The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-04-29
ICELAND'S FAMOUS ISLE.
A Republic Which Has Flourished
Undor Assembly Rule.
For Centuries Seat of Learning and q
Homo for Free Institutions-An In
tcrestins Chapter on Its Set
Element and Progress.

In the latterpart of the ninth century.
when Norway was disturbed by polit-
lcal animosities, many of her nobility
quit their native land, their estates and
homes, and settled in Iceland Here, on
an isolated island III the broad Atlantic.
they founded u republic which for
centuries ilourished free from the tyran-
ny of kings or an alien government. 1t
was model republic. The Legislative
power was vested in the althing, an as
scmbly where the more influential men
met once n year to discuss national
Guestions. In this modest legislature
some specimens of oratory and states
n,anshlp were displayed that have
never been cXcclled The althing vics
WIN the immortal Roman senate for
inc glory OF ancient Legislation.
Inc only religion of the Icelandcrs
was the same us that of other Scandi-
navlan nations, their principal gods
being Thor and Odin. Christianity was
established in the year 1000. and the
manner in which it was finally accom-
pilshcd WAS remarkable. All the mobiles
and leaders Of the island had floclicd
with their retinucS to the althinr
Some of these had already adopted
Christianity; the others were radically
opposed TO it. A discussion now arose
as to which religion should be taken as
the 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 u compromise was effected by Sc
lectlng one man, man admitted to be
the wiscst of the land, who should de-
ciue the question. This person was
Ihorgicr. He bctooll himself to his
own booth" where he stayed for three
Gays. not taking any food nor permit
ing anyone to como near him. IIavinr
reached conclusion. Thorgier arose
and went to the althing to announce
ms decision. 1t was that Christianity
should be the religion of the land. Both
factions, true to their promise, submit
ted to the decision
During this medieval period liter
nture and learning nourishcd on the
island and Iceland came to be known
as the Land of the Sl1ald (poct) and
saga thistory)." Hithcr rcsortcd the
historian, and even to-day all the Sean
dlnnvian nations draw their historical
knowledge from facts preserved in the
Icelandic language.
1t was in the tenth century that an
Icelander by the name of Eric and
called the Rcd, discovered Greenland.
In 1901 his more famous son. Leifur
Hcppni Cleft 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 point ut which Left landed
is now known to have been with
III the present confines of the United
States, probably in Massachusetts or
Rhode Island. Here the Icelnndcrs
formed little colony, which struggled
along for few years and then vanished:
ont the fact remains that the voyagers
from Iceland were the earliest Euro
pean settlers of our country.
period Of decay in the Icelandic
history begins when 1t was brought
under the Norwegian sceptcr Later on
the island became Danish province.
and remains so yet. With the loss of
independence begins condition of op-
preston from foreigH government A
constitution given to the Country in
1874, however, has greatly if5r,ro.-~|' -a,o
recent political status of tbaN AZ, S:a7sSs5ss
runia - ut present making
- progress both in commercial and
industrial matters.
Twenty years ago the Icc1anders be.
gan to immigrate to America, and those
in the United States and Canada now
number ten thousand. Minnesota and
North Dakota are favoritc locations in
the United States and Manitoba in
Canada. In the city of Winnipeg, Man,
there IRE no less than three thousand of
them. Icclanders prove themselves to
be desirable citizens and arc 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 church, to which
church the larger number of the scat
tered congregations belong. Prepare
tions are now being made for establish
ing higher institution of learning
under the auspices of the Icelandic
synod.
Toilette Defined.