tances are most considerable. As the | Magnusson at Cambridge are now children are taught at home, the State engaged in embodying the best of requires the clergyman to do the work Ieclandic literature in their " Saga of examination, and to see that a cer- Library," of which the fourth volume tain standard of proficiency is attained, will soon be issued. else confirmation would be refused. As there is no bank1in Iceland, the traveller has to pay as he goes in Danish currency. He therefore often finds it is difficult to procure ready The older or poetic edda contains The bibliography of Iceland is ex- songs only, falling into two groups, tremely rich; at least a thousand books, mythic and heroic, most of them dating according to Lidderdale, had issued from pre-Christian times. The younger from the Icelandic press between the or prose edda is the work of the famous introduction of printing in 1530 and statesman-poet and historian of Ice1844, when the government press was land, Snori Sturluson (1178–1241), and finally domiciled at Reykjavik. In the falls into three parts, which the learned Supplementary Lists of the British Mu- have delighted to follow out in detail. seum some four thousand titles appear; The Clarendon Press rendered good but the vast collection at the Royal service by the publication of Cleasby's Library, Copenhagen, is inadequately" Icelandic - English Dictionary," in represented on the Bloomsbury shelves. 1869-enlarged and completed, as a The works include sagas, eddas, law, labor of love, by Vigfusson. theology, poetry, romances, dictionaries, Runic literature, biographies, annals, natural history, and travels, throwing light on the topography, indigenous products, letters, and language money. If the leading men realized of the people. Iceland, like Scotland, has a literature of its own, of which it is justly proud; and buried in its sagas, some of which have only been fairly financial arrangements for cashing letunderstood in the last quarter of a ters of credit at several of the more century, are many portions, otherwise important trading stations; fix a regumissing, of a historical narrative. The lar tariff for guides; and regulate the introduction of the Reformation, which charges at given stopping places. transformed the literature of Europe, Many would then undertake a journey did not produce the same stimulating from which they now recoil. Exports effect on letters here. It is rare to of wool, one million three hundred find illiterate Icelanders, or men who thousand pounds; fish, six million make their "marks" instead of sig- pounds; eider-down, seven thousand natures, for all possess some educa- pounds; feathers, fifteen thousand tion. The favorite studies are history, pounds; with horses, sheep, and a few geography, sagas and myths, legends cattle, do wonders for the country. and tradition, for the natives are still a wondering race, and find in their imagination a refuge from their harsh surroundings. the wealth that would be brought into the country by an increased number of tourists, they would provide suitable The chief imports are cereals, sugar, coffee (four hundred and fifty thousand pounds), chicory (two hundred thousand pounds), coal (five thousand tons), 1 The "Land Bank," established by the governEuropean banking; it is merely a money-lender of ment in 1886, has nothing in common with ordinary the worst kind, exacting enormous (though cleverly concealed) interest, and its notes are not convertible into gold in the island. Through indiscriminate loans in bad years, it holds immense tracts of farms in mortgage. By firmly twisting the screw, it depletes the nation of metallic currency, which all goes into the market of Copen The chief of all Icelandic sagas is "The Story of Burnt Nial" (translated by Dasent, 1861), — a work which many critics claim as one of the great books of the world. "The Story of Gisli, the Outlaw," ranks lower, though it is one of the best minor sagas, and has been happily placed within our reach by the same industrious trans-hagen, and drives the inhabitants by thousands to lator. Mr. William Morris and Mr. the American continent. and salt (forty-six thousand barrels). | from them, which cost not less than Most of the trade is done with Great 2s. 3d. per ton on the registered measBritain, which is one of the chief urement. This was prohibitory enough causes of irritation at Copenhagen. for all purposes, and it succeeded in The highly valued Iceland spar is so enhancing the prices of imported found on the east coast, in limited necessaries that the natives could comquantity. It is simply the purest and mand but little in the way of exchange. most limpid variety of calcareous spar, No change in the law of 1850 has taken and is praised for the extreme beauty place, except the abolition of the seaof its optical effects. When any object pass, which has been merged into cusis placed on the back of one of the toms' duties. But previous influences faces of this rhomboid crystal, and is have not yet worn off, and a downlooked at from the opposite face, it is trodden people has not yet attained to always seen double. The sulphur the due proportions of an elastic and springs with which Mr. Hall Caine vigorous manhood. A nation is not has made us so painfully acquainted, born in a day. do not now produce any of the mineral worth counting on. It is a mistake to suppose that this substance can be developed as an important article of commerce, for the greater abundance of material, and the far higher facilities of transport, give Sicily a lead which she is likely to maintain in the markets of Europe. Dried codfish, haddock, ling, and shark oil are among the chief exports from the harvest of the sea; half a million pounds of salted mutton is consumed chiefly in north Germany; while two million pounds of wool is taken by the manufacturers in other lands. It was indeed a drag, enough to crush hope and effort, when the Danes proAs in the Channel Islands, those who hibited Iceland from direct trading are able to save store up money at with the rest of the world. Everything home; but they find no strong rooms had to come through the mercantile for their hoards and few opportunities company at Copenhagen; and even for making investments. A govern- the fish that then still more abounded ment guarantee would doubtless bring on the coasts could only reach France a lot of Danish crowns out of the old and other Catholic (fish-consuming) stockings and place them in the way of countries through this circuitous aud useful service. The system of long costly medium. This enhanced the credits and of barter puts the farmer cost so greatly that the French fisherat the mercy of the trader, both as to men, as we have seen, encouraged by the price and the quality of the goods their government, equipped a obtained. The merchant buys, at his which year by year visits their shores. own price, whatever the farmer has to Even when a relaxation of commercial sell, and in return gives him the neces- restrictions was made, the preference saries of life from the outer world, at was given to Danish vessels; all others his own price also; coffee, sugar, sacks must first have called at a Danish port. of corn, bar-iron, dried fish, and pieces The monopoly worked as badly as moof timber going to make up the load of nopolies ever do. Besides, in 1807, the packhorses returning from the set- when Denmark joined against England, tlement. In the bad days when all im- she was afraid to put a ship on the port and export trade was confined to Iceland seas, as our privateers were the tender mercies of the Danish Com- sweeping the northern ocean with a pany, the people lost heart, for their stiff broom; but England permitted best efforts could never succeed in the Danes to do a limited amount of doing more than make both ends meet. At a still later date (1850), under a semblance of freer trading, the ships of other nationalities might visit Reykjavik, but a sea-pass was required fleet trade, so that the islanders might not be deprived of all supplies from the outside world. This partial suspension of her blockade in favor of Iceland inspired the people with an affection for this country, which is stronger now than at any previous period. From Macmillan's Magazine. SIR SIMON'S COURTSHIP. BY GILFRID W. HARTLEY. "SHE is a good-looking girl." 66 'Yes, she is pretty; but she is better than pretty; she is good. I assure you, my dear Sir Simon, that it has been a real pleasure to me to watch that young person. I don't know that I have ever seen any one so devoted to her work as she is." And now, if Danish statesmanship (asserted to be in this case under Russian inspiration) is successful in expatriating many more of the islanders from their loved home, and the exodus for the year has again begun, Manitoba stands with open arms to welcome them. Those who have gone out West have done well to a man, in spite of the greater extremes of temperature which they have to endure. But we hope that brighter days may dawn even at home for the sixty thousand people who remain, for the Icelanders have a typical character that ought not to be allowed to die out. They afford us an example of quiet perseverance under unfavorable conditions, and of the adaptation of men to their surroundings (while rising above these sur- "Shocking!" said Sir Simon, a roundings), which are virtues of no pause coming which he saw he was mean order. Compared with Green-expected to fill up. "Devoted to it, eh?" "Quite devoted. The way in which the modern young woman spends her time must give occasion for sadness to any thinking person. Golf, lawn tennis, riding, hunting even, dancing, anything that is exciting and frivolous and useless." land, Iceland possesses many climato- "Quite so, most demoralizing. But logical and other natural advantages. Miss Shaw has nothing of this kind Yet it is doubtful whether other Scan-about her. She will doubtless marry dinavians, under the same parallel of some day; I hope so; but not yet latitude, will subscribe to the native awhile; she is far too ardent in her proverb that "Iceland is the best land studies to find any room for silly sentithe sun shines on." If to be contented mentalities at present. You may dewith one's lot is a Christian virtue, the pend upon it the man who wins her Icelander ranks high in the calendar of will not be chosen for his looks, or for saints. He never grumbles at the in- his prowess in games of strength. Not evitable, but stolidly, if not very a bit of use, my dear sir, for a mere actively, plods along, thinking much athlete to try to gain favor in her and deeply as he goes, and ever show-eyes. ing towards visitors from without a generous and kindly hospitality, which is often considered well repaid by the news brought, or by some addition to the library of the farmhouse. "You will like this island, I am sure," says Mr. Baring-Gould's priest, Swerker, who had come from the cathedral at Skalholt to see a new Norwegian settler; "for it is a delightful spot- just perfection, I should call it. There is a song we sing about it; it runs thus : The land is fair and free, The sun doth brightly shine, The skies are blue, and see The Silvery Mountains' line! "Not a bit," echoed Hood. He had a long stick in his hand with which he remorselessly cut down every dandelion or thistle which came within his reach. "Poor girl! And yet one need not be sorry for her now. I did feel at first for her, coming among strangers, and leading such a lonely life. But she has found her vocation." "Always messing among old books," suggested the baronet. 66 Always working among them," replied the rector, laying some emphasis on his verb. "It seems to me a very extraordinary thing that any one should care for such a life. I mean," noticing a frown gathering on his companion's brow, | own enthusiasm and affection for the "It grows on you; it's quite aston- Simon thought they might, some of them, want a great deal more, but he did not say anything. The two men, "Ugh!" said Sir Simon, in a manner which might be taken to express wonder, or admiration, or disgust. "So you think Miss Penelope is in no hurry to marry?" he went on, after a long pause. The rector's mind had flown back those fifty years; he seemed to be conscious once more of the fragrant scent of the old lime-tree, to hear again the music of its innumerable bees, and the cool ripple of the water below. "Oh no, quite the contrary. Let me see; she is now twenty-five; I should give her ten years. And I think I could make a pretty fair prophecy as to the sort of man her husband will be." "What sort of a man?" "Not a mere student. It cannot be good for any one to devote himself to a single pursuit to the exclusion of all others. That is why I occupy myself with gardening as well as parish work. Her husband will probably, I should say, be a good deal older than herself; a man of experience, well read of course, in the highest sense, and able to direct her studies to the best possible advantage.' He di tall soldier, walked on together to the But it was not to show the soldier So Sir Simon had his tea in the dark old library where books were the sole ornament. And as he looked at the t i p a d a D fr th he long lines of shelves, each heavily |ing Howleglass, which betrayed itself 1 laden and crowded with divers battered by the bulge in the pocket where it volumes, he thought that in all his life lay. At last his feelings became too he had never seen such a depressing strong for him. "I tell you what I sight. The great collection up at the shall ask you to do," said he. "I'll Hall was a much more cheerful affair; beg you to give me that book back there was plenty of color there, scarlet, again, and I will either have it nicely and blue, and green morocco, and gild-bound for you, or find another which ing, while here and there room was will be more suitable for my little gift. found for a picture or some china. On second thoughts I do not think that Mr. Kemp despised china; he had no that little work is so much in your line space for pictures; and, not being able just now, as something else might be. to afford fine bindings, he affected to Exchange, you know, is no robbery," despise them also. said the parson, laughing rather nervously, and wondering whether his little plan would succeed. But Sir Simon handed over the parcel with great alacrity; he was delighted to get rid of it. Its old owner joyfully received back his treasure, and quickly restored it to its proper place. The thought of that empty space would have given some unhappiness to the bibliophile, might perhaps have cost him some hours of sleep that night. 66 The rector climbed cautiously up a creaking step-ladder, and after a short 2 hunt withdrew out of its hole a small volume. It seemed to Sir Simon to be the dullest-looking and the most forglorn of all the books in the room. Its owner blew the dust off the top leaves, and handled it as delicately as if it had been a live thing. See," ," he said, my little Noctuae Speculum;' my old Howleglass, I shall be loath to part with you and your quaint woodcuts. I picked up that book, Sir Simon, in Sheffield, a most unlikely place, when waiting one afternoon for a train. I got it for ten shillings, but you will find it marked at more than six times that sum in Mr. Quaritch's catalogue. And I give it to you, my dear sir, trusting it may be the means of stimulating those dormant faculties we were speaking of just now.” After another loving look he carefully wrapped it up in many folds of paper, and formally handed it over to its new owner, who endeavored to express what he felt or indeed rather took the greatest trouble not to express any such thing. Hood thanked the donor as enthusiastically as he could, and then had to spend half an hour more in looking at various other treasures, all of a subfusc hue outside, and quite unintelligible when you opened them. II. SIR SIMON HOOD had been born when Venus was in the ascendant. The fairies who had attended at his birth had been very bountiful to him; they had given him health and beauty of a manly kind, and riches, and a good position in the world. But then, as a set off to these good things, that other fairy, for whose presence on our natal days we have all had sometimes to groan, appeared, and added a too susceptible heart; a small counter-balance, it may be thought, for so much that was good. This fairy willed it that, when her godchild came under the eye of a woman with any pretensions to comeliness, he came also under her influence. He fell in love with his nurse, and with his dame at Eton; though possibly there was something politic in the last admiration. He fell in love with his tutor's daughter before he got Now the baronet noticed that his into the army, and with his colonel's friend became more and more silent as daughter after he had performed that the time for parting drew near, and if feat. It was a perpetual source of wonhe had been a more acute observer he der to his friends how he managed would have seen that the old gentleman to get out of the many scrapes into cast many a look at the parcel contain- which the blind goddess led him; and |