Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1885-10-24

merchants have their stores at one OF
TIE small villages about the coast, and
carry stock comprising almost every.
thing. Sometimes they employ agents
who travel through the country buying
ponies. which they ship to Scotland, or
they own a small vessel which
coasts around the island buying oil and
Goldfish. .-..
The farmer obtains all the necessaries
of life from the land and waters around
him. The ROCKS and turi are his build-
ING material, the bogs finnish inexhauSt-
ihle supplies Of peat for fuel, the rivers
swarm with salmon during the summe-,
and the sheep yield wool for his clothing
1fnear- the sea, the almost domestleated
elder duck contributes its eggs and down,
the seals and sharks give oil for his light,
and Goldfish are added to his wihter
stores. Once q year he journeys TO
Reykjavlk or one of the smaller villages
and barriers his LFuduee for things that
serve to make his isolated life more COM
Portable. Usually wool and elder down
are the things brought. For these he is
given credit by the merchant. and per-'
nitted to draw his yearly supply Of goods,
| consis lag Of rye, meal, flour, coffee,
sugar, calico and lumber.
Upon the farms, the houses. with very
few exceptions, are clusters Of low, turf
I covered huts with gable ends, doors and
window frames of wood, and, if seen
from distance, are not easily recognized
by the stranger. Sheep and even ponies,
are frequently seen upon the roofs in
quest of the grass that grows more luxu-
riantly there than in the pastures but
The int rior Of the houses is Clten made
very comfortable by paneling and floor
ing with wood, painted, and sometimes
nicely furnished.
| Not having much to do at any season,
nor caring to exert himself beyond his
| yearly necessities, the lcelander finds
mrchy time for readipC, sfavOrite occu-
patton. One who cannot both read and
write is not to be found, and indeets a.
a whole, they are one of the best educat-
ed peoples on theglobe. Well informed
in history, geography and literature.
especially of their own country, the
traveller is often surprised TO find these
people conversing very intelligently
abodt persons and events Of all countries
land ages, though they themselves may
never have been out of the sight of their
own island. A faculty for learning Ian.
guages is certainly trait Ofthcse people
as every day one meets persons who
converse fluently in Danish and English
and perhaps German or French, or even
Latin.
This. in the towns ard villages where
they come in contact with people OF
ether nations. Further inland no chance
Is afforded cor practice, but many 5f-ths
; people real iinderstandinely language:
which they do not speak. There are
those Oh the island who have Travelled
extensively iD other countries. and hav
ing studied their Institutions and learned
Of the people, are INV tryib: t. give
their countrymen the benefit of tha
knowledec aEdtbg1iufrom other people
that recognition to which their nativ,
land is certainly entitled.
Two or three learned societies lead /:
tiourishiDg existence here; and afte
years ofinactivity the country is agar
bringing forth authors and scholars VIII,
cannot but be recognized among those o
other nations. At several places on tn,
r island there are well equipped printing
Offices. From these, every year, ar
turned cut books, the work manship o
which both in typography and binding
often surrT SEES the visitor. At Reyk 'ayik
e fonr modest, but ably conducted news
\ papers appear regularly, two of then
:, weekly aud one each hi and nj monthly
At Akurey'ri. we find two more, and a
SeydistioId. en- the east coast. another
t each appearing thirty times year.
Centuries ofsurpression and monopoE
of trade produced their effect upon thes
;, people, but Of late years. and especiall
] since the acquisition of the ne Y constitu
e ton in 1874 some Of the old energ
o seems to be slowly reviving, and tn
country is beginning to show signs {
commercial importance.
y OF travellers. the numbers are slcWl
r increasing. Every steamer brings a few
attracted hither by the salmon fishin,
the physical or social features Of tn
country, or the novelty Of trip TO lc,
;. land. For one who would view natuJ
;. in her widest forms and come in col
II tact with kind, hospitable people, thel
. are few better places than this. Wit
u an il terest in his fellow men and di
b position not 10 base bis impressed
e upon their worst features, let him cen
a prepared to enjoy his stay, and whe
). the time comes ior leaving he will sa
II with Others. that he does not gladly b
i adieu. .... .. -,