MATTERS PERSONAL, LITERARY, AND GENERAL.
THE Icelanders, as I have pictured them, are intellectual in their
tastes; and in domestic life they are highly social. Their amusements
are few, their enjoyments being principally in the family, at their
labor, and attending public worship. Throughout the country, they gather
from a circuit of many miles, to hear their ministers proclaim “glad
tidings,” and tell them of the reward that awaits a well-spent life. In
the long winter evenings, one member of the family is much of the time
reading aloud, while the others are engaged in domestic duties,
spinning, weaving, knitting, and making clothing and domestic utensils,
in which the males as well as the females, all engage. In their personal
demeanor, the Icelanders are generally quiet, sober, and somewhat
taciturn. A love of amusement, and a fondness for sport, is not common.
Some of the Icelanders that I have seen, have had a great deal of
vivacity, and large conversational powers. Some that have visited
foreign countries, have returned home so impressed with their experience
of the great and busy world; that they have infused a spirit of activity
and inquiry into the whole circle where they move. They tell of one man,
an Icelander, who got off to the continent, and went through all the
wars of Napoleon, and after many years returned to his native land. He
was so glad to see his own good island, that he fell down and embraced
the earth, and declared, in the words of the national proverb, “Iceland
is the best country the sun shines upon.”[39] With all that the poor
soldier had seen of the luxury and variety of foreign countries, there
was, to him, “no place like home.” While the Icelander is fond of
conversation, when in the presence of strangers he rather listen than
talk. They come well up to Dr. Johnson’s favorite character, a good
listener. When a foreigner calls at the house of an Icelander, he
attends first to the personal wants of his guest; then he is desirous of
learning all the stranger has to communicate. He is shrewd and
inquisitive, and asks the most pertinent and ingenious questions, and
never rests satisfied till he has learned with great minuteness all that
the stranger has to tell him respecting the great world, and the foreign
countries he has seen. He is always most respectful and obliging, and
ready to communicate information, and answer questions about every thing
relating to his country or pursuits. He seems to appreciate the greater
amount of wealth and luxury abroad, and the superior magnificence and
splendor of cities like Copenhagen, Paris, London, or New York, as
compared to his own small towns; yet his _amor patriæ_ and contentment
make him superior to all temptations to emigrate. His industry, fondness
for reading and conversing, his great integrity of character, a
devotional spirit, and ardent love for the precepts and practices of
Christianity—these, with his contentment and love of liberty, are the
most prominent characteristics of the Icelander. They do not show much
fondness for exact science, though they pay some attention to the
studies of geography and natural history. Having no fuel but turf—except
what is imported—none of the precious or useful metals, no material,
except wool, for the manufacture of textile fabrics, raising no fruits
or grain, and having little use for water or steam power, they have few
incentives to exert themselves in acquiring a knowledge of chemistry,
mineralogy, geology, electricity, magnetism, hydraulics, pneumatics, or
many of the mechanic and useful arts. “Circumstances make men,” or bring
out certain traits of character; and the Icelander forms no exception to
the general rule. We see how he is placed. Obtaining his subsistence
from the products of the earth and the sea, engaged little in traffic,
he does not experience much of the fraud and wrong that is found in the
busy haunts of men; and in him we see little but the gentle and better
characteristics of our nature.
The Icelander is poor, and books are to him a luxury; yet he possesses
more, in proportion to his means, than the natives of any other country.
We shall see by comparison and looking at facts, what their intellectual
resources are. The number of books, of all sizes, published in Iceland
in each of the years 1847 and 1848, was seventeen—thirty-four volumes in
two years; and these for a community of 60,000 people. Were there as
many in proportion printed for our population of twenty-five millions,
the number of books—distinct works, independent of periodicals—published
annually in the United States, would be over seven thousand. The most of
the Iceland books are duodecimos and octavos; the largest volume for the
year 1847 containing 928 pages. This was a sort of “Congressional
Globe,” though not issued in numbers—a record of the proceedings of
their Althing or Congress.[40] This seems like a pretty lengthy journal
of a session that lasted but little over a month. They passed a number
of acts of much importance to the people; and very likely the session
was enlivened with as many “speeches to Buncombe,” as we hear in the
same length of time on Capitol Hill.
Some of the works published in Icelandic, are issued from the press in
Copenhagen; but the majority of them are printed and bound in Iceland.
They have several printing-presses constantly at work, and three
newspapers—one once a week, and two issued once a fortnight. In
mechanical execution, their books and newspapers are turned out in
better style than the average of those issued from the American press.
They are, however, always without illustrations.
From what has been said, it will be seen that the Icelanders of the
present day are a different people from those of an earlier period. In
former times, the tyranny of rulers and the ambition of demagogues, kept
up a warlike spirit, and an ardent love of political liberty. While they
were less amiable and peaceful, they showed, both in letters and
politics, a greater degree of activity. Lest it may be thought that I
have drawn too favorable a picture of the early Icelanders, I will here
give an extract from a learned dissertation on the history and
literature of Iceland, by the distinguished Dr. (now Sir Henry) Holland,
who visited the country in 1810, in company with Sir George Mackenzie.
Like the aurora borealis of their native sky, the poets and
historians of Iceland not only illuminated their own country,
but flashed the lights of their genius through the night which
then hung over the rest of Europe. Commerce was pursued by the
inhabitants with ardor and success; and they partook of the
maritime adventures of discovery and colonization, which gave so
much merited celebrity to the Norwegians of this period. Of the
several features which distinguish this remarkable period in the
history of Iceland, the literary character of the people is
doubtless the most extraordinary and peculiar. We require much
evidence to convince us of the fact that a nation remote from
the rest of Europe, dwelling on a soil so sterile, and beneath
such inclement skies, should have sent forth men whose genius,
taste, and acquirements did honor to their country, and to the
times in which they lived. Such evidence, however, of the most
distinct and decisive kind, we possess in the many writings
which have come down from this period to the present age, and in
the testimonies afforded by the cotemporaneous writers of other
countries. The reality of the fact, indeed, can admit of no
doubt; and it is only left for us to speculate upon the causes
which led to this singular anomaly in the history of
literature.[41]
The above was written forty years ago, and by one of the most
intelligent travelers that ever visited Iceland.
I was asked by the Icelanders, if it would not be an object for some of
my countrymen to settle in Iceland, and teach them the practical and
productive arts as understood in my country. I told them, I did not
think it would be an object for the natives of any country I knew to go
and settle there. The restrictive laws of Denmark do not favor trade
with foreigners; the country produces too little variety, and too small
quantities of suitable articles for exportation, to create a trade of
much magnitude. Their soil is, a majority of it, entirely unproductive;
and the balance produces too little ever to support a numerous
population. The articles they have are good of the kind; they raise
excellent beef and mutton; the wool of their sheep is soft and durable,
but not fine or handsome. It is not so good for first-class
manufactures, as the sheep are often pied, spotted, and variegated in
color; and it is not so good for coloring, as they always pull it off of
the animals, instead of shearing it.[42] Fish—salmon and cod—are
important articles of export; and their horses, though small, are very
desirable animals. A little larger than the Shetland pony, often of
singular color, hardy, gentle, and docile; for pony carriages, and for
children and females to ride, I think they would be a desirable addition
to our stock of horses in the United States. A schooner-load of them
went from Iceland to Scotland, when I was in the country; and I have no
doubt they sold at a good profit, as the average cost was less than ten
dollars a head. As these animals are never fed in winter, they are
necessarily raised very cheaply; and, were trade open with foreign
countries, I have no doubt a great demand would spring up for them, and
add largely to the profits of the Iceland farmer. Apropos of this
subject of free trade, I will here give an extract from the letter of an
intelligent Icelander, which I have just received, and which was written
after the commencement of hostilities in Europe. There is no reason why
the king of Denmark should not open the trade of Iceland equally to all
nations. It is not a particle of pecuniary benefit to his kingdom, as
there are no duties charged; but, by restricting the trade to Danish
vessels, it is kept as a kind of monopoly by a few merchants of
Copenhagen; while the poor Icelanders complain greatly of the oppression
and hardship of being dependent for their foreign necessaries and
luxuries, entirely on a few grasping speculators. Whenever the Iceland
Althing passes an act opening their ports to all nations, the king
vetoes the bill. They murmur at it as great injustice; but what avail
the murmurs of the weak? During the last war in Europe—1810-12—Denmark
came near losing the colony in two different ways. One was, the enemy
came near taking possession; and another escape they had, the “mother
country” not being able to protect the island, or send them supplies,
the people came near starving to death; and were only saved from the
greatest destitution by the clemency and liberality of Great Britain, in
treating the Icelanders as “friends,” while the country was at war with
Denmark. If his Danish Majesty should feel compelled to take up arms in
the present struggle, the island would be in similar peril. Respecting
this, and some other subjects, the following letter, from a learned
Icelander—the President of the Iceland College—will be read with
interest:
Reykjavik, March 1st, 1854.
SIR:
* * * * *
As to political news, I have not much to relate; nor, I am sure,
do you expect much from this quarter; yet, a change is about to
take place in our commercial relations. In all probability, the
Danish government will, after a monopoly of two and a half
centuries, at length, this year, condescend to allow of our free
intercourse, for mercantile purposes, with all nations. It would
be superfluous to write you any thing about the impending war;
but I cannot forbear stating, that in case of war between
England and Russia, to which Denmark would probably be
constrained to become a party, our situation here, in this
island, would needs become very precarious.
* * * * *
Sir: I should be charmed to visit your stately country, to get
an idea of her soaring aspirations, to view her wonders of
civilization, with all her rapid improvements. She seems to be
the only country that at present enjoys the blessings of
freedom, and on whose soil liberty can prosper. But I very much
fear my desire of paying a visit there will ever remain a “_pium
votum_” which neither my financial circumstances nor my
occupation will allow of.
* * * * *
Though you have, dear sir, already rendered me so many important
services, I must, before concluding this letter, once more
importune you with a boon, which is in the interest of my
college, to procure me a copy of the following work, a most
excellent one, by one of your countrymen—“Report on Education in
Europe, to the Trustees of the Girard College for Orphans, by
Alex. Dallas Bache, Philadelphia, 1839.” I have made several
applications to my bookseller in Copenhagen, but all in vain.
Then, I should feel much obliged to you, if you could procure
me, by the means of your influential friends in America and
Great Britain, some examination papers from some of your
colleges or schools of England, especially from Eton, Harrow, or
Winchester, containing the questions put to the pupils, as well
as copies of the best answers to them; together with specimens
of their exercises in Latin and Greek. If you could comply with
this desire of mine, you would render yourself one of the
benefactors of our college. I could send the expense to Mr.
Younghusband, your correspondent in Liverpool.
I remain, sir,
Your faithful and obliged friend,
BJARNI JOHNSON.
To PLINY MILES, Esq.,
Washington.
A man who can write thus, who can so express himself, in the purest and
most forcible English, does not belong to a community of people who are
entirely ignorant of the world at large, or indifferent to the national,
political, and educational movements of the powerful nations of the
earth. If the Danish government should open the ports of Iceland to all
nations, it would be in accordance with the advanced and progressive
spirit of the age, and while conferring a great benefit on a quiet,
peaceful, and isolated colony, knit more closely the ties of affection
and union between the colonists and the parent country. Then we might
chronicle the arrival and departure of vessels, _a little oftener_,
between the northern isle of the ocean and our own seaports.
Last year, a ship bearing the classic name of the “SAGA,”[43] sailed
into the harbor of New-York, direct from Iceland, _being the first
arrival from that country to this, in a period of more than eight
hundred years_! I think the maritime records of the world would be
searched in vain for a parallel case. The crew of this ship were the
“followers” of Eric the Red, and his compeers, who discovered the
American continent, and gave it the name of Vinland; but they were
certainly a long time in following him.[44]
FOOTNOTES:
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Footnote 39:
“_Island er hinn besta land, sem solinn skinnar uppá._”
Footnote 40:
“Tiðindi frá Alþingi. Annað þing, 1 Juli til 7 Agust, 1847.”
Footnote 41:
From “Mackenzie’s Iceland;” “Preliminary Dissertation” on the
Literature and History of the country, by Dr. Henry Holland.
Footnote 42:
This may be thought barbarous and cruel; but probably it is not; for
it is pulled at two or three different times, and only that portion
pulled off that comes easy. Then, perhaps, too, custom is something,
like the adage of the eels, &c.
Footnote 43:
A vessel—the “BALDAUR,” as it was printed in the newspapers—seems to
have derived its name from Northern Mythology—“Baldur, the Fair.” This
ship was spoken of as having sailed near a steamer on the track of the
missing “_Glasgow_.” Now and then, it seems, a name, or maritime
event, connects us with the far north.
Footnote 44:
Since the above was in type, intelligence has arrived from Denmark,
that a law has just been passed, throwing open the ports of Iceland to
the trade of the world. For this, none will rejoice more than the
Icelanders themselves; for a more relentless, grinding, and hated
monopoly never oppressed a poor people. The resident Danish merchants
will now not be able to have every thing their own way. As the law
takes effect in April, 1855, a trade between Iceland and England, and
Iceland and America, will soon spring up. The articles that the
Icelanders most require from foreign countries, and the productions of
the island which they have to export, will be found enumerated in
preceding chapters.