Year: 1875

unfortunate islanders 70 maintain themselves during
the coming winter The hay crop is everything Every
farm house has its "tun enclosed usually by turf
wall, and from this the hay crop is gathered. The
ultimate conditions OF human life are con-
fined within that enclosed space, which may
not exceed q few acres. Here arc the
barns sheepfods and farm house rude in construction
but comfortable II is appalling to think that in many
Of the most populous regions these have been In
single day burned in a witherng fall OF ashes from
the great cloud belching from the mountains and
forming vast canopy impenetrable by single ray Of
sunlight producing at MONDAY the backness Of night


Not least remarkable among these volcanic eruptons
IN Iceland are the great torrents Of hot water which
frequently accompany them. In ordinary times we
ma IN almost all parts Of the island boiling springs,
0i winch the famous Geysers are a conspicuous exam
ple Ihese are changing continually, and report
represents the Geyscrs emitting FIRE and ashes


Instead OF water This but an illustration OF what Is
constantly TO be by the Iceland traveller; water
and IRE hot and cold struggling continually as IL were
Tor the mastery. These conditions OF nature seem to
nave gradually produced their effect upon people, who


1--we In that peculiar condition Of seeming Indifference
as II they would say, 'What good there in exertonP
We may all be swallowed up tomorrow" Yet they
frugal within their sphere industrious faithful to
their promises and rejoice in inherited intelligence
for their the most brave active and Gull
tvaed Of all Morse people when they first occupied the
land In 874 The most miserable farm house OF tho
most miserable shepherd Is not without ts books and
they spend their evenings reading 10 each other The
ane seminary at the capital is hlled not alone with
students but is famed for many 1ne scholarA The
morals Of the people good that the public prison
has occupant and the two policemen Of
ReykJavlk are constantly without employment


II Is impossible not to sympathize with these people
in their present great calamity Poor though they
in most respects and shaken up they from time
to time by earthquakes, they arc yet as intensely
attached to their country the Swiss to their native
Alps Earnest efforts are being made for their assist
ance and should be glad TO see some movement made
in this country in the way Of cooperation The King
OF Denmark, who visited Iceland last summer and pre-
sided the millennial celebration, has made public
request is stated, for help, and touchingly says
TO the Legislature 1.-THE Of the colossal convul
sons Of nature which have created such great calamity
In the north and east OF Iceland has affected with
very deep sorrow These sad events have touched Us
all the painfully that preserve from jour.
ney TO Iceland last summer, such joyful memories"


The London Times makes strong appeal in behalf OF
the sufferers, saying they may soon be starving In
the North Sea at two days. voyage from our shorea
He gives twice who gives quickly We are in August
tics will long render the year 1875 memorable for food
and fire." Respectfully, yours l. l. HAYES


new YORK, August 26, 1878