Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-08-05

THE FL NklNEDN IF BYAS0N or
III RSLLfNlN LLbNJs w THAT RACE,
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OF them reason Is absolute master Of
feelings and passions SIN, they do
not reach the Intellectual greatness
that charcterIzes for example the Ger
mans, but what they lack In this re-
spect they make up for In gentility
and soclabillty. They are sensitive and
almost touchy with "a keen compre-
hension Of right and wrong They wish
TO be treated as equals and, even II
they are laborers or simply servants
they cannot bear to be looked upon as
mere tools that call for no further
notice. In this respect they admit Of
no 1rtiallty and look upon It as pure
~ ,idental II their position I'm life is
humber than some one else's. Be-
cause Of this great lndivlduallsm and
democratic feeling they expect every
person to remember their value as men
and women, and still they are so aristo-
cratic that II would be impossible for
them to put up with conditions that
other people would be quite contented
with
II seems fitting, therefore, what
leusler a German professor has said
Of them that they We're "aristocratic-
democrats This genteelty and sensi-
tiveuess does not only apply TO the lee
landers personally but II also applies
to their relatives and friends. They
can not bear 10 have a friend or rela-
tive run down and they win take it as
a personal insult II one speaks evil OF
one of their associates, They take
pride I'm their family connections and
almost boast Of their descent from the
freedom.loving sea-kings of olden days.
Their patriotism Is perhaps unexcelled
and, when once an lceander is sep
arated from home and country, he
longs to return ana never feels COM
petely ut home unless he is with his
own countrymen
The independence and liberallty OF
the Icelander people are unbounded,
they have inherited this trait Of char
acter from hy-gone generations, that
have each in turn fought for liberty OF
speech and conscience, The people are
not at all religIously inclined, they
might properly be termed rationalists,
and, were It not customary to bear a
sort Of reverence for the clergy, they
would pay little or no attention to the
so-called orthodox Christian doctrine
and accepted forms Of public worship,
Plety and intolerance is almost un-
known among them.
The benevolcnce Of the Icelandic peo-
pie Is great and their hospitality is, In
my opinion not excelled by any Of the
other civilized nations They take
pride IN entertaining strangers in their
simple and honest way Years ago the
farmers were never known to sell lodg-
ings to travellers, but with the Increase
OF travelling tourists these conditions
have changed and now the farmers
living along the main-roads expect nav
from the man whom they furnish with
lodgings over night When one gets
away from these principal thorough.
fares. however. hc finds the primitive
custom prevailing and the same con-
genial welcome Wherever he goes In
these country districts It often occurs
that the husband and wife. IN order 10
make IL comfortable for their guest
give up their own bed and sleep as best
they can ON the floor or elsewhere In
such places ID would he considered a
Disgrace 10 the community for farm.
cr 10 sell nights lodging Ia fellov
countrvlnqu and even To sell such on
tertalnment 10 a foreigner would be
considered ANYTHING but manly
While they are so considerate about
the bodily comforts M their guests
they put themselves to no trouble in
making themselves agreeable ana IN
the stranger. the Tcelandere viii appear
rather shy and not the least bit for
ward. They are not quick 10 take nm
with strangers and as a rule have lttie
to saw To them Az nrst nor do they nav
any attention 10 Acknowledged forms
Of etiquette and aatterv. They lack
the liveliness and elegance. the lovable-
ness. and polteness that charoterlzes
for example the Frenchman. Hypoc.
risy and cute pretentlons are unknown
10 them. Their only desire is IN he
true. simple ana natural in every ec-
ton towards alb men and under ali cir
cumstonces To tbe stranger Who aoes
not understand these peculiar charac-