The Penn's Grove record., 1893-06-16
The ~NORSEMEN.
BIZ ELFRIED DE B. GUIDE,

Iends additional interest to the mem
ory of the bold Morse navigators who
nearly four hundred years ago before
the birth of Columbus not only dis
covered America, but actually settled
in Iceland aud Greenland. AS early
as A. d. SIG, voyages were made by
the Norsemen from their W rugged
coast to the shores OF the continent.
Their visits, however, were 80 tram
sient, that form any years the beneht oil
the discovery was lost both to them
se'ves and to the civilized world.
Nevertheless they left their impress
NJ on civilization, and 1t Is probable
that Columbus himself must have
heard of those Old northern tales, told
from father to SOD. of how Eric the
Red, iourneyiug westward many days,
hal planted a colony in that land Ge-
yond the sea; OF how Left, his son, in
l,eriting his venturesome spirit, con-
tinued to voyage until he came to an
island which he named Helluland
(Flatstone Land), supposed to be New
~foundland; next, 10 MARYLAND Wood
Landl, supposed to he Nova Scotia,
then to Vinland (Vinelandl, supposed
to be the coast of New England, the
mild country where grapes were grow
ing, and where the hillsldes were COW
cred with flowers. 1t seems certain
that some of the ancient Sagas were
translated into French, aud thence
70 md their way into Italy. the land OF
culture and progress at that time. 1t
would not be safe to say that Colum-
bus did not pore over some of the an
Gent TRANSACTIONS, whether he got his
original ideas from them or not. What
we can be sure of, is that q ''History
of the Westward Voyages Of Eric
Sanderson" was published in Italy
prior to the fifteenth century. Leav-
ing to Columbus the merit OF an
original conception, we may still be-
lieve that he was encouraged in his
task by o sight of some of these works.
Probably no ace has contributed
more to the picturesqueness and
omanc of history than those magnii-
cent old warriors of the north, the
Vikings. Their ~undaunted bravery,
their superb physical development,
their love of conquest, and their bril-
liant daring made them both respected
and feared even by the Romans, who per-
lifted them, for the most part, to
dwell in peace in their rugged strong
holds and settle undisturbed in the
lands of Gaul and Britain which were
theirs by sheer force OF arms.
From its earliest history, the life OF
this northern race was distinguished
by q degree of civilization far in ad.
n OF the other nations of Europe,
excepting always the byzantine en-
pire, which retained a meretricious re-
finement until tho fall of Constantine.
pie before the Turks. The NoIsemen
were neither savages nor barbarians in
the common acceptation of the term
their laws, customs, training, their
methods of warfare by land and sea,
the trappings AMI equipments OF their
ships and armies, showed remarkable
intelligence and considerable Technical
knowledge in the arts of government
and warcraft. The Eddas and the
Sagas of their early literature, are full
of wild and thrilling tales of fierce bat
ties, stormy voyages, and glowing de-
scriptions Of the splendor of their dres:
and riding equipments, the richness u
their armor, and the magnilcence o
their vessels. Gold was everywhere u
abundance with these people; yet its
use, although lavish, was marked by
both taste and discretion.
But the profuse decoration OF Their
| war implements never !detracted from
their usefulness. 1t Is only in recent
wears that even a fair decree OF know
ledge of the lives and habits Of these
Norsemen has been embodied to Jus.
| We pause in astonishment before the
evidence of their taste and skill asEre'
Rea!ed in the fine collections in the
museums of Copenhagen, Stockholm,
Christiania, Bergen, Lund, and Gotten.
burg, Their weapons end coat oil
mail give ample proof that they ex-
| celled in iron and steel working. Some
| of the beautiful damascened swords
to use a technical formulating as far
back as the early part of the Christian
era, demonstrate that the ART was prac
ticed among them long before its in
PRODUCTION into the rest OF Europe. The
remnants of clothing, beautifully en-
broidered in gold and silver. show
their deftness in weaving. Large cups,
urns, and other vessels, wrought il
pure gold and silver, testify to the
sumptuous taste, Though our connois'
seurs would doubtless regard it as al
least semi barbaric,- OF those early
times. The PROOFS Of their knowledge
of the arts of writing and gliding, and
the specimens of delicate intricate re
pnusse work in iron. bronze, gold, and
silver, are astonishing. Twenty cen
turtles have not been able to tarnist
the splendor of these treasures. Among
other objects which awaken keen nd
,miration, are glass vessels, exquisitely
painted in patterns, unrivalled oven il
the useum of Italy and Russia.
If we are to credit their poems anC
romances, the Norsemen were noted
for their muscular strength, their IN
|trepidity, their great love of the sea
and their passion for conquest. The
men were giants in stature, n su
perbly developed. They we're com
moply fair-haired and biue.eyed, viii
mnssive and handsome features. Th,
women were beautiful, strong, healthy
ard virtuous. The young girls lived I
retired, Industrious life, employing
their time in weaving, embroidery, AMI
the cares of the household. The mar
ried women we're held in great respect
and esteem. The wife was the com
pauion and helpm tie of her husband,
and at liberty to join IN all his pur'
suits. In mlny Instances, she accom-
panied him GU hunting expeditions ano
on the field OF battle.
The education Of the male children
was divided into, First, the atLle ic; =
wrestling, swimming, jumping, run
ming, leaping, balancing, climbing,
snow-shoeing, AMI hunting. Srooad,
The school OF the warrior, that is to
say:-fenclng, spearing, lance or iaye'
lin throwing, archery, and shot sling
ipg. Third, mental training:-poetry.
reciting OF the Sagas, riudles, chess
and harp-playiug, From his boyhood
the young Viking wa schoolei il
every art and exercise which nigh
develop his physical powers to the
utm' ST, and fit him for the hardship
of the campaign, both offensive ant
defensive: and meantime. his aesthetic
education was not neglected. As war
rIors they we're alNays ready. 1t il
the key to the character of the ole
3 NWH. A