nu-
wearied efforts TO secnre for LlS county inuc-
pendencC of foreign control. As Speaker OF me re-
yved but powerless Althing he went every oIneI
year TO Iceland, where he delivered addresses h5iu
conferences and called together puhhcneellhes' nc
WrOe article afCer article both Tor IN" lceaLulchHu
Danish Journals he made appeals, now 10 me pto-
ple of the one country, now 10 the people OF the
other he published pamphlets; ne organized uepu-
tations TO the King in short be lett no means u-
tried 10 effect his object. In Sol he succeeded III
realizing his project OF a constituent assembly Whch
deiberated. formed constitution. dehned the posi-
ti0n to be held Dy Iceland III lcIatloh 70 .H ;t
crown-but the Government refused 70 iatuS lI'
acts At last. in 1873 he summoned a free assem-,
bly, of the people of Iceland. 10 be held on Inc hcu
of ThingVcllir where for nearly ntne centuries, tue
National AltbIng had met Here in the midst OF
objects rich with the memories OF thcr latneIs the
people passed resolutions relterating Tor Tie nun
dTedth tune their determination 10 cling forever 70
their rights. even If they should thereby PERISH
THIS was the final blow which shattered the oDst-
macy OF their foes. The next year-mcmoTaOe ms
the thousandth anniversary OF lctlandS sett cment
the King granted the sturdy and stubborn islanders
a liberal constitution, conterrlug legislative lunc-
tions on The Althng. Denmark likewise agreed To
paw certain interest the proceeds OF the sales OF
land and to Great Iceland hencctorth only aS SIS
ter realm united 10 her merely by loyal attach
ment TO a common sovereign. II Is rare that III
umph complete Is VOuchsaIeu 10 tine enueaNois Oh
a single man.
Jon SigurdssOn was type OF tho old Northman
Physically he had a largo head, frmly-knIt body,
a mouth full Of decision and eyes full Of ntclll-
gence. Mentally be asSiduOus. energetic with
out being impulsiyc. deliberate in his judgments
and persistent IN his determinations. He lived at
Copenhagen the temperate and un"stenia tions lie
of p hard working student, IabOrug all day IN the
public collections and often lar INTO the nlVht IN MS
own library but thoroughly genial IN his rare hours
of relax af among his cOUufTEmru or those
whom ne knew 10 be his cOuutry's friends. HIS
WAYS were the ways OF the scholar rather than
those of the politician. and only person who knew
him most Intimately can conceive his impressive
bearing IN some OF the stormy crI-,s through which
he passed. one Of these j. worth recording. Twenty
wears ago the Icelandic Althing. having no power
TO make MS will law, was one day engaged III calmly
debating some of us customary resolutions against
the assumptions of the Danes, when the Governor
General of Iceland. Count Trampe, followed
by bis SUITE suddenly staikcd, petty
Cromwell. into the hall, oscendrd tho, tfi-
King of Denmark declare this assembly dissolved
There was an instant of silence at this wholly mex
pecied interruption Of the debate, but The next mo-
ment Jon SigurdSson, with dignity which no WIT
of It ever forgot, slowly rose TO has feet and
said, sAnd IN the name Of the King Of Denmark
and the people of Iceland protest against this
warrantable intTusiOn!' Those who knew him best
may bc able to fancy the grim smile upon lis up.
when. Oh walking out of the Parliament House, he
saw a score or two OF Danish soldiers drawn up in
front of the entrance. He dwelt during the whole
of the struggle, which he encouraged and led,
among those whom no was Oblgcd Ia attack ana
CeusuTe as the opponents OF his country freedom.
vet be knew bow 10 WIN and mant tain their respect.
He was an honorary member OF many Danish soclc-
ties he received orders and decorations from the
DANISH King; he was the honOred friend OF Danish
statesmen and Danish scholars He "A fOcman
without malice. His features will 90 down 10 pos
teTity III the marble bust by Norwegian sculptor.
which adOTDs the upper house of the Althlng at
Rey kayik. and in the llte-sizo OIL painting which
hangs Oh the walls OF the hall in which the lower
branch meets His library, Incorporated III TIE
National collection, VIII preserve the remembrance
of his literary tolls. His grave. which Is to be III
lcclandic soll under a monument erected by the
people he liberated, will recall his long political
career. But better than oil these will be the place
which he llfOrcver ill IN the hearts of his country
men,
hagen on the 12h and 18Th of December On the first
named day took place the private ceremony at the
residence of the deceased statesman, attended only
by the friends OF the family, and conducted strictly
according To lcelandic customs. The next day
the public ceremony in the Garrison Church
was witnessed by many distinguished Danes and
the entire colony of Iceanders IN the Danish capt.
tai. The King of Denmark, Christian X. was
represented by his cabinet secretary The Minister
for Iceland and other members of the Cabinet the
Speaker OF the Danish IiRsdag or Parliament, and |
other high officials were present. Addresses were
delivered both IN Danish and eautic. The cofin
was covered with flowers contributed by a great |
variety OF PERSONS from the Queen Of Denmark |
down 10 some of the poor lcolandic artisans of |
Copenhagen; while at ITS bead lay massive wreath
Of silver. the gift Of his cOuntrymen residing IN !
Denmark, bearing his name, the dates of his BIRTH
marriage and death, and these words IN his native
tongue lcelands tayOrte son. her glory. her |
sword, her shleld.u Icelandic students at the |
University of Copenhagen bore the remains into |
the chapel of the church, where they are to lie |
until their removal to Iceland in March
WILLARD FIsKE.
67 Behren StrGsse. Berlin Dec. Is. 1879.
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