Heimskringla - 30.12.1953, Blaðsíða 2

2. SÍÐA
HEIMSK RINGLA
WINNIPEG, 30. DES. 1953
Hfiítnakrin^la
fStotnuð tstu
SLaraui 6t á hverjuxn mlðvllcudegi.
Klgfndur: THE VIKING PRESS LTD
R53 og 955 Sargent Avenue, Winnipeg, Man. — Talsfrai 74-6251
VerO biaC«ín« er $3.00 árgangurinn, borgist fyriríram
Allar borganlr sendist: THE VIKING PRESS LTD.
Gll viðaklftabréf blaðínu aðlútandi sendist;
The Viking Press Limited, 853 Sargent Ave., Wirmipeg
Rltstjóri STEFAN EINARSSON
Utanáskriít til ritatjórans:
EDITOR HEIMSKRINGLA. 853 Sargent Ave.. Winnipeg
Advertising Manager: GUNNAR ERLENDSSON
"Htílmskringla" is publisbed by THE VIKING PRESS LIMITED
and printed by VIKING PRINTERS
855-855 Sargent Avenue, Winnipeg, Man., Canada — Telephone 74-6251
Authorized as Second Class Mail—Post Office Dept.. Ottawa
WINNIPEG, 30. DES. 1953
Árið 1954 byrjar
Heimskringla óskar—á gamla, góða vísu—lesendum sínum
alls góðs á árinu 1954, sem nú fer í hönd—og þakkar fyrir gamla
árið.
Það er eitthvað nú í loftinu, sem vakið hefir vonir um, að
komandi ár eigi eftir að færa okkur varanlegan frið. Jafnvel þó
alt bendi til að illa gangi með það í Koreu, er eitthvað talsvert al-
varlegt að gerast til undirbúnings friði milli Malenkovs og Eis
enhowers, eftir síðustu fregnum að dæma Að byrja nýja árið með
sameiginlegum fjórvalda fundi um hvað sé hægt að gera til efling-
ar varanlegum friði. er hvað sem öðru líður, kærkomin frétt öllu
mannkjmi.
Um árið sem er að kveðja, er að vísu margt hægt að segja. En
það er samt sem áður eitt, sem einkenni þess má heita og það er
aukin framleiðsla, ekki einungis í Canada, sem okkur öllum er
kunnugt, eða í Vesturheimi. heldur og um allan heim. Það hefir í
Vestur og Suður-Evrópu orðið ákaflega mikil breyting á afkomu
manna. Er það Bandaríkjunum að mjög miklu leyti að þakka, er í
bjargráðin hefir ekki horft, þar sem þörfin hefir kallað. Frétt-
irnar um að æ fleiri þjóðir séu að verða sjálfbjarga, er órækur vott-
ur framfara og viðreisnar hjá þeim er síðasta stríð lék harðast.
Þetta er nú í stórum dráttum það helzta, sem um árin er að
segja, sem eru að koma og kveðja. Stærsta hörmung liðins árs er
Koreu-stríðið- Þó við sem heima erum, vitum ekki mikið af því,
hefir þar margur harmleikurinn átt sér stað fyrir hermenn þess
stríðs og skyldulið þeirra frá þessu landi sem öðrum.
Það er talað um áraskiftahugleiðingar og mikill skáldskapur
úr því ofin um margt, sem aldrei kemur fram og við hið verulega
hefir ekki nema örlítið að styðjast. En af því hafa margir gaman.
Það sem þeim er þetta ritar hefir þótt skemtilegra við tillidaga eða
hátíðardaga ársins, er saga þeirra. Það er hún sem gefur hug-
myndina um uppruna þeirra og nútíðar þýðingu á sama tíma. En
sannleikurinn virðist sá, að menn í hátíðaskapi kæri sig minna
um slíkan fróðleik, en annað, sem þeim hefir um hátíðirnar verið
kent.
Nýjársdagurinn er nú einn af hinum kristnu helgidögum árs-
ins. En kristin hátíð var hann ekki lengi framan af- En hann var
eigi síður ein af meiri hátíðum arsins hjá Forn Rómverjum. Þeir
kendu daginn við Janus, goð sitt. “Friður, gleði og vinsemd var
fremst í sæti hjá öllum; hús voru uppljómuð, borð hlaðin hinum
bezta beina. En gleðin var stundum yfir hóf og þegar kristni
komst á, bönnuðu prestarnir þessa heiðnu ósíðu og lögðu ríkt á að
þeim væri útrýmt. En það gekk harla tregt. Það var komið fram á
sjöttu öld, er farið var að halda fyrsta dag janúarmánaðar helgan
í minnugu umskurnar Krists, og fyrsta predikun á nýársdag er
talin að hafi verið haldin af Beda presti um 700 ár e.Kr. (Þ.v.fél
almanak 1878). Þessi hátíð virðist í heiðni hafa svarað til jólanna
í norðrinu.
Annars hefir á mörgu leikið um hvenær ár hefir byrjað hjá ýms-
um þjóðum. Rómverjar töldu eitt sinn árið frá byggingu Róma-
borgar og höfðu nýár sitt að vorinu. Grikkir töldu tínian frá
kappleikjum þeim sem haldnir voru á Olympíu og byrjuðu ár
sitt með sumarsólstöðum. Gyðingar, Kaldear og Sýrlendingar
héldu nýár á haustin-
Eftir hinu forn aíslenzka tímatali er upphaf ársins um mið-
sumar, þegar byrjar hey-anna mánuður. Það sannast af því, segir
í áðurnefndu almanaki, að næsti mánuður heitir tvímánuður, þ. e.
annar mánuður árs og byrjar nokkru fyrir höfuðdag. Á kaþólsku-
öldunum var byrjað á íslandi að telja árið frá jólum og aldur
manna talinn í jólanóttum.
f almanökum Guðbrands biskups (1571), er janúar kallaðui
miðsvetrarmánuður og þá byrjar þorri. En með honum hefir ver-
ið meint ,að þá væri hið versta af vetri liðið og von betra veðurs úi
því Og þá var ekki fjarri, að byrja árið.
En íslendingar voru aldrei í vandræðum með tímatal sitt.
Það haggaði ekki neinu um það þegar á landnáms tíð, er Þorsteinn
surtur fann sumarauka. Þorsteinn bjó í Þórsnesi, nálægt Helga
felli og segja íslendingasögurnar vel frá honum. Árið var þá
talið 12 mánuðir, er hver hafði 30 daga. En þá vantar fjóra daga.
upp á 52 vikur, og er þeim skotið inn um miðsumar. En árið verður
samt of stutt og það var sú endurbót, sem Þorsteinn surtur fékk
komið á og í lög leitt, að bætt var enn inn viku á nokkra ára bili
Og það er það sem kallað er sumarauki. Þar er svo hárréttur tími
fenginn, að óskiljanlegt er, að íslendingar skuli ekki hafa soðið
upp úr honum sjálfstætt, íslenzkt tímatal eða almanak.
ngs were of course numbered. j the mother of the well-known
''ur number was 2207 Fernwood bicyclist, Torchie Peden). —
Road,
We had been in Victoria but
a short while, when lettérs be-
gan to pour in; most of them
were from friends and acquain-
tances seeking information
about the city. In answering
these letters, my father meti-
culously avoided all over-state-
Uncle John was the strongest
man I have ever known—had I
the time and space, I could eas-
ily write a very interesting ac-
count of his extraordinary feats
of strength.
Steingrimur Norman was also
an early
carpenter
ments endeavoured to state the worked for a long time at assay-
average of things as he saw it. ing ore-
The fact that not one of the im- Thorkell (Kelly) Johnson
migrants, to my knowledge, who came somewhat later, but none-
migrated because of these theless one of the pioneers. He
replies, was disappointed, re- was a house carpenter, a very
flect credit on my father’s good skilful workman.
judgment. The Sivertzs came to Victoria
Two compatriots had already near the end of the pi0neering
settled in Victoria One, J. B. dayS- Qne of them> Kristjan
Johnson, was a grocer, whom sivertz, is still alive and hale.
father knew through correspon- Before coming to America,
dence; his store was on Hum- primary teaching was his voca-
bolt St. The other, an express- tion In Manitoba and for awhile
man, was Oliver Johnson, who on the coast, he was a steamboat
extended his express business fireman. Finally he became a
to include all classes of haul maiiCarrier in his home city,
ing and house moving. Oliver Victoria, B.C- He is very observ-
was a remarkable man in many ing> and has an admirabie dispos-
iespects. I have never known a ition_a most desirable posses-
more forthright or more honest Jion.
person. While these qualities . , ,
. , ... , i There were many others, both
were ínherent ín him, they were , , , ,
, , ^ ,, , , , , . early- and late-comers; but to
undoubtedly enhanced by his ,, ,, A ,
r. , , name them all would take up too
firm belief m God. He would , . ,
much time and space.
We liked it very much in
was the chief reason of our go-
ing, an indirect urge of a friend
had its effect. We left this
beautiful scenic city in the sec-
ond year of the great panic, on
the fifteenth day of June 1894.
My father had all the qualities
that make a staunch pioneer. He
was capable of great physical
comer. Although a endurance, for he possessed in-
by trade, Norman nate robustness of body, had
ÁRNI S. MÝRDAL
RECOLLECTIONS
Framhald frá seinasta blaði
To build a permanent home,
was father’s first concern after
our arrival There were many
places to select from in the then
sprawling city; father’s choice
was Fernwood subdivision, then
very sparsely settled and there-
fore ideal for newcomers desir-
ing to build their own homes.
In the autumn of 1887 we
never swerve from a course
which he knew to be right, no
matter how much pressure was
brought to bear or how much
he stood to lose financially by
holding to that course. He as
energetic and tireless worker
through his whole life. The last
time he came to pay me a call,|
just three weeks before he met
his death, he seemed to sense
that the end was near He saidj
as we shook hands, that he felt!
this was our final good-bye. j
In Victoria father resumed
his social activities anew, devot-
ing all his spare time in futrher-!
ance of his social objectives for
another seven-year period. He
kept up his custom of reading
a sermon on Sundays. Soon all
our Icelandic friends attended.
The attendance grew in number
as the Icelandic population in-
creased. Before long our house
proved too small to seat all of
them. Then a congregation was
organized, and arrangements
made to build a church. Every
member contributed either
money or work, some both, and a
large number outside the con-!
gregation aided us greatly !
When the church was complet- ■
ed, father was the unanimous
choice to conduct services there. j
This he faithfully did, without
recompense, until the summer of
1894 or till we moved to Point
Roberts.
Father’s social activities were
always progessive — edifying.
He organized a reading society
and a choir, conducted Sunday
school and gave instructions in
elementary Icelandic grammar. |
The young people organized
or formed a chorus club. Jonas
Tryggvi was our conductor, a
talented vocalist, just recently
out from Iceland, but had learn-
ed the English language there.
Mr. Tryggvi subsequently mov-
ed to Seattle, and died there
recently in his eighy-ninth year
These activities tended to
build and mold our characters
and to keep us out of mischief.
Some of us took also an active
part in athletics and other
games.
To name a few of the early
settlers: there was Einar Brand-
son, our travelling companion to
Victoria and a friend of long
standing. He was for many years
in charge of the Ross Bay Cem-
etery; a very trustworthy and
capable man—one of his attain-
ments was writing a beautiful
hand.
Then there was uncle John
(Jóhann) Breidfjord (his wife
Victoria, it was such a nice,
peaceful city. Because of that,
we were most reluctant to leave.
Although want of emplojmient
great willpower, was resource-
full and stouthearted. He was a
fine craftsman, an excellent
mountaineer (he guided William
Lord Watts, an English geolo-
gist, when he explored Vatna-
jökull 1874; Vatnajökull is a
great glacier-covered mountain
region in southeastern Iceland)
and a tireless walker; he was
well read, had good command
of language, and wrote effect-
ively He was deeply religious
and clove to the golden rule:
“Whatsoever ye would that men
should do to you, do ye even so
to them”.
In the winter of 1893-4 my
iiancé received a letter from an
old friend, requesting her to
teach his daughter the art of
embroidering. His wish was
promptly granted. In the follow
ing spring the young lady’s
father, Kristjan Benson, came
to see how the pupil was pro-
gressing. It was during his brief
visit that I met Mr. Benson for
the first time- He mentioned
that he had moved from Belling-
ham to Point Roberts the year
before. It was the first time that
I had heard this particular place
mentioned. But, for the next
hour or two, it remained the
chief topic, as he tried to talk
me into joining forces with the
squatters there. From the outset
I told him that I was not inter-
ested in farming, that I was a
mechanic, and preferred making
things to- growing things. He
averred that it was because of
my mechancial abilities that I
was so urgently needed. So far
it was anything but clear how I
could ply my trade in such a
sparsely inhabited settlement.
he then told me about a large
salmon packing concern that
had just commenced operation
there, and that it would undoubt
edly require skilled mechanics.
Alhtough still turning a deaf
ear to his urging, I promised to
think it over, and would write
him, if I decided on going.
It was now approaching mid-
summer and the unemployed
state was becoming even more
serious as time went on. It was
then that I began to ponder
Benson’s ernest solicitation. Aft
er carefully weighing the prop-
osition, I concluded that the
best way to solve the problem
would be to go and see for my-
self. After consulting the trans-
portation company, I found that
the round trip would cost about
twelve dollars, if I walked from
THE ROYAL BANK
OFCANAOA
General Statement
30th November, 1953
ASSETS
Notes of and deposits with Bank of Canada 226,402,343.82
Other cash and bank balances...................... 181,033,444.16
Notes of and cheques on other banks......... 193,484,323.76
Government and other public securities, not exceed-
ing market value ............................... 972,141,264.96
Other bonds and stocks, not exceeding market value 101,301,756.80
Call and short loans, fully secured .............. 149,280,473.79
Total quick assets................$1,823,643,607.29
Other loans and discounts, after full provision for
bad and doubtful debts ......................... 994,865,750.13
Bank premises...................................... 20,871,991.94
Liabilities of customers undcr acceptances and lctters
ofcredit......................................... 51,213,786.75
Other assets........................................ 5,261,053.05
, $2,895,856,189.16
LIABILITIES
Notes in circulation........................$ 83,335.04
Deposits ....................................... 2,734,644,076.93
Acceptances and letters of credit outstanding . . . 51,213,786.75
Other liabilities................................... 1,615,814.82
Total liabilíties to the public . . . $2,787,557,013.54
Capital............................................ 35,000,000.00
Reserve Fund....................................... 70,000,000.00
Dividends payable................................... 1,783,800.83
Balance of Profit and Loss Account.................. 1,515,374.79
$2,895,856,189.16
»
PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT
Profits for the year ended 30th November, 1953, after nm.kinn
appropriations to Contingency Resexves, out of v/r.ich fuíl
provision for bad and doubtful debts lias been nxade .... $ 18,952,608.56
Provision for depreciation of bank prerai.;es....... 1,365,472.39
$17,587,136.17
Provision for tncome taxes ....................... 8,952,000.00
* 8,635,136.17
Dividends at the rate of $1.20 per share .... $ 4,200,000.00
Extra distribution at the rate of 20(í per share . . 700,000.00 4,900,000.00
Amount carried forward .........................$ 3,735,136.17
Balance of Protit and Loss Account, 29rh Novembcr, J952 . . . 780,238.62
$ 4,515,374.79
Transferred to Reserve l und ....................... 3,000,000.00
Baiance of Proht and Lots Account, 30th Movember, 1953 ... $ 1,515,374.79
moved into our new home. When
mail delivery throughout thejwas my father’s sister; their eld
city was inaugurated, all build- est daughter, Sigrid Peden, is
JAMES MUIR,
President
T. H. A7IÍINSON,
Generai Maaager