The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-11-25
LIFE IN ICELAND.
Wonders of the Frozen Island in
the North Atlantic.
It's People Are Hardy, Independ-
ent, and Very Intelligent.

Iceland bellies it's chilly name every
now and then. For years its lava
flows gave it nm equatorial repu-
tation, and now its earthquakes are
performing q like service. The Dan
ish colonies are nh extremely inde-
pendent class, and no cry for help has
come from them, although the dam
age by the September shocks may be
estimated at several million dollars.
The farms destroyed number we'll
over 200, and few buildings Of Reyk-
javik, the capital Of this Ultima Thule
of the ancients. escaped some injury.
But these Icelanders, while they don't
mind the ordinary earthquakes. have a
rare respect for such as shook them
up in September. In fact, il is years
since the little country has had any
thing to equal it, but as for outside
aid it would take a series OF such
earthquakes to bring them to seek it.
They are peculiarly hardy and ex-
ceedingly intelligent In fact, edu-
cation is with them Of such import
nnce that where distances make it i'm
possible Tor children to attend school
the "mountain is brought to Mo-
hammed"--in other words, the school,
or rather the itinerant teacher, comes
to them. Almost every parish, if it is
any distance from the coast towns, has
n travelling pedagogue, who, as n rule,
simply directs the educational work in
each household, lays out the course of
study, and leaves the actual work of
hearing lessons and of calculating
problems to the parents.
1t Is II rare treat to go into the home
OF one of these Iceland farmer fami-
lies and during the long winter even
ing watch the educational work as it
progresses. The parish priest-Ice.
landers have been Lutherans since
15l0-may perhaps be on his monthly
visit, and this means not alone conso-
lation for the soul, but n rigid exami-
nation OF tho younger ones in their
studies. At the age of IA comes the
final examination, and no child can be
confirmed until this has been passed.
Education for the farming classes
ends at this point; but for the ambi-
tious there are the high schools in
various parts of the country, the
School of Philosophy and Languages
at Roykjavik, and for many there is
the university Mt Copenhagen, for no
inconsiderable proportion of the high
school pupils end up their curriculum
of studies in the Danish capital.
When they return they become the
leaders in the political contests which
are always stirring up this liberty
loving nation. Nominally, Iceland is
n dependency of Denmark. but since
1874, when their Constitution was re-
stored to them, they have been enjoy
ing almost absolute freedom OF politi-
cal action. The Althing, or Iceland
Parliament, meets every other year,
and of the entire membership of
thirty-six, only six are named by the
King. These six comprise just one
half OF the upper House, whilo the
twenty-four members of the lower
House are elected directly by the peo-
pie. The Landshofding, or Cover
nor, is named for life by the King of
Denmark, but only upon tho recon-
mendation of the Althing. His power
does not extend to the veto, for q
majority vote OF both Houses makes II
measure law, unless, of course, it be
q matter involving a. change in the
Constitution, when the Kings veto is
effective.
But in its literary life Iceland in
many respects even surpnsses its so.
called mother country. Its scholars
have transplanted the classics of all
nations into their own vernacular.
Magazines and daily and weekly news.
papers have excellent circulations,
and Iceland's Libraries are becoming
exceedingly massive.
To the eye of the traveller Iceland
presents many features of interest
While it borders on the Arctic Circle,
the Gulf Stream gives its coast mild
temperature, but in the interior there
is little possibility for varied industry.
The low-growing grass makes the
raising of ponies and sheep remunera-
tive. In fact Iceland exports 5000