The Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 191?-19??, 1919-07-23

as gift of the wa to Ice
land merely follows upon
former home rule granted BY
Denmark to the island folk in 1874
Bordering as the island does upon the
arctic circle, it would seem anOma
lous indeed that the former home OF
the free-necked, all-conquering vi
kings should be associated with aught
but human liberty, or that the re-
Straints and expressions of autocratic
governments should be familiar things
in this little detached world. But Ice
land has had its political struggles
nevertheless, and from the very be-
ginning Of its history it became the
refuge and sanctuary of a people
seeking safety and refuge from the
intOlerable tyranny Of NOrseman's
rule.
Iceland's story is really the story of
the Viking, says Christian Science
Monitor. In a minor degree it is as
ISOLATED with the mission of the Celt
and AnglO-SaXOn in the early diffu-
sion OF Christianity. In 1890 the Ice
landers actually celebrated the thou
sandth anniversary Of the landing of
the first Christians.
One is apt to picture the Viking as
a Sea-rOver making his warship fast
to that of his enemy while the shouts
of the victor rise high above the clash
and clang Of spear and battleax upon
shield and helmet. But war was not
really his occupation nor was the sea
his home. He only turned to the sea
for plumber and recreation when he
wearied of the pastoral life. If he
was man of wealth and influence, in
the old Morse country, he was certain
to possess many thraIls or retainers,
to own a great hall and possibly a
temple. In the center of the hall |
would be a row of fires, and against
the wall the high seat or place Of |
honor, its great pillars carved and !
crowned with images Of Thor, Odin
and Frigga. The Viking himself would |
be magnificently attired. his garments |
bound with plates of gold, and his |
sword, Soaking" in a
jeweled scabbard by his side. On his
neck would doubtless be a collar of
engraved gold, while his flowing cloak
would be edged with gold.
Such, ALSO, was the early Icelander
in the early stages 81 his migration
from the old Morse home.
- How Iceland Was Settled.
The Vikings peopled the remote Is
land deliberately, as a land where
freedom awaited them. Unlike other
lands it had no prehistoric history.
1t had known not even the
savage. Mans coming be-
gan, 1t may be said, with a woman's
whim, and a Vikings VOW. Is 1t not all
old In "The Story Of Harald Hair !
air" and by SnOrri in "Heimskrin-
ia 2" How Harald sent his messen- l
,ers to Gyda, daughter of Eric, King !
f HOrdaland, with the request that {
he become his wife. How to them S
he replied that she would not, for the '
aking to husband Of a king who had t
10 more realm to rule over than few y
ok, did not appeal to the proud prin- b
ess. How Harald swore that he would o
OF cut his hair nor comb it until he
ad gotten to himself all Norway, e
with the scat thereof and the dues" n
low after years of strenuous effort
nd warfare he brought all Norway "
nder q sway that was to be feared n
herever the Morse tongue was u
)oken. How he solemnly bathed and d.
IT his hair, held feast, and welded E
lie exactlng but now triumphant fc
yda, queen Of the world within her re
en-.
That was ten centuries ago, when
araId introduced to Norway that
and consolidation of IN
,wer which was to make of him a h,
rant and a blight upon the ambitions III
the mobiles who felt the weight of a
s sway. The freemen resisted as di
ng as they could. Beaten again and ms
ain in fight, many of them with III
ew from the land of their birth, pre- h,
ring exile with their accustomed nj
,ertles to vassalage which was an ST
TRACE to the freedom. IN
Discovered by Naddodd. 20
Thus began the incursions and ex- du
rsions Of the Vikings. The fair TO
ired warriors of the North spread tn
over many lands, even in we
r-off Byzantium. For centuries the tn
asst and river hnmlets of England, lily