Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1893-02-24
The I9ad@r.
The Ancient Norsemen.

centenary of the discovery of America
lends additional .interest TO the memory
of the bold Morse navigators who nearly
four hundred years before the birth OF
Columbus not only discovered America,
but actually settled in Iceland and Green
land As early as s7G, voyages were
made by the Norsemen from their own
rugged coast to the shores of our conti-
nent. Their visits, however. were 50
transient, that for many years the benefit
Of the discovery was lost both to them
and the civilized world. Nevertheless
they left their impress upon civilization,
and it is probable that Columbus himself
must have heard of those old northern
tales, told from father to son, of how Eric
the Red, journeying westward many
days, had planted a colony in that land
beyond the sea; of how Left, his son, in
heriting his fathers venturesome spirit,
continued to voyage until he came to an
Island which he named Helluland (Flat-
stone land), supposed to be Newfound-
land; next to Markland Wood Land),
supposed to be Nova Scotia; then TO Vim
land (Vineland), supposed to be the
coast OF New England the mild country
where grapes were growing, and where
the hillsides were covered with flowers.
II seems certain that some of the ancient
Sagas were translated into French, and
thence found their way into Italy. the
land Of culture and progress at that time.
1t would not be safe to say that Columbus
did not pore over some OF those ancient
translations, whether he got his original
idea from them or not. What we can be
sure of, is that a History Of the West
wara Voyages of Eric Sandersoa" was
published in Italy prior to the fifteenth
century. Leaving to Columbus the merit
OF an original conception. we may still
believe that he was encouraged in his
task by sight of some of these works.
Probably no race has contributed more
to the picturesqueness and romance Of
history than those magnificent old war
riors OF the north, the Vikings. Their
undaunted bravery. their supurb phys
lcal development, their love Of conquest,
and their brilliant daring made them both
respected and feared even by the Romans,
who permitted 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
a degree OF civilization far in advance OF
the other nations Of Europe. excepting
always the Byzantine empire, which re-
tanned meretricious refinement until the
fal, of Constantinople before the Turks.
The Norsemen were neither savage nor
barba rians in the common acceptation OF
the term: their laws, customs, training.
their methods of warfare by land and
sea, the trappings and equipments Of
their ships and armies, showing remarks
BILE intelligence and considerable technical
knowledge in the art of government and
warcraft. Their early literature. the
Eddas and the Sagas, IS full Of wild and
thrilling tales of fierce battles. stormy
voyages, and glowing descriptions of the
splendor OF their armor, and the magni-
ficence of their vessels. Gold was every
where in abundance with these people;
yet it's use, although lavish. was marked
by both taste and discretion.
But the profuse ornamentation of their
war implements never detracted from
their usefulness. 1t is only in recent
years that even fair degree of knowledge
Of the lives and habits of these Norsemen
has been unfolded TO us. We pause in
lstonishment before the evidences of
heir taste and skill as revealed IN the fine
collection in the museums of Copenhagen
Stockholm, Christlana, Bergen, Lund, and |
Their weapons and coats of
nail give ample proof that they excelled
n iron and steel working. Some Of the
damascened swords-to use u
formulating rs far back rs
he early part of the Christian era, dem
,nstrate that the art was practiced among
hem long before it's introduction into
he rest of Europe The remnants of
clothing beautifully embroidered in gold
md silver, show their deftness in weav-
ny. Large cups, urns, and other. vessels,
wrought in pure silver and gold,
estify to the sumptuous taste-though
ur connoisseurs would doubtless regard
{ as at least semi-barbaric-of those
arly times. The proof of their knowl-
dge of the arts of writing and gliding,
nd the specimens of delicately intricate
apousse work in iron, bronze, gold and
liver are astonishing. Twenty centur
IS have not been able to tarnish the splen-
or of these treasures. Among other
biects which awaken keen admiration,
re glass vessels, eXquisitely painted in
a,terns. unrivalled even in the museums
( Italy and Russia.
If we are to credit their poems and
the Norscmen were noted for