Last evening in Sever 11, Mr. Babbitt delivered an interesting lecture on the Norse story of Gunnlaugssaga Ormstungu," and in order that his audience might better understand it, he gave a short account of Norse history and customs.

In 874 A. D. the attention of the Norsemen, owing to violent political upheavals, was turned toward Iceland and many of them migrated to that country. About half of the population was thus of Scandinavian origin, while the remainder came from Great Britain. These old Norsemen were a fine set of men, much superior to those we see there now. They supported themselves by commerce with the surrounding countries, and by what little agriculture they could carry on in their island.

The "Gunnlaugssaga Ormstungu" which Mr. Babbitt took up is of considerable length and he was only able to translate portions of it, and give an outline of the rest, adding explanations when necessary. The story tells how Helga, the fair, daughter of Thorstein, was beloved by two Norsmen who sought her in marriage. Being unable to settle the matter, they engaged in a duel, from the effect of which both died, whereupon Helga married another of her suitors. All of this had been foretold to her father in a wonderful dream. Mr. Babbitt read directly from the Norse, and his language was always clear and forcible.