New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-06


on the house; it is not big enough to hide
dozen men now (thc Burners were
hundred. but they say the river has eaten
up big piece of il even in the memory
Of man then going 70 the other eXtrem-
ity of the home-mead. he shows us the
water that Kari leaped into to Stake his
burning clothes when "Lifc-luller was
blue on either edge" There is no stream
land marks what has been a pond, and
there are traces OF brook that once
flowed from il. few hundred yards FUR
ther on they show us little messy mol
low under "A grass bank. which they say is
the hollow Kari lay down to rest in after
the stream; a little stead close by II is
called Karis Garth. furthermore Gas not
ing how much the present lcelanders
that when they were digging the fOunda-
tions Of new parlor they came deep
down on a bed of ashes.
There is much of this sort Of thing
IL the journals, and with it there are
many charming descriptions of scenery.
The poetic passion is always I'm evil
dence. The lover of beauty never fails
us. But never, either, docs he indulge
in fine writing He was too genuine n
man for that and. indeed, the journals
are dotted with the everyday incidents
of travel and are lighted not infrequcnt-
~ by CLEANS of humor. He had an eye
for anything that came up on the hori
ION. no matter how humble There was
the long legged parson in rusty black,
with a tall and stupendOusly bad hat
riding on jolly round sterned chestnut
at the devils pace. his reverend rag
bagged legs going whack whack, whack
to make YOU die There was the indi-
Vidual encountered at one of the houses
where they lodged. who called himself
an Italian, looked like one and talked
with a foreign accent but rejoiced in
the incredible name of Dapples. All was
grist that came to Morris's mill 1t filled
full his eye II made him shout for JOY.
The simplest things take on a living in
terest for the reader of his journals
through his whole-hearted enjoyment Of
them. We must quote one more frag-
ment, for the picture it gives Of the poet
come face 10 face with the natives on
ordinary travellers affairs
As we turn toward the river to seek for
q ford the man on the white horse. who
has outridden us turns 20 # from his side
and splasheS through the shallow water.
gnd so rides away toward Stad so we can
follow his track in the sand without
troubling much 10 feel for a ford; and a
Few minutes after are thrOnging the tun
of EiarOarhorn, a pretty field sloping
down TO the WateT-Sidc: IL is half-past
nine now, and getting dusk. and all men
are asleep in the house Of the poor little
stead: out they swarm, however, in min
ute or two like bees ont Of a hive, and
two smart boys help US 10 pitch our tents
handily enough and laughing with Joy all
the time. We have the smithy handed over
90 us for our Kitchen, as the fire is out I'm
the kitchen proper: thither Magnusson
ana l take our tools, and smithy soup and
stew. while a gray-headed big earle. not
very right in his wits, a sort Of Barnabv
Rudge blows the bellows for us: we talk
to him | taking some share in the CONVEX
sation. ill apropos Of something or other
MdgnuSSOn says.
This man 'meaning me) can talk Ice
"Does he?" says the earle: 81 have
heard him talk great deal and | don't
Don't YOU understand this?" say /
Yes" says he.
Isn't ii Icelandic, them"
We'll don't know" says he. In all
other tongues. and perhaps these are some
Of those"
Now was dinner served up, and we sat
Gown to il with close ring Of men all
round the tents mouth watching us.
STOPPING down with their hands on their
knees, and now and then dropping a SEN
tence one to the other such as Now he's
supping the broth" What flesh Is that
and so on. They were queer, outlandish
people but quite good tempered and kind.
aud most willing 10 do anything We told
them.
They called Morris The Skald." and
they were good to him. The two jour
ucys included a certain amount Of hard
ship. but. on the whole ne extracted
from them huge pleasure and profit
that Wse his way with most of the op-
portunties of life. Above all was II his
way when he Was at home. Most be
guilinl is ne when we see him with his
wife and his children-"my Titles he
calls the latter--and as Sc
read Miss Morriss introductions We
feel that 1t would have been worth While