Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-12-06
those who have never seen II can at hes
form but faint idea.
A CURIOUS FEATURE.

attract the attention OF the traveller ia
this country is one Of peculiar sensi.
tveness on the part of the people in
regard to the writings Of those who
visit their shores. The press Of other
countries is closely watched by them,
and Immediately new book appears
bearing upon themselves or their land
II is procured and very closely scru-
tinized, and seldom fails to arouse
their Indignation against the author
for some Of his views or impress
sions. Borrow one Of these books
from the public or a private library
and you will soon notice a Little trick
that many have Of underscoring all
favorable passages-often whole pages
at time-and Of adding foot-notes or
comments upon those which are not so
pleasing or are at all critical. They
seem to have taken to the idea that
a visitor has no right to state things as
they impress him, and some Of these
authors would not be very warmly
greeted should they ever return.
Overlooking any disagreeable traits
or habits of their countrymen, these
people point with pride to the high
standard Of morals and education which
all visitors remark, and for which they
are perhaps somewhat remarkable. AS
for the morals, the standard Of the peo-
pie as whole is high. Murders have
never been known, and brawls or other
social disturbances are foreign to Ice
land but among the lower classes
in the towns, where they seem
to have learned the tricks of
other nations, petty larceny is
not at all uncommon, and the only
thing that keeps it from being less so
is their clumsiness in pilfering and
the consequent fear of being caught.
In another respect, too, the morals of
the common people throughout the
island will hardly bear close scrutiny,
but in this they have not been set the
best example by the visitors and resi-
dents from other countries. That there
is high standard of education among
these people is pretty generally known
throughout other lands, but just how
far it extends or what branches it en-
braces we have not always the means
Of ascertaining.
In the early days Of Iceland, during
the eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth
centuries, when the mass Of the learn
ing Of Europe was confined within the
walls OF monasteries, there was diffused
throughout this isolated country, lying
on the borders of the frigid zone, a
broad and general knowledge; kind
of rough culture, from the midst Of
which stood out several bright lumina-
ries, men remarkable for their learning
and mental power, and who are
now coming to be regarded as among
the worlds greatest scholars. To
them we are indebted for some OF
the greatest literary productions we
have, and which, by men who are we'll
able TO make the comparison, ara pro-
nounced equal to the writings of Homer
himself. These writings also throw a
new light upon the affairs Of the whole
world at that and previous times, and
although it is only few years since
the attention ofscholars was directed to
this treasure, it is fast gaining devOtees
among all nations, and we may expect
before many years to see it subject of
pretty general interest.
THE LITERATURE OF ICELAND.
To Iceland it is, then. that we owe a
debt of gratitude for preserving to us a
wealth Of literature and historical
knowledge which but for her would
perhaps never have been put into
writing, and had disappeared as COM
pletely as it has in the other Scandi-
navian countries. Following this time
Of literary activity we find hundreds of
years only occasionally studded with
names Of more than local celebrity.
True, during the revival Of learning
which swept Europe in the six
teenth century flush of the move
ment appeared in this country, but it
was of short duration, and things soon
settled back into the old state, so to re-
main until the general enlightenment Of
the world in this country called forth
the flame from the smouldering embers.
During these years the education of the
people extended only so far as the
knowledge Of the common branches
and the reading knowledge Of Latin
which a father could impart to his chill
dren, and little use was made Of this be-
yond indulging the national pride and
delight in reading the productions Of
their ancestors, the old sages of Iceland
and Norway. The educational system
at present is far from perfection, but
the results attained are highly crafty
ing. and Iceland can once more point !
with pride to her poets and historians,
her lawyers and teachers, who are
found not only at home but filling |
honorable positions in the science of
other nations and winning recognition
for themselves and their country. OF |
primary schools only few exist. A
large majority of the youth Of the land |
gain all the education they ever get, or
are prepared for entrance to the" Latin |
School at Reykjavik, at home.
The Church lutheran is national |
institution, and no person can become
a citizen of Iceland who has not been
confirmed, nor can they be confirmed |
before they can both read and write |
and have mastered arithmetic through |
decimal fractions. This insures a
general foundation, and when, in
addition, we consider their pride |
in being regarded as an educated |
people, we are not surprised to |
find on many of the farms well-informed !
men who have never been to school a |
day in their lives. In the country the |
farms are so widely scattered that it is
impossible to establish elementary |
schools and father is obliged to him
self be the instructor Of his children
or procure the services Of the parish
priest or one Of the few graduates of
the Latin school who travel about the
country for that purpose.
The requirements for admission to
the Latin school are proficiency in the
common branches, especially the his
tory and geography Of Iceland, and a
c.;r Lnowladca NJ Danish and atm