The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1898-10-29
IN ICELAND.
A Interesting Development OF the
system Of an Early
Period.

London recognized the value Of fire
insurance there existed a most in-
teresting form of 1t, and that not in
any Of the great commercial nations
of the middle ages, but In a remote
islands of the Atlantic-in Iceland.
This fact, remarkable as it is in itself,
will not seem SO surprising to those
who are acquainted with the ancient
condition Of that country, which has
for several hundred years played but
a small part in European history. Its
first ~colonists, in the end Of the ninth
and beginning Of the tenth centuries,
were among the most e~nterprising OF
Norway's sons; and for the next three
centuries their new home rivalled the
mother country in most respects, and
far excelled 1t in mental activity. The
old poetry Of Norway died out about
the year 1000 A. D., and from that date
so long as there were skalds at the
court of the Norwegian kings, they
were Icelanders. At the same time
they were careful farmers, daring sea-
men and enterprising traders. They
traded regularly with all the neighbor
countries, and thought little OF an
overland journey to Constantinople,
where many Of them served in the
bodyguard Of the Byzantine emperor.
At home, next to the necessary care
OF their herds ard focks, they were
above all devoted to poetry, history
and law. To be skilled in the latter
was a sure title 10 respect at q time
when law books were still unknown,
and codes were carried In the head Of
the "Lawman," or declared by the
"Lawspeaker," at the meetings of the
slthing, or yearly assembly. In the
thirteenth century these laws Of use
and wont came TO be written down,
not officially. It would seem, as hap
pened In other countries, but by per-
sons interested In legal studies, and
they are now preserved in a collection
commonly known as Gragas, or gray
goose "a name OF doubtful origin),
which is used as a general name for
the laws of Iceland prior to its union
with Norway In 1862.
IN TINS coiieeuon OF laws tnat
the interesting iVem OF compensation
for loss by Are occurs, a section which
is quoted by the editor OF an Icelnndic
Jourhai Oh iast year. IN the nrst OF q
---l-. "A III
series Oh articles on the ancient civil
.zauoh OF Iceland Inc ediior, MT
'aityr uuumuhusson, ID one OF inc
pest au'horities on TINS SUBJECT and
uses tne quotatlon as a text TO point
out 10 ms couhtrymen the superior
ioresign. o. 'neir ancestors IL TINS re
spect' me mouern lceiahder a moi
yet realizeu d Vaiue OF insurance as
SHOWN oy 'ne iact that ofthe tore'
most yeomen IN tne country had hi'
iarm burned uown three times IN sue
ceSsion "ltnout lis Deing insured II
was ouher"ise IN the old days, as DR.
'aityr points out In the time OF The
oiu rePuOiic' goiuen age olleeIand
every yeoman farmer was oy law com
peleo 70 De a IN OF a mutual in
surance society The method by
' "hlcn compensation for loss OF fir'
was mad Is thus explained in Ora
gas and Is a striking proof OF TIL
thoroughly practical views OF the OLE
lcelanders;
Ihere are three houses in ever.
mans dwelling for which compensa
|, uon may be obtained in event Of theii
being burned down" Tin Icelandi'
dwellings each room was a separat0
puiiding' and SO Is called a house"
, "one is the women's si~tting-room, an
, other the common sittlng-room, an,
the third a pantry where the womel
; prepare the food. II man has both
situng-room and a hall, then at III
! spring assembly he shall choos
wnether ne VIII rather have the SIT
:. ting-room or the hall insured. lfther
:. Is a church or chapel on any man
! ia,n' .neh that Is the fourth hous
naDie LOT compensation, where 1t es
iS''' itany OF these houses aforemer
tloneu Is ourned down, the owner sha.
summon nve OF his neighbors' and &c
them 10 estimate the damage that ha
Deeh oone' They shall estimate tn
smAg zone 10 The house itself, an
aiSo mat cone TO clothes and othe
burned along with 1t; bu
oniy sueh ciothes and vaiuables as III
o"ner requires LOT daily use shall B
reasoned Tor compensation. II
oned along with II for tio
all the hangings, the choir and N