The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-02

II tho star" volcano OF this biologists
paradise. Its most memorable recorded
eruptions occurred in 1894, 1900, 1896,
1910. 1888. 1s45 and 1918 Since 1904
there have been twenty-five major out
bursts. That Of 1S45 was the most Sc
we're; the volcano was in action seven
months. Ashes were wind borne to the
Shetlends and into Norway. A 500
foot cone was blown off and fragments
were hurled as far as fifteen miles.
Krisuvik is a sulphur land; 1000 tons
OF II, by estimate, and more of II form
ing constantly by sublmation from be-
low. True Phlegethon. river of flame,
flows under Krisuvik; fire and brim-
stone thinly crusted over. and in the
authors consideration a Fascinating
region. More attractive to us would
be the splendid fiords of the east coast
Faskrudsfjorthr, for example: "A
glaciated valley that rises to an eleva-
ton OF 1000 feet in q curve like the
hull OF ship. where II meets the
ragged pinnacles and summer SHOWS
From this line the mountains rise in
serrated ridges and frozen spires which
are thrust up through the folds OF per-
petual fog" with cascadlng streams
a-glitter on the steep slope.
The Iceland pony is hardy little
beast. and wise one; docile and sure
footed. His weight runs about 500 to
500 pounds: some are heavier. His
name Is thick and long. his tail wonder.
fully full and long: the hairs Of IL are
used by farmers In making the ropes
with which they bind hay in the field
The nags are fat. light in the legs
| wide OF forehead, broad in the bach
| and deep chested. Their endurance II
traversing hard country is notable. II
the spring the colts are turned int,
the uplands and run wild through III,
summer. In the winter they are shell
tered on the farms. but are only seldom
fed hay and never grain. The four
year-old is broken to saddle. Abou
$4,000 are kept in the country and hun
dreds a year are sent to Denmark an,
| Scotland.
The 1celander is a deliberate person
| slow in starting. hut. once started, neve
gutter. He lives a simple life. work,
hard and gets little for his work but 1
content with his little. He IL grea
sniffer Of snuff: exchange Of snuff horns
IL the common greeting of wayfarers
II Is complimentary to sneeze loude
than the other fellow In tribute to tn,
superior strength of his weed. As
| commercial farmer he dcvotcs his at
tention to hay, of which he cuts eacl
year about 1900 900 pony loads. averag
ing 100 pounds each: about 100000 ton,
More than half tho crop comes from tn
moorland. boys and INTENDED meadows
| The soil is fertile. and II II larger par
OF the year could he spent near the SUI
the country might become "a grea
market garden for Europe" Potatoe
and turnips are grown for family use
There are no ploughs. moving machines
pitchforks and hayracks in Iceland;
| photograph pretending To show sue
apparatus In use there was betrayed a
a counterfeit by the costumes of tn
workers. identifiablc as swedish
The people are quiet. reserved. bu
| not morose. They have soft voices an
sing well. They are polite: the chill
dren are well behaved. Six foot me
| sleep in five foot beds. \ whole house
hold. both sexes. sleep In one larg
room: their conventions are not dell
cate or tyranncal. Skyr. curded mill
is the national dish; a Viking staple
the manner of it's preparation a myster
to outlanders. taste" that must
cultivated" Sleeps milk cheese. choc
olate color and mild roquefort in fiavol
was more Immediately likable to IN
American visitor.
All the whctstones in Iceland wer
made in New Hampshire, shipped I
Denmark. rcsold by tho Danish moi
chant to the trader In Iceland and h
him in turn 10 the farmer: and III
farmer pays just half az much as III
New England farmer pays for the san
thing. An item for students of III
tariff.
Mr.. Russell has adopted Iceland an
Is fond foster father. His descrfptio
- the land Is probably classic Of III
people. "A little biz romantic. His boo
printed in pretty slpshod fashion,
fun of good stun about "A country n
much heard of but well worth KNOWN
about II is copiously illustrated wit
photogra phs. some Of which show Il
author himself in "close to mature
, poses.