The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-03-06
nACk ro rHE VIKINGS.

IL IS someWnat Tar cry pack to tHe days of the Vikings. those terrible ! wolves of the sea, careless of danger pr death. intent only on plumber, who rav- aged the coasts of England and France some ten or twelve centuries ago. They were the terror of the ocean; and with their small but strong ships filled with mailed warriors sailed or rowed their way from the cold Northland, bent on rapine, caring nothing for the rights of others. hating only life of peace and inaction, and always bent On the spells of their enemies. They were a terrible race. and for ages the coasts of the more Southern countries were always in dread of their visits.
 Many centuries have passed since the days of their power, and they and their deeds live largely in the songs and TO- mances, the myths and legends, and the sagas which the old Scalds of scandina- via left behind them in which they sang the glories and triumphs of their heroes and warriors who have long since passed to the valhalla of Odin's realm, where the waiting valkyr maid ems served endless measures of mead to the spirits of those who had acquitted themselves well on earth.
 But though the centuries have passed and the Vikings are almost forgotten we are occasionally reminded of them in our busy present. Something like a quarter of a century ago one of their ships was dug up in Norway, and an exact. copy of it was exhibited at the Worlds Fair in 1892, we believe 1t was. The original is still preserved at the Capitol of NorwayAput recently anoth- CT has been uneafthed which is de- scribed as about Is feet wide and 70 feet long and from the construction and fitting of 1t, and the manner of its preservation, it has been surmised that 1t might have been the pleasure boat and afterwards the tomb of some great | lady. In a contemporary we find this account:
 Apparently the ship had been placed In deep hollow in impermeable clay. Upon 1t was built a wooden grave chamber. With the corpse had been | buried a great variety of objects. A chest full of articles for woman's use, such as a distaff with thread still in it; and lamp, was found and also the re- mains of fabrics. Outside on the ship l horses and oxen and dogs these latter with iron collars and chains had been slaughtered. A handsome wagon, four sledges, spinning wheel, a loom and | number of beds, besides kitchen uten- sfls. had been left there also. The whole had finally been. covered with rocks state of preservation. Some of the ships oars it Is said. look quite new and are so perfect that they could still be used after these many centuries. So far as we are informed nothing has been made public going to show the number of years which have elapsed since this royal tomb was so carefully prepared. Probably not less than one thousand years have passed since the great lady-wa laid to rest with all the pomp and ceremony which went to make up the funeral rites of these old worshippers of Odin. The pains that were taken for It's preservation. the many articles of female use found in it, the evidences of barbaric wealth found about 1t, as well as the remains Of slain animals all go to show that 1t was no common parsonage who was thus laid to rest with SO much ceremony and such careful attentions to details. Prob ably thousands of those ships were left where last used and have since rot ted away. but this one was saved for a different fate. No doubt those who put 1t away with so much care fondly hop ed that 1t would remain sacredly con- cealed throughout all time. They lit- tie thought 1t would be uncovered to the light and glare of a civilization of which they could have no conception. Such Is the end of all mans fond be- liefs and hopes.
 In one of the accounts of this discov- cry 1t Is stated that there will probably be legal fight between the owner of the land on which the ancient relic was discovered and the authorities as to who shall have possession of the find. We do not know what the law is in that country, but 1t Is to be hardly doubted that the matter will be so ar ranged that the valuable relic will even- tually go to some museum for the ad- miration of the public. When this gen. ration compares this masterpiece of the Vikings with the battleships, merchant vessels and pleasure yachts of the pres ent the advances made during ten cen turies will be plainly apparent.