Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, August 30, 1874, Page 5

T U i | 1 1 i i THE CHICAGO DAILY TRIBUNE: SUNDAY, . AUGUST 30, 1874 ICELAND. | 7he Miltenial Celcbration, as Describ- ed by Bayard Taylor, Proceedings at Rejkiavik and Thingvalla. Religions Services, Banquets, Speeches, and Songs. what King Christian Said and Did. Latters from Eayard Taylor in the New Fork Tribune. AT REJEIAVIE. REIEIAVIE, Aug. 3, 1674 The firet of the two days set apait for tho commemorative festivitics dawned cloudless and splendid. We went ashore at 10:30 o'clock, sud found gverybody hastening toward the Cathedral. The open. grassy square around the old building was covered with picturesque groups of people ; the Jako in the rear of the town glittered in the sun, sud the bigh peaks of Reylur slept in the blue distancd. Geouine Icslandic costumes ap- st lsst, and original and grace- ful they were. Tho women wore white hel- mets of & curions pattern, the horn curving over in front, 6 incbes above the head the base richly embroidered with gold, and a white vail thrown over all and floating upon the shoulders. They bad also closely-fitting jackets of dark cloty, Jieavily braided with gold or silver, snd broad belta of silver filigree work. Not more than half s dozen of the men in all wore the old national costume. It consists of a jacket and kmee- breeches of dark-gray Lomespun cloth, stock- ingsof thesame cloth, sealskin shoes, and & roand hat with the brim turzed up. The ouly omament is a bow of red ribbou at the knee. Tho King and Lis cortege had just entered TIE CATBEDRAL 38 wo reached it, and the foreign naval oficers who bad been iovited to the ceremony were crowding with the natives into the low northern portal. We bad been furnished with slips of psrchment 28 admission tickets to seats in the main aisle, aud the sucristan placed us in front, oppoeite the Bishop's pulpit. The choir was singing omeof ten new authems composed for the uccasion ; lights were burniog in the chande- Tiers, on the altar, 00d between the gallery-pill- srs; wresths of beather docorated the walls, choir, and galleries, and there was a glow ot flow- ers arcund Thorwaldsen’s baptismal fort. The doll red of the walls aud dark panels of the wooden eciling harmonized well with these simple sdornments ; the building wors an aspect of cheerfal solemnity, becoming the occasion. The seats filled rapidly during the chant, men and women sitting together as they could find places. Yhen the service commenced, after the Ancient Luthe:an fashion. In fact it was nearly an exact repetition of that we had seen in Thor- shavn, except thay the Icelandic, language was used. ' The hymns were very simply and grandly sung; sud the **Psalm of Praice,” wriiten by Matthias Jochumsson, and composed by Sveru- bjorneson—the fit musical work by & native Icelander, I sm told—prodnced a wonderful effect. In whichever direction I looked I saw syee filled with tears. The repetition of tho re- frain ; Islends thusund ar—** lecland's thousand years,” rang through tlo Catledral in tones which were solemn rather than proad. sud gave sxpression to the earnect, religious epint in which tho pecple have come together. The sermon, by Lishop V'jetarsson, was gquite nnintelligible to me. It was delivered m a lamenting, almost lachrymose voice, with scarc Iy 2 change of inflection from beginning to end; %0d the impresuion, if any were really miended, must bave been much diciinisied by the copi ous doses of, snuft taken by the sveaker, and the appearance of his haudkercaief, a4 it Iay.on the pulpit-desk. The exercises lasted for an bour and a balf, closg with suother glorious anthem. By following.the printed woids, as they were sung by the clioir, I not only acquired the pronunciation of the lanruage, but per- ceived it admirable adsptability to music and pootry. The meaning of many of the words csme to me, without their grammar, making clear, at least, the general sepke of the bymn. The programme for the popuiar celebration in the evening included a procersion, which ehould leave the Cathedral-square at 3:30 o'clock. Haay of the people, however, hurricd awey be- foro that hour, as 1f shy to take part in anythiog o formal, while groups of others lingered about the place, waitiug for somo voice of organization which never came. At least, up to 4 o'clock, whea Mr. Field, Dr. Hayes, and myself betook ourselves to TITE ROYAL BANQUET, thers were nu_ indications tisat sny procession would be formed. At the University Building a lackey ina scarlet cont teuk onr hats mantles, snd directed us to the waiting-room up-stairs. A number of Ice- lauders from the country were allowed to go up and down, to peep into the dining-halls, inspect the mueicians and their instrumente, aud other- . wiso indulge their coriogity. It must have been £n exunoidinary sight to the most of them. The . toral pentries, extemporized out of the recita- tion-rooms, seemed to attract thom especially, aud oven the empty dish had its interest for thern natil the viands began to appear. Bytwos, and threcs, and half-dozens, the guests gathered. Excopt tho Icelanders, the Danish poet, Carl Andersen, snd orselvcs, all were in_civil, mil- ttary, or nsval unirorm. The Royal Marshal, Baron Holten, who seems to have been chosen Iike lus fellow Marshals atall Coarts, for love of good cheer and good-fellowship, Gov. Fina- sen, Minister Klein, Capt. Malto-Brun, Admiral Lagercrautz of the Swedish Navy, the Bishop, Ctef-Justice Junasson, and fioally our hale and bearty friewd, Dr. Ajultalin, were among tho bunber. Last of all camo Madame Fins- &n, preceding the King and Prince Walde- mar. Tall and stately, in_her black moire robe, £lie wae ux composed and perfect in manner as when we eaw her descend tho garden-steps to welcoms: His Majesty. The King walked aronnd the cirele withont any cetemony, exchanging a few words with each Person as ho paesed. ~The Marshal did notmake i3 sppearance when our turn came, 80 ¥0 were ell-introduced os Americau gucsts and not ad individuals. Prince Waldemar is younger thanl honghit, —not more than 12 or 19,—and still boy- #ily diffident in s manner. He scemed in- elined o keep in tho background as much ss pos- tible. I found Christinn 1X. 2a frauk, simple, 2nd cordial as he appeared at first. What he said iis not necessary to repeat, being the usual commen-places mda'ged in where both eides are Testricted by etiquetta of place and persos. There was 10 morc than was necessary for polite- Beds on either side. FINALLY, DINNER WAS ANNOUNCED, tho King gave his arm to Madpme Finssen, the baud blew its trumpets, and we marched into tholarge hall of the University, winch was rated with flags, pyramids of rifles, stars of swords, and other warlike orpament, not quito Ebropriate to unarmed and peaceful Iceland. Ny plsce proved to be between Capt. Mzlie- Bron (a nephew of the famous geographer) and 23 ofiicer who introduced himself as Com- maudant Letourneur, of tho French Navy. Next {o him, at_the end of the table, eat the King's Adjutant, Von Hedemann. The menw, printed in’ gold, which lay by my plate, an- Doanced a dinner ench as Iceland comid ecarcely farnish,—and, indeed, although served with deli- cately uriful sauces, to dinguise the fact, almost “every dish came in cans from Copenhagen. The silver plato and porcelain, with the roval arms, tbe wine plasscs, cakes, and bon-bons—every- thing, I think, except the snipe and salad, was Danish. We had duck snd venison, green peas, es, eic., but the rarest thing for the nitive guests must have been the dish of black Hambuig grapes which came with the dessert. They were s fresh as if just plucked. . e King fivally rose, briefly expressed his thinks for the friendly reception he had re- gaived, hoped that the Constitution he had brought with him might contribute to tho ma- et prosperity of tho island and the develop- ment of its people, and closed with tho toast: SLong live O1d Iceland!” The full force of the xnd gtruck in with the cheers that followed; a Hgnal from the roof started the cannon of the war-ship, ehores and harbor rang, sad all the innsbitants kmew that ‘“the King drinks to Iceland!” Klein, the Minister of Justice, pext made a speech which gave grest matfaction, although—so far as ‘I could understand it—the substance appeared to theoretic rather than practical. He spoke © tho metual rights and duties of monarch and E:nyk; and, insemuch as his expressions must e been previously submitted to the King, thoy wars accepted by the Icelanders as wxtually emanating from the Iatter. He gave tho health of the Crown-Princo, snd there was fresh re- joicing when the Iing, in roturning thanis, romised that the latter should learn the Ico- audic Janguage. There wers other toasts to the Queen of Denmark, Prince Waldemar, and the Temaining members of the Royal Family, and then the company rose. Half an honr was de- voted to cigars, coffee, and convetsation in ‘e outer hall, by which time it was 6 o'clock, and THE PEOPLE'S FESTIVAK had commenced on tho eastern hill. The _broad, rounded summit of the hill had been Iaboriously clesred of stoncs, and fur- nished a space whore 4,000 or 5,000 people could have been accommodated; but not more than 2,000 were present. Thero wore a rostrum for epeeches, 3 tent for tho King, another tent which suggested a poseibility of refreshments,— and that was all. But the elovation, slight as it wss, commanded a singularly bleak and sub- lime panoramic view. On ail sies tho eyo overlooked grest spaces of sailless sea or barren shore, until, 50 milcs away, ranges of dark vol- capic hills iuclosed the horizon. The lovel evening suushine fell coldly ncross the vast view, the wind blew sharp and keen from the Borth, and, with evers sllowance far the tough constitutions of the Icelandic people, I could not see how much festivity was to be extracted from the placs, time, and temporature. Nothing was done, of course, until the King's armval. Then, in firing o salute with hand- frrenadas, two gunners wero badly wounded, dne osing his right hand. Finally, when the Royal progress had beon made through lines of eageriy staring aud embariassed natives, the singing be- 0. In Iceland nothing is dona without sing- ing, aud it is the most attractivo foature of the celebrution thus far. The song was followed by speechies from tho rostrum, cnielly greetings to the people, winding up with sentiments and cheers. Admiral Lagercrautz spoko for Sweden, Rolfsen, the author, for Norway (and his elo- quence awoke a roal enthnsinsm), and thon various others foflowed, the admirable malo choir of Rejkiavik interrupting the speeckos with national sougs. * A TERSONAT, EPISODE. Two days ago we were discnsuing, in the cabin of our steamer, tho question whether we, in onr capacity 8 Americans, should make oven an un- official representation at this festival. We knew that the Icelanders desired thnt our presence, which seemed to bo welcome to them, shonld be in some wuy manifested: yet it seemed difficult to decide how this should be done. The pro- posal, on my part, to address s poetic grooting to Icoland, was 80 cordially reccived by my com- Ppanions :hat 1 could only comply. The stanzas which soliow were written in all haste, in the midst of distracting talk. and make no claim to any poetic merit: AMERICA 70 ICELAND, We come, the childreu of thy Vinland, The youngzst of the world’s high peers, O landof steal, aud song, and sags, ‘To greet thy glorious thousand years1 Acroea that sea tho fon of Erjk Darc:l with bis venturove drsgon’s prows From shores whero Thorfiun set thy banner, Their lntest children sk thee now. Hail, mother-land of Skalds and heroes, By luve of freadom bither hurled, Fire in their hoarts a8 in thy wountains, And strength like thine to shake the world When war snd ravage wrecked the nations, The hird of song made thee her home ; The ancient gods, the sncient glory, Still dwelt within thy shorcs of foam, H, 15 3 fount may kecp its virtu Wheve all the rivers turbid run, The taanly growth of deeds and daring Was thine beneath scantier sun, Bet far apart, neglected, exiled, Tiy children wrote their ruries of, pride, With power that brings, in tlis thy (riumph, The conquering nations to thy side. What though thy native harps be silent, Tho ciord thoy etruck slall our proloog ; ‘We claim three kindred, cali thee mother, O Land of saga, stecl, and sorg! Our friend Magnusson immodiately took this ceting ashore, whero it wus tranelated into Teo- nodic Dy Matbias Jochumsson, the poet, who has givon Shakepeare's Lear snd Macbeth ad- mirably in Icelandic. I quote the first stanza of bis tronelation, as s specimen of the lavguago. The italicisod i is soft, as in then - Her kema born thins bjarta Vinlands, Sen bygrjum yngstu heimeing grund, Thn attland kappa, s0ngs o2 SOgU, Ath signa thig 3 friegtharstund ! Now, when all other greotings had apparently come to an end, Magnusson tcok the stand, and in an eloquent specch referred to the presence of the Amcrican party. This drew sll eyes upon us, aud was rather embarrassing, althongh inevitable ; bul the interest and good-will of tfie people were clearly evident. When the address was finished, the 3Mayor of Rejlinvik, Sveinbjornson, sunounced that the = Skald, T—, of America, would reply. Al the aforo- ‘said ** Skal was able to do was to state, in moat imperfect Danish, that ho wes not sufficiently macter of the language to express fully tho feelings of himself and friends : he could only assure the people of Iceland that we thank- ed them, with all our hearts, for their recogui- tion of our fatherland. and then closed with ““ Hail to Iccland and the whole Norse race!"— which the people received with hearty cheers, the King leading. Boou afterward the dances began; but as the national dance—if thero_ever was auy—is now lost, and waltz, polka and quadrille prevail hero as olsowhere, there was notling picturesque in the spectscle. Our Rejldavik acquaintances were all there, and the ladies, especially, were very Jively aud communicative ; ouly the gharp wind from Greenland's icy mountains, which blew without ceasing, chilled our very marrow. Bo- fore the ‘“great flyiug fires” were let off, we found it prudent to return to the landing-place and signal our steamor’s bost. AT THINGVALLA, ResE1aviE, Aug. 8, 1876, Renching Thingvalla towards 8 o'clock on Thureday evening, the wild valley had under- gone a complete transformasion since we left it three days before. The stoep greon slopes aloug the foot of the Allmanuxgjs were dotted with little tents ; four large pavilions, with sev- eral smaller ones, had been erected along tho book of the river; on_tho Mount of the Law a flagatalf was vlanted, from which floated the ancient banner of Iceland, & white falcon in_n blue field; whilo on the opposito side, towards the Axar cataract, the mound _where the Judges wero proved of od bore 8 doserted tribune and the standards of the nations represonted at the festiysl. On the right flosted the colors of Norwss, England, and the United States; on the Empire. The stundard of France was placed beside ours tho next momming, whep Baron Letourpeur and another French officer arrived. Clumps of people wero ecottercd all over the velley, or on the rocky, grass-topped beights; flags tioated in all directions, the smoke of camp~ fires orose, ahouts, grectings, and songs re- sounded through the air,—in short, in place of the former gloomy silenco and solitade of the seene, all was lite and joy. Ridivg close upon the heels of . THE KING and his escort, we saw the groupsof peoplo gather suddenly to a crowd around the foot of tho mound. It appeered that s body of twelve Tcelandic zonder, or farmers, eclected for their appearanceno less than their character and stand- ing, had ridden forward to meet His Majesty at tho farm of Skyrcot,—a httle onsis in_the lava- field, about a mile distant,—end bad escorted him to the plnce of the festival. Here, ranging themselves eix on each side of the {mth, they made a sort of gateway to the Thingvalla ground. The Chairman of the Committee, Fredriksson, made a short address of iwelcome, which wes folloved by such Joud and repeated cheers that many of the pomies took fright. Gov. Finssen was unhorsed, but the King, who is & most accomplished rider, 6at firml, patting his intelligent pony on the neck. Then' twenty- four girls came forward, scattering the nativo flowers of Iceland—thyme. suemone, saxifrage, and geranium—in the royal path, while the chioir, posted on the lava rocks, struck up one of their solemn, soul-stirring_chants. Tho camp was pitched, 8 beiore, on the little hill in front of the church, but there was_now quite a little villag of tents around it. This welcome was al- most an improvieation, bt it was entirely suc- cessful, and struck s favorable key-note for the following day. Morning came and brought no sun. The fair weather was gono ; & cold wind blew down from tho central deserts of the island, and the Droad- Bhield Mountain, in the northesst, soon grew dim under a vail of rain. The plovers piped on the heather-covered ridges of lava, and the weird laughter of the loons was heard along the shores of the Thingvalla Lake. Our friend Magnueson came early with an _invitation from the National Committee to breakfast with them and the royal party in the pavilion st 11 o'clock. ‘The exercises at the Mound of the Judges wers to commence at 10, 5o, after taking coffoe, I net ont with our German guest to visit the famous Logberg, or Hill of the Law, where THE ALTHING or Popular Assembly of Iceland was held for mearly 900 rears. History states that when the independent chiefs who first took up the habitable part of Iceland found it necceeary to unite and form a euperior Government for all, they had some dif- ficulty in selecting a suitable spot for its delib- erations. 1o the year 930, Mpfla was final- Iv chosen, and no other spot, cortainly, could have wveated the Alhing with such 2. ir of awe and solemnity. Tho preat lava plain of Tningvalla (or, in celandic, Thingoetlir) is ront by deep. tre.aendous fixsures, iu o goneral direc- tion f1um north to south. One of these, on tin esstern edgo of the valley, forms almos: su island, attached to e main mass of rock by =a parrow natural bridge. It is about 300 yards foug, but not more than 60 or 70 feet wide at the broadest part. Tho summit is uneven, rising as you approach tho further end, until its jagged pinoacies look down on cither gide into ehasms 150 feet deep, where o dark, mysterious, indigo-colored water flows onward, whence or whither no one can tell. The charactor of the placo 13 more than savage ; it is diabolical. Near the entrance, ono ancient Jarl wea sup- posed to be able to defend the whole mount, siuce accass was impossible at any other point. A part of tho rock must aiterward have given way and fallen across tho chasm, for it is now bridged toward the otber extremity. The white falcon of Iceland flapfd lonely in the rmin, as we stood npon the mound whers the forty-eight Judges sat upon the middle bench, each with a deputy betore and another. bshind bim, making 144 1n all. At first this mound was iucfused by "a circlo of nazle sticks, bound with tho sacred cords or fillits. The Lawgiver, who was chosen for three years, diracted the proceed- ings. Afterthe year 999, the Althing was openedon the Thursday betwoeen the 18th and 23d of June, and remainéd in session fourteen days. Since sgricultare conld not be carried on ju_ Iceland, and the rmsing of cattle required little labor, the men early acquired the habit of traveling to Thingvalls evory yoar, so that finally many thousands of parsons nssembled in tho valley, exchanged information, traded, feasted, and thas estoblished & kind of National Fair. Tue civil aud criminal cascs ware Proctically tried beforo the whole pcople, and whatevor law wes docreed went immediately into action. After Iceland fell to Norway, and then to Deumark, the form of bolding the Althing was utill observed, although it was searcely moro than an_empty form. ~ The meetings were held in the open air, 48 in the old and glorions ages, until the year 1690, when a wall of biocks of lava was “erected and a canves roof spspned over it to proteot the dolegates from inclement weather. Horo Danish luw was proclaimed to the people up to the yoar 1800, when the seat of justice was removed £o Rejkiavik. Even the old wall has been taken away, and tae Hill of the Law is now ns bare and grand as whon it wit- Tiessed the dehberations of a freo people. I was surprised to_remark that 8o fow natives visited the place. Now and thon & maa, proba- bly from some remote part of the island, climbed the uneven' crest, und looked up in's vacant way at the socient banner or down into the loft those of Denmark, Swedeo, and the German | awful chasms of cold, swirling water; but the povilions and flags, the musio and tho multi- tudes beyond the river, were tho chuef attractions. 1n truth, it was an ancauny spot, and 1 did not wmyself foel inclined to linyor there longer than was necesgary. By this time a light but steady rain had set in, and ail but the hardened Ico- landers moved toward the plsce of ceremonius in waterproof conts. After crossing the pluuk bndge which had been turown acioss the river, tho King was arrcsted by the FORMAL ADDRESS OF THE PEOPLE OF ICELAND on the occasion of the Thousandth Anniversary. 1t was read by Herr Thomsuon, of Broesastadr. liearty loyaity, covering a strong expression of thio distinct desita of the people for independence in their own government, choractenized this as all tho other ad- dresses. The King responded briefly, thero were checrs, the band strack up tho Danish na- tional anthem, nnd the procession moved for- ward to the mound. The people rcemed to bave loat, at last, their apothetic expressian : their faces wero bright and animated, they cheered lusiily, and even we, who came Iast in tho ranks, received onr full share of greetings. Tbo remnining ceremony coutisted simply in the reception of commemorative addresses which had been fornarded to Iceland. The National Committeo, with Fredriksson ss President and Magnusson a8 chief active member, took their places on the tribune ; {he King and other high ofticials formed a circle below, on the slopo of the mound, and the people scattered thomselves to right and left, ns they could best get a view. The four Scandinavian Universities—Copenhs~ gen. Lund, Upsala, and Christiana—sent con- ratniatory documents, inscribed on vellum snd andsomely bound ; _societies of students in Denmark snd = Norway greeted their Icelandic (Pav-Scandinnvian?) _bretbren ; the Academy of Fmo Aris in Copen- hagen sent a testimonial to the effect that it considered. Thorwaldsen an Icelander, sod thero were addresses from patriotic societies in Norway, which aim at reviving the old Norwe- gian 80 far as practicable,—at least, preservin an idiom distinct from the Danish. Last of nlg as being unofficial. the poctic greeting adopte: by the Americans present and mentioned in s former letter, was added to the otber documents. Half an hour was then devoted by the Kig to BECEIVING SUCH OF THE PEOPLE 28 desired to speak to bim. His manner, asit basbeen from first to last, was admirable,— never lacking in true dignity, yet thoronghly simple, friendly, and familiar. He has ovidently raken especial pains to meet the shy, domocratic Icelandors half way, aud hns been more successful than he probably suspects. The sbscnco of the usual signs of profound respect among the people, often the stolidity of the man spoken to. tne eteady, unconscious state of interest, so forgettul that his greeting is frequently not re- taroed, must be quite a new experienco for Christinn IX. He cannot always quite conceal o floeting exprossion of woariness or disappoint- ment; yet I am sure that he ia every bour mak- ing friends in Icolaud. I havo takon the trouble to ask ns many of the people as can understand me, what they think of the King, and the one answer is: *He is very friendly, sud wo sre sure he is honest.™ At the door of the large pavilion the chorus was stationed, and we bad a new song, *inni Konuugs 8 Thingvelli,” written by Jochumsson. to the grand old Danish air of “ King Christian Lays Amde His Sword.” It was suporbly sung, and the auditors were silently but very decply moved. At the close we were ushered into the *pavition, and assigned plaecs with the other for- eign guests. The breakiast was substantial aod sufficiently national, consisting of salmon, mayonnaige of fish, ‘cold mutton, and excellent Rejkisvik bread, with claret, sherry, and finally champagne. It was, in fact, rather a dibner than a breakfast, or served as such for the Rosal party. Thomssen of Bressas- tadr first arose snd made s pleasant, semi-humorons speech in Danish. Ho repeated tho old legend of the firat discoverer of Iceland meeting & dragon, a bull breathing flame, and a giaut coming down from the mountains with an iron stafl, all three of which the hero must ovor- come before be could possess the land; and then, likening Christian IX. to the hero, left us in doubt as to whom or what was typified by the thres monsters. Howuver, oxact similo is not always requirod ; the compliment to the King found the Icelanders warmed and prepared to Teceive it, and the end was His Mujeszy's health, with nine tremendous cheers. The King re- turned thanks, with evident feeling, and gavo as atonst! “* PROSPERITY TO SUTLIME ICELAND ! After a Lealth to Queen Louise of Denmark, proposed by Chiof-Jussice Jonasson, our fnend Eirikr Magnussen mado the epeech of the occa- sion. It waw in Jcelandic, and I could only guess alittlo of its substance, bere aud there ; but the rich rhythm and resonance of the ancient tongue were a deiight to the ear. Its contrast with the previous Danish speeches was_surprising. The natives present lundled and warmed as the speaker proceeded, until thero was a burst of “Bravo!" after almost every sentence. In fact, in spite of the open loyalty of the epeech, it was powerfully eal- culated to arouse the national pride.” Mag- nusson spoke of tho Icelandors a8 being them- eelves of kingly biood, as obedient only to honor and Lonesty, and as clsiming an_equai_measure of respect with that they yielded. His words were manly, not defiant; the very beginning of the address—* Sir King,” instead of ** Your Mnj- esty "—struck the old, independent Ley-note, aud the close. hoping that the second thonsand years of Iccland's history might find the same dynasty in power, was only uitered after s dis- tinct declaration of what was expected from the dynasty in the meantime, [his* was & titting close to the celcbration. When we issued from the pavilion it was rain- ing more dismally than ever. The horses for tho King's party were in readiness, and by 1 o'clock they were in the eaddles, meanivg to Teach Rejkiavik the same evening, The mem- bers of the choir went in advance to the All- mannagjs, sud there, under the lava walls of the tremendous cleft, sang a parting song. One by ouo the cavalcade disappeared around the corner of the sharp crest, and Thingvalla was left to the people of Iceland. There were to have been many more speeches and songs from the tribune on the mound, but the rain scemed to have disturbed the pro- gramme. After the King's departure, the peo- Ple broke up mto littlo companies, some of which wore jolly enongh, and all, I imagine, made the best of their situation. Our party, however, was already soaked to the skin, and wo could do mothing else than crouch under our tent-covers for tho rest of the day. THE XING'S WELCOME TO THINGVALLA. From the Ieelandic of Mathias Jochumsson. 1. ‘With strong foot tread the holy ground, Ous Saow-land’s Eing, the lofty-hearted, Who from thy home has pa To oo theah Rl ook 4P 1 nind 1 Our Freedom's scroll thy hund hath lent us, ‘Tias first of Kings whom Ged hen sent us, Huil! welcome 1o our country’s heart ! m Land'e-father, hers the Law-Mount view ! Behold God's worke in all their vastnoas | Where saw'st thou Freedoms fairer fastuess, ‘With fire-hieaved ramparte, waters blue ? Hero sprang the sagas of our splendor : Here every Iceland beart is tender : God bullt this altar for his flock { oL Here, a8 in thousand years of old, Sound the same words, a voice unended, As when their life and Taw defended The spearmon with their shielda of gol The samo land ye the sxme npeech gi The ancient foul of Frecdom liveth, And hither, King, wo welcome thee! ™. But now are past a thousand yea A3 {n the people’s memory hozrde ‘And in God’s volume stand recorded “Their strife and trial, woos 2nd fears; Now let the hiopo of better 3ges e what thy presence, King! presages,— Now let the prosperous tirs be sura | . Our land to theo her thanks shall yicl A thousand years thy wame be ehante Here, whoro the Hllof Luw I8 planted, "Twrixt flery fount and lava-field : We pray, All-Father, onr depeadonce, To bleas thes and thy far descendants, And thoss they ruls, » thousand years | Xcelnnd. A learned gentleman, who visited 1celand a fow years ago, contnibutes & four-column article to the New York Evangelist on that intoresting oountry. The followingextracta will be found af general interest: Much of the interest which we fecl to-day in these islanders sod their Millennial Celebration anses from sho fact that to tho Scandinavian race England and America are largoly indebted, more largely than to any other source, for tho very backbone and siew, not only of their characteristic traits; nnd that there, in that lono, far-away island, we have the very lancuage and cnstoms of the ninth century, safely pre- served for us, precisoly as they used to be; so that, by going thers, we can, a8 it wers, an- nibilato time and rovisit the past. Instead of the inhabitants being warriors now, thoy are peaccfal; but the old world customs remain otberwise the same. Every one is still taught at home to read, writo, and cipher by his elders, who wore thus taught, and well taught t00, before him ; for there is only one school in the whole island for advaoced student—the Academy at Reykjavik, The Bages, reduced to writing 800 years ago, snd emg :} ‘Scalds centuries beforo that, can still be read alike by old and voung, and in phraseology they are as near the colloguial lan- Bunge of to-day as tho text of our English Libla 18 to the column of u newspaper. Thero aro about 65,00 inhabitants, and theso widely scattered. The 6,000 farmms situsted on tho Dabitable shore-belt which surrounds the centrnl deserts, ars often separated from each other by dreary milesof lava wastes, deep flords—arms of the sea with high mountains on either'side—and rapid _rivers, which are dangor- ous to ford ;' 80 that juvemile schools are quite impracticable. Yet tue young continue to be home-educated from generstion to generation, carefully trained to habits of intelloctual activi~ ty, and, 58 a mass—(Germauy perhaps only ox- cepted—aro . the best educated Yanp!e in the world. They possees good trauslations of the boat Enropean works. The Scandinaviau, a8 we havo elsowhere mid, poesessed ““an iunate love of truth, much ear- Destucss, respect and honor for women, love of personal treedom, roverence, up to the light that was in him, for sacred things; great sclf-re- liance, combined with energy of will to dare and do; perseverance in overcoming obstacles, whether by sea orland; and much self-denial “under given circumstances.” As to the Icelandic language; of a hundred English words, according to Trench, sixty came from Scandinavisn, thirty from tho Latin, five from the Greok, and five from othor somrcos. This shows what an etymological mine tho stady of Icelandic opens up for the understanding of our own language ; and not less importnt in the ssme direction, although sceming even more remote, as furnishing us with not only Icelandic roots, but with Roman, Etruscan, sud Greek roots, is the study of Sanscrit. Theso two old aud very important languages we have long thought, and fifteon yoars we ven- tured to predict, will one day be, to a cortain extent, taught in 'l our schools; for the study of Evglish etymology, short of the aid derived from Sanscrit and Icelandic roots, is only & mero scratching of the surface. The noblo liters- tures of both these languages are also aa in- heritance for all time. To the Romans we trace municipal institutions, subjection to the central aathority cotrolling the rights of individuals; to the Scandinaviany, that principle of persoual liberty which resists absolute control, and sets limits—such as Magna Chbarta—to tho undue excrcise of antbority in governors. The ona is tho complement of the other. As to climate, tho seasons of spring, summer, and antumn in fceland are all comprised in four montbs, aud the remaining cight are winter. At the longest day the sun ouly dips, skims a little way bolow the horzon, and rises again. There is no night, and one can with ease read the smallest print when it would bo miduight elsewhere. In the depth of winter the sun only appeara for a few hours above tho horizon, snd he who has to make s winter journoy on horseback haa to trust to tho moon or to the gleam of the aurora to hight his dreary, trackless way—Ilava Dblocks, dosert wostes, or deep volcanic crevices being then dangerously sssimilated by snow. In summer many of the wild flowers found in this country and in Europe are thore also tobe met witl. Two_ differences are observable in the eame apecies—the petals are larger, sometimes twice or three times a8 large—but tho tlowers are not nearly so fragrant. This effoct seems to be produced by the constant stimulation of light. The intense clearness of tno atmosphero and bare sharp lofty mountnin-peaks revealed sgainst the blue sky—some gleaming in rich colors, red, purple, golden or pale lilac, others robed with rosy-tinted snow, or covered with silvery glittering ice, confound all previous ideas of distance, 50 that 2 mountain which seems to be only ten or fifteen miles away, may in reality be forty or fifty, or even further ofl. WHATE'ER SHE DID. Bte eketched : tho vale, the wood, the beach, Grew lovelier from her pencil's shading. Bhe botanized : T envied each Young blossom in ber boudoir fading. Sbe warbled Handel : ud; She made the Catal She toniched the ozgau: I could stend For Lours aud hours to blow the bellows, —Praed. — GREENBACKS. Impecunious Tenant (to landiord running for ofize on the Skinpluster ficke() : A promise to pay A dollar, you £ay, fs just the rame thing as a dollar. Bo "tis my mtent To pay your rent With my note. Am I not an apt scholar ? (R —— Art. “The Assumption of the Virgin,” painted by Rubens, and owned by the City of Dusseldorf, hins been serionely injured by negligenco. The gallery in which it hangs was allowed to becomo excessively damp, sod the panel on which the picture was painted cracked during a succeeding period of intense beat. I'wo large cracksepened in the painting, the largest admitting the ond of a finger, snd dividing the work nearly in half, passing through the head of the Madonpa. Bowdoin College, it is not generally koown, has undoubted original paintings of several an- cient masters, which have reccived wretchedly ungratoful treatment siuco James Bowdoin be- queathed them. Mr. Bowdoin, while residing in Pans, bought ninety-one paintings and willed them to this college at his death, in 1811, becauzo it bad been pamed after his father, Goveruor of Massachusetts, which then included Maine. Theso works of art remained stored in Boston near half & century, then were put into the Lands of the restorers, and_eome of them iujored. Among these are a ** St. Simeon with the Child Jesus,” by Rubens ; & portrait of the Governor of Git- ralter, by Vandske ; the Equipment of Capid by Titian ; and tho Contineuce of Seipio, which Gilbert Stuart pronounced an original, or a first- rate copy, of Nicolas Ponssin. ¢ ‘Another large sale of priots of great rarity aud value took place, a_fow week 80, in Lon- don, the recelpts being £3,512. Among the mapy fine specimens of the works of Marc _Antonio aimondi, in which this collection was_particulasly rich, the engraving S Mdam and Eve” bronght £i83, which groatly exceods the price ever bofore given for Lhis print. Among the other pricts, % The Almighty Appear- ing to Noah ” brought £75; “The Virgin Seated on the Clouds,” £110; “St. Ceailia,” £106; Lucretia,” 2197; “The Old and Young Bacchante,” £40: “Tho Man with the Two Trumpets,” £53; * Poetry,” £186; theset of the “Seven Virtucs," in piches. £32; and a brillisnt impreasion of ** Uleopatra Beclining ona Couch,” | #8369, FALL AND WINTER TRADE. Reasons for the Present Increase in the Wholesale Business, Notable Falling off in the Jewelry Line, The Retail Stores. The very goneral inquiry as to the business prospects of the fall and winter is still agitating the people of this city. Asyeb no very satis- {actory answer has been given. -In some quar- ters, notably among dry-goods and clothing mer- chants, thero is a change for the better ; yot the most hopefal among these anticipate but a light fall trade. It is true that many wholesale firms in Chicago are doing & larger business at the present time than they onjoyed in the corre- sponding month of last year; and yet this very improvement is itself a direct result of the dull times. It is accounted for in this way: Last year, and in previous years when all branches of trade wore running “in good condition, the leading merchauts in the smaller cities of the Northwest . VISITED NEW YORK at least twico in the year to securs their spring and fall supplies. These points in the business year were always looked to with considerable in- terest by tho Wostern merchant, nor was the amonut” of goods that he selected from time to time Lmited except by the eapacity of his store. His credit among New York jobbers was gener- ally 85 exionsive as the wants of bis customers, and thus he wae erabled to roturn from his Eaateru trip quite an importer. This “ lendiug merchant” was not the man to purchane Lis somi-aonual supplies from Field, Leiter & Co., Farwell & Co.. or any other West. em company. yo matter how oxtensive, Nothing short of * firsi hands™ would satiafy this entor- priging dealer. 'y Thero was too _much * etock in trade " in tho Eijtorn trip to allow it to pass nn- noticed. It at onbs became the soul and ceutre of his advertisoments. In this respect, however, MATTERS HAVE CHANGED, and » more sensible policy bas been’ substituted for the cxiravagant ome. Our \vest- e country merchant is_no - longer seen on the stroots of New York. He cannot afford . It has lost its ol a5 an advertisemont among his customers, and now “*economy ™ is_their watchword, and % common senso™ Lis. This fall the Western merchaats, great and small, aro nlling their stores from the Chicago market, where they find prices quite as favorablo as in' New York ; and just here you have tho cause for the unusual sctivity in the wholesale business in this city at tho present time. Light merchants, these dull times, cannot afford the luxury of goiug to New York, and, finding the Chicago marset all that can be de- sired, they have adopted the cormmon-sense poli- ey of procuring their fall and winter supply of dry goods and clothing nearer bome. Poople should not, however, be led by this imgmvumeut'm tho’Chicago ‘wholesale market to elicve that the smount of business traveact- cd in the Northwost this fall will be aunything like ax beavy as it was last. There will. nnques- tionably, be a beavy falliog off in all branches of trage, notwithstandiog the meny sanguine pre- dictions 10 the contrary. At least such is the s;neral opinion of wholesalo dealers in this city. A TRIRONE reporter on Saturday, cslled on Mr. Winslow, of the firm of RICILARDS, 8HAW & WINSLOW, sod in anewer to the question us'tohow the business of this firm, so far this year, will com- pure with that of last, that gentloman re- marked : ** Our business this year, 8o far, is better than it was lost. Our salos'in the gross, comparing the eigitt months of this year, month for month. with those of last, are upon tho whole consider- ably in excew, and the more o when yon take into coneideration the very low prices of dry f;mds as compared with the ‘Drices of last rear. ut it must not be nnderstood from this that the dry-goods business in the Northwest this year will bo 28 heavy 3 it was nst. The facts are these: Our Western merchants haven't money onough to go to New York, hence they come to Chicago. In_ this = respect Chicago is always better off in dull times than when business is iu & healthy condition. That is, such is the temporary effect. If times were 2 good to-day as they were last year, in August, we wouid be doing less business in the wholesslg market than we_are now. I presume it is the same in St. Louis, Detrox, and liko citics. They are all reaping the benefit, in this way, of the dull times, although Chicago, perhaps, owing to her more’ favorablo goographical position, is profiting more largely than the compering citiee. ** With regard to the fall trado, it will bo light, although in’ Chicago we may expect a henvier business than wo had Jast year. Times arc hard, there is no use denying it, 3nd we must expect a gloomy winter.” Having noted these views of the situation, the roporter next calied on Mr. Henry Field, of the firm of FIELD, LEITER & CO., at his private offico, for tho purpose of seoing how far that gentleman would concur in Mr. Winslow's opinion ; with this result : Reporter—r. Field, how will your wholesale busivess for the months of June, July, and Angust compare with it in the same months of last year 2 Mr. Field—It will be a little heavier, sir. Reporter—Is not this a direct result of the dnll-times, rather thun an evidence of an im- provement in business ? ¥ Mr. Piold—Yos, sir, that is exactlyit. Our Western merchants cannot afford to go to New York. The trip is too expensive for these times, and, a8 & consequence, & larger trado is concen- trated here. The business transacted this year in the Northwest will not be anything liko as heavy os it was last, yet a fair fall trade may be expected. Of this, Chicago, for the resson al- rendy mentioned, will get an nansual sbarc. Aside from the dry-gocds and clothing trade in Chicago, in which thiere is o substantial sctivity, thero I8 X0 OTHER DEPARTMEST OF LUSINESS that affords grester eocouragemont. 'Iransac- tions in watches and jeweiry have been miser- ably weak dwing tho past eight months, sud there is now but little prospect of an improve- mens. Mr. Thomas Avery, President of the National Watch Compavy of Elgin, in s conver- sation with a TRIBUNE reporter recently, stated that the business of his Compauy for the post eight months would not be more than half what it was in the same period of last year. Should this Company’s business for the four remain- ing months of this yoar mot excoed the figures reached in the ssmo mouths of last year,—and it is not likely that it will be as large, Zthera will b a falling off in the item of Elgin watches of over £500,000. Notwithstanding this cat deprassion in their business, tho Nationsl §Fatcn Company expect to give their 600 work- men at Elgin_steady work during the coming winter. This is made practiceble owing to tho long vacation of this force dunng the present senson. OTHER WATCH AND JEWELRY ESTABLISITMENTS ara unable to make 8 moro checring report_than that above mentioued ; vet all join in the hope- fal prediction that they Lave seen the hardest of the times, and that a beteer era is in the near fature. In noquarter, bowever, have the whole- salo jewelers reached more than half the busi- nees transacted Dy them in the corresponding mouths of Jast year. B ‘Among the heavy manufacturers there will be some very good roports at the end of the present year, but these will not be numerous. THE NORTH CHICAGO BOLLING-MILLS COMPANY will have made more rails this year than thoy made last, yet it is not probable that this con- cern will have employment for its 1,500 men this winter. To o question on this poiot, Mr. k. C. Hannab, the Secretary of the Company, answered with an ominous shake of tho head, merely add- ing that their present orders would not carry them through. A The Union Rolling-31ills Company are running with a fall forco -of 00 men. with more orders ahead than they will be able to 1ll in the remain- ing four monthis of tho year. There is a pros- pect that this Company will keep its works in operation most of the ensuing winter. Other manufacturing establishments in the city, with bers and thero an_exception, are considerably behind the orders for the varions kinda of mer- chaudise which they manufacture. Hence, just now, all is activity : and, a8 might be expected, there is » strong effort making to close the busit ness year with good results. This will no doubt be effected in a moderate degree. but manufac- turers on all sides are united in the opinion that, beyoud a moderately-good fall business, thero is 8 long and immoderately dull winter, IN THE KETALL TRADE 5 eversthipg contivues dull. At Meerrs. Field, Leiter & Co.’s retril dry-goods house the md'n is principally with out-of-town people, *“ who,” re- marked the Superintendent of that establish- ment, “slons bave the means to buy what they desire.” Headded: *We receivo and expect but littio from residents of Chicago. They have but Listle means. and their purchases ase, for the -H. Pond, Aubarn, N. Y. moRt part, confined to the chesper grade of ma- terials, whilo on tho other hand country eus- tomers ap to have plenty of means, a8 well 8sa disposition to indulge in_ Inxurics, as in last yoar.” "This geutleman gtated that their sales at Tetail this year will, as compared with last, suffor & falling off to the extont of about 5 per cent., or over $300,000. Other rotail houses in Chicago Teport a proportionata decreaso. WAUKESHA. Departure of Chicagoans and Arri- val of Southerners. Amusements of the Past Week—Sudden Death of a Clersyman. Corvespandence of The Chizaco Tribune. ‘WACKESHA, Wis., Aug, 28, 1874. T find myself still a sojourner in this beautifal landof pure water and bracing air, drinking daily of that life-giving fountain, Bethesda, and partaking of the good things provided from the tablo of the Fountain Spring House. The weathier for tho past week has been perfectly de- lightful,—cool, suony, sud with just breeze enough to make cne's clothes eet. and feel com- forsable. ‘[he nights are admirsbly adapted for good, sound, refreshing slumbers; and, alter a bath in the morning, tho young ladies come into the dining-room fresh sa & June rose; and the fathers sud mothers look twenty years bettor for the few days passed in this land Sowing with milk and honey, and mineral water. - THE RUSK OF STRANGERS has not been as great the past 23 provions wecks, though many ars still coming from their far-off, sunny bomes in the Sonth. The change is quite perceptible to the observer. Chicago is not nearly as woll ropresented as it was two weeks sinco. Then oue-half of the wisitors to this famons watering-place, at hotels and private boarding-places, were from Chicago ; and it was cstimated that 1,600 was tho maximum. Now tho samo places are filled with now faces, and ou don't *“get on " much in conversation beforo *I reckon ” yow'll know who you are taking to. Yes, our Soathern friends enjoy » good drink of water just as well as thosewho are nsed to it ; and amnore social, large-hearted people. don't live. PERSONALS. Mrs. A T. Clinton, of La Crosse, mth her phaston-carrisge and pot Lorse Poker, is ono of tho pleasant sights to bo met with on the de- lightfal drives. ‘This little horse is thoronghly trained, and sccompliched in all that goes to make up a tinst-cluss family-horve, besidos mov- ing ever the ground with case and trotting hig mulo after mile &t a 3-minate gait. 1 have space to mention but a few of tha arri- vals ut the hotels during the past weei: At the Lruco Housa, 1 find rogistered, Mra. W. H Englsh and Miss Kose Euglish, In- dianapolis; P. A. Sanford. Chicago; Wil iam Phenix, do: Capt. J. J. 8mith, do; John S. Buchanun, do; George M. Frink, do Jobn Holland ' and jwife, do W. W. Dudley, do: James H. Abbott, do; Georgo H. Hess, do; J. E. Wasbington, Nashville, Tenn.: Walter 5. Chaadler, Milwaukeo: D. G. Hooker, do; L. R. Martin, Indiana; W. H, Patton, Canton, 0,; C. . Blank, 3arquette, Mich. ; Mra. Burt and son, do; J. H. Van Dyke, Milwaukee; B. F. Collig born, do: A. B. French, Philadelphia: il Duck, Toronto, Can.; R R. Gilman, K 3o.; CoL L. N.Baldwin, Mississippi; E. E. Wise, AMondota, Iil.; Mis. Walker, Lonisville; D, Den- ison and wife, Indiana; P. A- Weaver, Mobile, Ala.; J. D. Prime, Joliet, Iil.s M. 11. Willia, Bir- ‘mingham, Coun. ; 5. B. Thomaa, Morris, 1Il, At'the fixchange and American: F. 3. Root, Chicago; John Langdon, do; Georgo Hatch, do: L. C. Cooper, do; J. Seligmau, do: Mre, Jilter, do; Guorge F. Harding and family, do; R. D. Andersou aud family, Brookiyn; . I Lowis, Decatur, Ill.; A sactin, do; F. B. Pierce, Ludington, Mich; . Hyner, La- porte, Inl: W. H. Thomson, Ke- nosha; Robort Crawford, Lock Haven, Pa. Daniol Hecocks and wife, New Orleans; L. W, Brown, Fond du Lacs J. J. Stover, Medina; James D, Shiville sud wife, St. Louis; B. Mc- Kuttiricls, Boston; W. A Gibson, t. Lonis; J. At tho Fouptait Sprivg House: Job D. Mo- Clore and wife, 8. B. Sering, Indianapolis; L. P. Sanger, Chicago; Miss Palmer, Clucago: H. V. Clatke and wife; Col. D. C. Jipuston, U. 8. A; Jamos Mix and family, Kansakee, [l ; F. E. Cory and family, Chicago; H. J. )lorgan and family, Tremont Houce; Willam Jersis, Mil- waukee: D. W. Page nud wife, Chicago : B. V. Vanderburg, Memphis; John Greenway, Syra- cuse, N. Y.: Prof. Faors, Burcpe; B. C. Kall- hotT, Detroit; W. 3. Bonnell, Youngssown, O. ; H. Wick, Younzstown, 0.; John Stembangh and von, Youngstown, O.; Alies Hinsdale, Ciucin- nati; C. W. Warner, Lyoos, Is.; Mra. Bond, Penosylvauin: Mrs, Cunuinghiam, Penouyl vaois: A. Bull and wife, Galvesion, Tox.; S. O, Aloxander, Virginia; Johu Asey, Virginias . Daldwin, Alabama; J. 8. Clark, Utica: 3f, Barney and wife, New York; V. D. Richardson, Springtield, LIl HOPS, THEATRE, CHURCH-SOCTALS, ETC. Tho wock 25 usnal had its varietiew, The Padget Comedy Company made n success of their visit to Waukesha. Tho hop at the Foun- tain Spring House, Saturdsy evening last, was more than usually interesting. The chafming young ladies of the village wero out in full cos- tuno, aad contributed much to the beanty and grace of the occasion. Thursday evening tho grand oporctta of *Lails " was parformed ity the aptist Chiurch by the young-lady pupile of Slny, . N. Gibbs, an sccomplisbed musie teachor. The house was crowded, and the singing met ilio_expectations of the audienco. At Kobin- son's Hall the St. Josoph Bencvolent Society met o do up the dancing begun in the Grove, whese they lLeld s picnic doring the day. The ball was packed fall, and, with cauvassing for = votes for prizg canes, silver water-pitcher, cakes, &c., music and dancing, they managed to have a right merry tuno, with a fair financial benefit. The hop at the Bruce House, Friday night,—the laat of the season at this house,—was well attended. and worthy of & better notice than mere mention. Everything was done by the proprietors of the houre to make this the hop of the season ; snd 1 beliove ruch was tho verdict of those who took part, a8 wcll 26 the lookers-on, .Tho church- sociables wore intereating and fally attended, oy usual. RELIOIOUS—-A SCDDEN DEATH. The Rov. Dr. Lrooks, of St. Louis, preached last Sabbath morning, in the Presbyterian Churen, snd in tho Baptist Church in the evening. The Iatter place was crowded to listen to this eloquent divine. ‘The Rev. J. F. Westover, of Nebraska City. supplied fle pulpit of tho Baptist Church in tho morning. The Reversned gentleman made ono of Lisbest effors on this occasiv, and I am pained to record that it was his last. Io the eveving he was obliged toleavo tho church during Eervice, owing to a sudden at- tacic, tho nature of which I am unable to state. He weunt at once to his boarding-house, where ha died on Wedneeday night. His wife and children arrived on the evening train of that day, just in time_to reccive Lus parting blessing. Thoe Rer. MMr. Westover was much beloved here, as was at- tested by the sympatby manifested and the large nunbers that followed his remains to thewr last_resting-place. He was formerly pastor of the Baptist Church hore. PEWAUKEE. I ind my letter is_getting too long to indulge in any descriptions of scenery which it has been my pleasure seo in drives the country. Lakeside, Pewankee, was taken in, where some fifty Chicagoans are cooling off. I moticed the Hendersons, Pikes, and Stones, great and small, Ising about under the trees as natural as though they grew there. A INSTIOTION ¥UCH NEEDID. ‘Wankesha bas her Betheeda, and yet 18 not happy. It is true you feel like a new-made man after filling up with this blessed water, which thorougbly purifies the inner man; bat 'a good outside dre¢sing is sn important auxiliary to a perfect work. Bome man who has the means and enterprise has a eure fortune guar- snteed by erecting a water-care, building of dimensions capable of entertaining fifty boarders at least. Such a building, with roper sppliances for giving Tarkish bath, Bocdian movements, etc., and managed by some competent person, womld be filled the year round. Some one will be the lucky man, and the only wonder 18, that that tne chances have so long remained open. Now seems to be JUST THE TIME for those who have the means 2nd time to spare to enjoy the New Saratoga. Tie weather is all that could be desired. Everrihing for the table 18 freet, and one’s appetuto is improved Lere, and people are estonithed with the increase of their avoirdupois. Tylor, the express-agont, is both- ered to keep his scales clear for expresu-pzck- ages, and is forever making mistakes in eutries GENEVA LAKE. A Most Prosperons Season - The ' Month of Picnies. Important Real-Estate Transactions: Gen. Sheridan. Dr, Eldridge’s Dog---Pencocks for Dinner -+ ==-Projected Attractions, Correspondence of The Chicago Tribune. GENEvA LasY, Wis,, Aug, 23 THE MOST PROSPEROUS SEASOX over enjoyed at Geneva Lake is just drawing to aclose. The summer has been s very impor- tant one in our history, in that it has forever settled the question 18 to whether a large and costly hotel here would bé a success. The vic- tory is ours, and the foture of Geneva Lake as o pleasant watering-place is no longer problomat- ical. Tho Whiting House, put up by D. T. Whiting, at an ecxpense of $45,000, hus proved a rich invesiment, and its pres- ent popularity warrants its proprictor in enlarging its capacity some 80 rooms. This success is significant, becatiso it paves tho way for meny other attractions, which will coma with tho influx of tonrists, such as a fine raco- course, bowling-nlleys, and ehooting-parks, all of which are now talked of in quarters which mean bueiness. The lake now bears prondly upon her crystal waters four steamers, fifteen yachts, two Iarge schooners, and about 100 row-boats. Tha Lady of the Lake, whose carrying capacity is 850, is the only real puvlic steamer plying the waters. The Gertic, owned by George L. Dun- lap; the Arrow, by Georgo Sturges; and the Cricket, by Mr. Avery,—all of Chicago,—ars private boats. The Cricket runs now for fish- ing and Lunting parties, and is the only salva- tion of some of tho city-lunters, as it enables them to stenl up within » few rods of the ducks and geese, and theyars then easy prey. Quite & number of wild goese were klled in this manner last fall from tho deck of the Lady of the Late, and this sport bids fair to be one of the rarest attractions of the coming autamn. A FALSE PISH-ALARM has been sounded by eome one interested in the fish-peddlor's business or Seth Green's propozat- ing estublishiaent, but it is not troe. Fishing 14 not a3 good 25 when old Big Foot and his tribe speared their bass and pickerel here, but a lske that is continually turnishing sport for 600 tour- about § ists ought not fo be slndered. Mra. Clark, at the Lake House, caught a pickerel last weck which pulled down 12} pounds ; and Col. Milligan has taken out 300 bass the present week. The best bess aod pickerel season is yet to come, being about the middle of September. THE PICNIC MONTH is the month now closing, August. During the month thore have beon twenty-six picnics bere, and probably 10,000 peopls. All picnic Ppartios to this placo nsally reach the dopot at 10:30, take the stozmer, and are stoamed over to Lake View Park, 2} miles, where they tako din- ner from 12 4o 1, and at 2p. m. sbip sagain for Genoevs, and leave at 4. TMPORTANT PURCHASES of Iake-shore land have been made of late,—Mr. N. K. Fairbank having purchased the famous 1and known a5 Kinney's Foint, 5. acres, st 800 per acre, intending to immediately ercct n fing summor-residence. Aaj. Moatyard, the sccome {flxphad civil engineer, has also purchased near Villiams' Bay, and already bnilt a model homs overlooking this matchless lake. George L. Dunlap has just completod a magniticent honss and carriage-bam nesrer the village. Some of the many Chicago citizens owning residences hero ace: Julisu S. Rumsey, Goorge Sturges, Dr. W. W. Patton, Charles L. Wilson, Col. Jumes G. Dwen, Buckingham Sturges, J. G, Wal- ters, Charles H. Baker, and Shelton Sturges,—the Inst named gentleman owning the finest cotntry- residence and home in the State of Wisconsin. Some pieco of land is parchased along the shora almost avery woek, aod it cannot be but a few years at farthest when this wholo 22 miles of beautifnl ebore will smile in the posses- sion of Chicago mansions. An_effort is now on foot to build a public drive entirely around tho Inke, which, when accowplished, will give tha' place the M0ST ROMANTIC AVENUE-DEIVE IN THE WEST, I have thus far digresved from the intended tone and stylo of this hurried letter, but pardon sbould be extended for calling ont some of these focts, as they will fall into the handa of & large number of TRILONE readern in this village,—a much Inzger number than any other daily possesses ; which fact may perhapa account for Tz TRIBUNE's taking more interest in the place than any other daily does. £ PHIL SHERIDAY isin town to-night, tho guest of the Whiting House. He has come for rural fish and a good time generally. Heis not & successful fisher, the fish fearing bim almost se badly aa the Rebels of tho Shenandoah ; in fact, none of the gxeflt men vho have thus far visited the lake ave succeeded in capturing Genova Lake fish, Grant came as near to it 8 any ono, & year ago, when ho got abite, off Maiiory’s Pomnt. Dut Pinl Sheridan, whether ho can take the fisn from the lake or not, takes the high regard of our peoplo wherever he goes; and we are pleased to know that Geneva Laks has become ouc of bis favored resorts, this being his fifth visit here. 5 DE. ELDRIDGE’S DOG. Chicken-shooting 18 just at ita height, and every maa wants a dog and a gun; but, when they got such bloods as fell to the Doctor this week, o gun is needed. A negro, 1t soems, wag gent out by the Doctor to find tho best hnifi-daz i1fthe county, and to buy him regacdless of cost: The darkoy bought one of s German for &10, and tho Doctor started out to try his companion, 28 fabuloua siories were told of his speed and power of scent. Strking out torough Linn and toward the State line, the avimal soon showed signs and symptoms of approoching feathers. Too impatient to wait for his new master to closo up the rear, be bounded off at break-nock spoed, yeiping snd borking as 1f after o brace of bears. At fonr gun- shota’ distance be raised the covey, and started in hot pursuit, directly toward Chicago, not atop- ping for ditches or five-rail fonces. ~The Doctor yolled at tho hound, but to no avail It was chickens or dio, sad, up $o this writing, no tid- ings have been received from the dog or the game. The Doctor says he has called for a requi- sition from Gov. Beveridgn to stay the murder- ous chase, and fears that, befora the week ends, tho animal will eross the lines and arouse tha State of Indiana. FEACOCKS FOR DINNER. When the guests at the hotels get out of em- ploymient, they kill timo running sack and wheel- barrow races, or trying their handa at relishable jokes. Lact week Col 3lilligan and Col. Omen wera dowa to Twin Lakes, visiting the Rockford Waltonian Club, of somo 300 members, encamped at that place. On their return thoy pacsed a fine drove of poacocks in a farm-yard. = Some of the. party asked tHo woman of thé honsawhy they did Dot ‘bring the peacocks to town, as the Whiting Wwa3 paying extravagani prices for them now, and that they formed the most fashionable dish of the season. Early the next morning, before the sun was up or the peacocks off their roosta, the womeu were out, captured all the pescicks on the premises, boxed them with the utmost care, and Lurried awayto Goueva, 9 miles, to sell to Yoor, at tho Whiting House ; but, on ar- riving, found themselves the victims of & Zhicaga joko. The party who encouraged tho salo of the poacocks go to Twin Lakes by unother road nov. FUN AND COMFORT has been the rule at Genesa thus far, and the real extravagaace of many watering-places has not been indulged. Instesd of discussing the points of polonaise, or the style of spangles ont velvet and ailk capes, the girls and women lLave fished, rowed, and picknicked up the Iake, woare ing their plantation atraw hats, and rompin with the freedom of fariries, thus evincing < €Ommon sente. What is lacking vet in Geneva is more exten- sive sccommodations. I was to-day credibly in- formed that arrangements aro making for auother steamer. capable of carrsing 860 por- soud; eud, etill beiter, for the location and erection of & MAMMOTH PAVILION, or summer-houre, wet of the Shelton Sturges place, Jarie enough to accommodate from 400 to 500 persons. Time is only nceded to davelop tuis moet favored of all beautifal Western vil- lages into what it is nowso often styled, and wiil then justly and really be, the Saratoga of the West. AaoNom. R S—— —Bears are nuncommonly plenty in the Green Mountaina of Vermont this summer. Wood- of weights, which sre accounted for by some fat springe-yisitor balancing his gains, ford mao gaw three in his front yard the othes wWorning. RS i Aoy S TS 4 i i i ] f ] SN A T8 Tt S S S B AR R R AL S 53 B TR L M e 5 A 0 LD 3 AL 3 Y et 2 e AN PSR T