The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-11-25

Ram IAvunn and RIsh 1ntnkIns q ths
BeeInnarrs.

FroH ne NGhoRai Geographical MG0asine.
Iceland Il. az william Morris said. the
Greece Of the North" 10 produced In tbs
tWslfth and thirteenth centuries . hternturs
uRpaFallsled after Rome before the golden
age Of England and France. In character
drawing. In passionate dramatic power. Id
severe. noble simplicity. In grim hurior.
All the characters OF the SaEas live and move
to-day. Every hiil and headland and valley
In the island h full OF their presence. The
IceIander OF to-day knows them by heart.
IL 10 @s N every Enailshman. from paupsr
10 kinG. knew ShakespeaBs's historical plays
and could retell them more or lesg IN his OF
her own words. 10 has kept the national
times ailvs through evil times IL has pre-
served the language almost untouched by
time and foreign intercourse.
Nowhere 10 the contrast between man ana
his -suFroundlngs 30 gIarinG a. In Iceland.
Buried in nov and darkness. deprived %
every comfort. living o. rancid butter ard
dried hsh. drinking sOar whey and milk.
dFessed Nike hts servants. seeking In . little
boat his food. yet q cultured mind. possessing
an intimate knowledge not only OF the his
tory 81 his own country but OF Greece Nnd
Rome: a poet fond Of hFowing on settres.
intellectually and morally the equal Of his
European guest. considering himself ycur
equal and refusing to be ordered shout BY q
rich Engllshman. owner Of several suWare
miles Of land and hundreds Of sheep. with a
pedigree going further back than that OF hts
visitor: a'jack Of all trades. q blacksmith In
hts smithy. boat builder and carpenter, IN
artist In hligree work. a carver In wood. an
Eager reader IN books. he has universal edu-
.catlOn up TO the degree to which II IA useful
for q man.
There are no schools In Iceland. vet every
child at II can read. according 10 the parish
ktathsstcs. In No country In Europe are 40
many books printed and sold, 70 proportion
ss.aes. scattered In many Samicfs. has twelve
printing presses. the earliest being es.ab-
annusIiy. f%onrtssn newspaPers and etsht
periodicals. are nrOduced 10 satisfy the literary
ne ses Il ~ s"i s.r n.sIs n ssUsi. s,iH lIv. In a pas
torsl and Homeric civilization. which is a
modern lcsson OF the healthfuihess q human
life Of nature. such as would have delighted
the heart of Rossseau o.. rhoreau. AZ a
snSpas ~ a eiersymsr Who died four wears
nto ll5 years old. having managed 20 live all
MS daEs healsny and happy on so SID,
The sheep yield food and cIothins.. Their
woven y hand looms, and worn Indyeds
fOu make shoes Of their sttn and spoons OF
me s SsF%S 81 FS stories op sSG rerIsIn 3 o * poem nSt
Only the milk ewes Gre kept az honee in the
summer 20 Be Ttlked: She rese % the sheep
notice being given At church from the pulptt.
The aWtunan gstserings. with people sitting
on the walls 81 the stene enclosure telling
stories. are Quite Homeric. The winter
evenings are spent with each MEMBER Of the
family oI1 81 Esrk " ne sane room tne
sheep skins, making ropes and nets 81 hair:
the women using spindle and dintad. em-
broidering, &c. afford q still better oppOr-
tunity FOR stories and Uuns.
There are even wondering minstreis who
Scss ths Which Rv thsr SnoS oy nv Se Se.rt Pr ~srioSs
farmhouses tin they exhaust their stock.