Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-09-30
MlisfelIantons.



The iceIandic women have preserved
the national characteristics Of their dress
for many hundred years. That. for ordi-
nary wear, consisting Of plain, dark, wool
en- material, the waist made somewhat
like vest. From fiat cap, worn lit
tie to one side. hangs black silk tassel,
reaching to the shoulder, bound in the
middle BY a metal band. The full dress
is more elaborate, the neck-band, sleeves
and front. down to to the waist. being orna-
mented with leaves and filigree work in
gold and silver, with broad belt OF metal
plates hinged together frosted and engrav-
ed, and having pendent ornaments very
much resembling those worn in America
to-day. The ..Faldr" (head dress), made
of stiff white muslin. high and projecting
in 'front.' with white veil depending from
the back and reaching to the ground. COM
pletes the costume of an Icelsndic lady at
tired for high social occasions. The men
In the eleventh century wore Il tunic, white
leggings bound with lacing to the knee
and metal belt with ornaments. To day
the farmers wear homespun cloth, not
unlike butternut and the towns-people the
ordinary European dress.
Walking through the streets, where no
carriage has ever passed, one is impressed
with The tidy appearance OF the houses,
and the street commissioners Of almost
any American city might consult with adj
vantage the authorities of Revkj,vik.
With the exception of a few recently con-
structed houses, the dwellings and ware
houses are wooden structures and have
peculiar fiat appearance from the absence
of llntels or any projecting surfaces. The
interiors are comfortable. cleanly and as
well ordered as any American farmer
could desire Much of the business of
the place is carried on by Danish mer-
chants, who in winter return to Denmark.
In summer the population is stated to be
about 900.
To guide the traveller in winter. when
the deep snow obliterates all traces Of the
road. there are placed along the roadside
piles of stones, from eight to ten feet in
height. Although the temperature is not
remarkably low. the weather in winter Is
stormy and disagreeable. The winter OF
1880 and 1881 was the coolest that had
been experienced in 20 years. Reykjavik
harbor was then frozen for short time.
The official record of temperature. record
ed hourly. shows that the mean tempera-
ture (day and night for the year ending
Nav 81, 1881, was &c. 20 Fahrenheit. The
mean for January, 20,S4o, and Tor July,
81 300. That winter the sea between the
north coast and Grinsea Island, 10 miles
distant. was frozen. No grain grows in
Iceland, and fir trees imported from
Norway do not attain heighth of more
than three feet 1t is stated that at one
time grain was produced, but the soil now
freezes to so great depth that it does not
thaw sufficiently during the short summer.
The soil of the flat lands is broken up in
to auhummocks Caused by the frosD
in groups and regular rows. The short
grass growing along the banks of the
streams affords pasture for sheep and
ponies Wool to the amount Of 1.250, 900
pounds was exported last year. The
sheep are not sheared in the ordinary man.
ner. the wool being pulled of by the
handful. leaving coat of coarse hair-like
wool remaining 1t is not painful oper-
alton, for the wool. if allowed to remain
until warm weather. would drop off. The
Icelandic ponies resemble the Shetland,
but are heavier bodied. They are export
ed i'm large numbers to Scotland and Den
mark
The Goldfish banks to the south an d east
of the island. which We're known to the
an'ient Britons, still afford employment
to large majority of the inhabitants of
the coast. Last year five and half mil
lion fish were exported to Europe. The
fish heads which are used for home con
sumption. may be seen hanging in iestoons
on the palings along the roadside under
going the dry ing process. Every portion
of the cod is utilized the liver yields oil,
al L.. Ia .ailx ,r.l, food
and the hard bones are used as fuel by the
poorer classes. jefferson Brorn. in Orr
Continent.