St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-11-14
LIFE IN ICELAND.
The Quaint Houses There ana
Their Picturesque Interior.

IncIr picturesque AnCCraOHe
Atlantic.
The buildings. of farm usually a
under one roof and stand in row. WITH
their gable ends facing the court. Thef
are peculiarly constructed; economy Y
timber and the exigeneies OF the
climate furnish, however. key 70
their architecture. Ordinarily thesars
but one. story in height. They are
framed of wood, and their gables also
are wooden; their sides and backs,
which usually slope to the ground, are
commonly of lava and turf; the reof al
ways is matched with turf, which
quickly grows together and f0rmsa com
tinuous covering, through which wet
and cold scarcely can penetrate.
:. Seeing from distance q group 0f
farm buildings bears the appearance Of
an irregular grass-grOwn hiilock, upon
which, to heighten the illusion, sheep
are calmly grazing. The farmhouse
proper consists of two or three gables:
next it is the byre for the winter
shelter of the COWS if the farmersiS sui
ficiently weil-to-do to possess any, and
next the smithy with Its forge and an
vii: the lcelander in his isolation is
thrown upon his own resources, and IS
obliged still to exercise upon occasion a
calling that has descended to HIM from
the immemOrial past.
Entering the house through the low
doorway in one OF the gables. YOU find
yourself in a long straight passage,
through which. even in broad daylight,
you must commonly grope your
way. The floor is 3 sometimes
Of boards, sometimes of earth {
OH each side doors open
into the adjoining buildings, separated
from each other by wooden partitions.
Usually, the door OH one side leads into
the common living room of the house.
the apartment occupying the whole of
the building in which it is situated.
A quaint and picturesque interior
meets yOureye 1t is a long, low ROOM,
lighted at either end by square win
dow. Above, the beams are visible and
have been made the place OF deposit for
an indescribable variety of household
articles. Along one side stands the low
stationary bed which serves also as q
lounging place by day; some square
wooden chests are ranged along tile OBJ
posite side; at the end, particularly in
winter. several women are cafding and
spinning wool. This common room all.
ways indicates the thrift or poverty of
the farmer. Sometimes it is scrlpulonsly
neat and orderly, aud its furui+
ture is good and substantial. it not
costly. Frequently, however. every
thing about the place is OF the NEST
primitive kind, and comfort, converts
ence and cleanliness are unknown. Tie
bed looks as if it were never made up:
and dirt, feas, children and dogs are
diStrihil tod in anual fhOrph inardina fsA.
proportions. -
If you enter the door on the Opposite
side of the hallway. yOn find a smaller
room, usually furnished with chairs
and table, and sometimes with bed.
This, in the larger hoHSes,y is the spalE
room Of the house, and, after the.varietfs
saddles and Sunday garments placed
here for safe keeping have been re-
moved, it is assigned to, the chance
guest. Ii, instead OF turning to the
right or to the left, you continue your
way along the passage to The end, you
arrive at the kitchen, which usually Is
in a separate building. Its, tloef
is of earth. in. a. fireplace
flickers an uncertain fire of peat
and over it hangs an iron pot
a.crane. Everything is dark and smokes
begrimed, for much of the sm0kes does
not escape through the open chimney,
and the only light is fromthe fire. Per-
haps an old woman With her black
garments and her, 6 tasseled liufa
bends over the kettle, and stirs Its con-
tents. The unsteady light gives it2aH a
weird appearance, and you wonder If
the crone is not muttering an incantar
ton. 1t is such an interior as Gerard
DOW would have loved. to paint.