The Irish standard., 1892-05-14
1Ill'EIl DIS FAMOUS ISLE.
\ A Republic Which Has Flourished
I Under Assembly Rule.
+ For Centuries a Seat Of Learning and q
Home for Free Institutions--An In
5 teresting Chapter on It's Set
,#yi Element and Progress.

.Sf SeFeeIlHS Cn3pLer ON ltS SeC-
Element and Progress.
In the latter part Of the ninth century,
when Norway was disturbed by polit-
zeal animosities, many of her nobility
quit their native land, their estates and
homes, and settled in Iceland. Here on
an isolated island in the broad Atlantic,
they founded a repu bile which for
centuries fourished, free from the tyran-
ny of kings Or an alien government. 1t
was a model, republic. The legislative
power was vested in the althing, an as
sembly where theenore influential men
met once a year to discuss national
questions In this modest legislature
some specimens of oratory and states
manship were displayed that have
never been excelled. The althing vies
with the immortal Roman senate for
the glory of ancient legislation.
The only religion of the Icelanders
was the same as that Of other Scandl-
navian nations, their principal gods
being Thor and Odin. Christianity was
established in the year 1000, and the
manner in which it was finally accom-
plished was remarkable. All the mobiles
and leaders of the island had focked
with their retinues to the althlng.
Some of these had already adopted
Christianity; the others were radically
opposed to it. discussion now arose
as to which religion should be taken as
Che state religion. Both parties con-
tended desperately for their principles
and both prepared for battle, that the
sword might decide, but at the last
hour a compromise was effected by Sc
lecting one man, q man admitted to be
the wisest Of the land, who should de-
eide the question. This person was
Thorgier. He betook himself to his
own booth" where be stayed for three
days, not taking any food nor permit
ting anyone to come near him. Having
reached a conclusion, Thorgier arose
and went to the althing to announce
his decision. It was that Christia nifty
should be the religion of the land. Both
factions. true to their promise, submit
ted TO the decision.
During this medieval period liter
allure and learning fourished on the
island and Iceland came to be known
as the Land of the Skald (poet) and
Saga (history}." Hither resorted the
historian, and even to-day all the Scan
dinavian nations draw their historical
knowledge from facts preserved in the
Iceiandic language
1t was in the tenth century that an
Ice1ander by the name Of Eric and
called the Red, discovered Greenland.
In 1901 his more famous son, Leifur
Heppui Leif the Fortunately, discovered
an unknown land on the west side of
the Atlantic, which he called. from the
abundance of vines growing there, Vim
land The poir. at which Left landed
is now know to have been with
in the present confines OF the United
States, probably in Massachusetts or
Rhode Island. Here the Icelanders
formed a little colony, which struggled
along for few years and then vanished:
but the fact remains that the voyagers
from Iceland were the earliest Euro
pean settlers Of OUT country.
period of decay in the lcelandic
history begins when it was brought
under the Norwegian scepter- Later or
the island became Il Danish province
and remains SO yet With the loss Of
independence begins IL condition OF op-
preston from foreign government. A
constitution given to the country in
1874 however, has greatly improved the
recent political status Of the country,
and the island is al present making
rapid progress both in commercial and
Industrial matters.
Twenty years agt, the 1celanders be-
gan to i1nmigrate to America, and those
in the United States and Canada now
number ten thousand. Minnesota and
North Dakota are favorite locations in
the United States and Manitoba in
Canada. In the city of Winnipeg, Man,
there are no less than three thousand of
them. lcelandars prove themselves to
be desirable citizens and are everywhere
acknowledged as an honest and indus
trious people.
In the interest OF these people there
are now published in America three
newspapers. one monthly periodical de-
voted to ecclesiastical matters, and an
annual pamphlet Of the same nature.
They have synod of their own belong
ing to the Lutheran churcS. to which
church the larger number Of the scat
tered congregations belong. Prepare
tons are now being made for establish
ing T. higher institution OF learning
under the auspices Of the Icelandic
synod.
Toilette Defined.
The word toilette is d diminutive of
toile, a small covering Of linen thrown
over dressing table, but it was re-
served for the decorators Of the reign of
Louis XIV to discriminate between the
grand and the little toilette. The latter
was very simple arrangement, indeed
"a plain wooden altar with unadorned
white napery and a looking glass, at
which the celebrants were only the
lady's maid and the hairdresser. The
grand toilette was a much more splen-
did affair. The table was laden with
Golfers Of jewels, glove boxes, powder