Lögberg-Heimskringla - 27.11.1987, Qupperneq 6

6-CENTENNIAL YEAR/ALDARAFMÆLISÁR, FÖSTUDAGUR 27, NÓVEMBER 1987
News from the Old Colony
When we talk of news from the
Old Colony we are of course think-
ing about the original New Iceland
settlement back in 1875. When the
Icelanders first landed at Willow
Point and stepped ashore in the
wilderness to start a new life. That
was the beginning of a permanent
settlement and for most of us the
roots of our ancestry. Let's go back
in time and read about life in those
days.
Have you ever heard of scarlet
fever? It is a sort of forgotten disease
but a real threat to our people in the
Old Colony. Modern medical practise
has virtually eliminated this dreaded
disease. The colonists had a cure for
it which is interesting to read, for it
sounds almost weird and its curing
qualities rather doubtful. It did,
however, help to ease the frustration
of the person who administered the
treatment to feel more at ease, hav-
ing taken action while under a severe
mental strain. It is possible that the
medication did very little for the pa-
tient who probably would have sur-
vived the ordeal.
The following is copied verbatum
from Framfari.
Remedy for scarlet fever
For protective medicine against
scarlet fever Dr. M. Ferligh recom-
mends mixing 10 drops of 3 per cent
tincture of belladonna in a little cup
of water and stirring well. Give chil-
dren under two years half a
teaspoonful. Adults should take one
drop in a sip of cold water. This
should be continued for two days,
then discontinued for four days, af-
ter which the medicine should be
again taken in the same manner for
two days.
The sulphur cure
Dr. Henry Pigeon writes in the
London Lancet that he has had excel-
lent success in treating scarlet fever
with sulphur and desires to acquaint
his colleagues with the procedure
which is as follows:
Rub the patients entire body
thoroughly with sulphur ointment
twice a day; administer 5-10 grains a
quarter to half a teaspoonful (of sul-
phurin syrup or other bae) three
times a day. Burn sulphur twice a
day on an iron spade or similar im-
plement in the patient’s sickroom so
A poem translated by Paul Sigurdson
Translating a poem is never an easy
task at any time. This poetical trans-
lation comes at an opportune time, as
the Markerville District in Alberta
prepares for its centennial celebra-
tions during 1988. The original poet
of course is none other than the re-
vqred Stephan G. Stephansson who
lived most of his life in the shadow
of the Rocky Mountains and because
of his high profile thelOOth anijiver-
sary of the district promises to be a
historical event.
We are indebted to Paul Sigurdson
for his translation. It gives our read-
ers an opportunity to gain an insight
into the thoughts of a great poet
whose works are locked into the Ice-
landic language.
The Rockies
by Stephan G. Stephansson
Morning dissolves the night,
Rising to greet the light
Peaks of the Rockies are towering.
Mighty, triumphant and high
Reaching up dwarfing the
netherland.
Heavy the clouds uplift
Move with unveiling drift
Baring the ice-silvered places
Agleam with the sun's brilliant
graces.
Far away easterly, grasslands below
them,
Humbly and patiently
Wait in the distances,
Underlings bowing and
worshipping,
Daily to witness their golden-
i erowned overling.
One looming cloud northerly
Darkens his brow like an ominous
thing.
Chiseiled and jagged they rise up-
ward heavening,
Half the expanse of the western sky
clovening,
Row upon row of high-piling
monstrous
Pillars and peaks, the wide land-
scape quartering,
Mighty-blocked heaping of massive
blue graniting.
The sun rises steadily warming the
countryside,
Glitters the peaks in the blue-glow
etherial,
Quickening growth in th^ patches
of greenery,
Draping expanses in crusted
snow-marbling.
II
Sunfire glimmering
Lowering, shimmering,
Passing the high of its noontide
Sinks to its gold-setting place.
The peaks grow darker and closer
now,
Snow-edges showing there,
Twilightly glowing there,
Coloring vestments to purple and
blue,
Diamonding golden and silvery
hue,
Shoulders in furries shadowing.
Warmer and mellower
The slopes blend into the level land.
Twilight is deepening. How lovely!
Night's shadows thickening, slow-
ly, slow,
Wondrous the mountains now!
The spring night clothed in a soften-
ing glow.
Evening has masterly fashioned the
mountains now,
Fortresses formed by the daylight's
last glimmering,
Snow-drifted ridges and rock-
masses purpling,
Multiple hues on the mountainside
coloring.
Cooling and lowering,
Golden red glimmering,
The sun supremely magnificent.
— Momently cresting the moun-
taintop —
Sunshine and shadows now
Moving up gradually,
Touching the ice-ribboned edges,
Darkening hollows and flattening
peaks,
Misted and golden.
The crest is the place of rest.
Banks and declivities
Grass-plots all glittering,
Quivering fragments of light.
Hollows and coulees are gleaming
with moisture.
Gilt-edged each brim, a shimmering
mirage
Of beauty — the mountains at
twilighting.
The Rockies a dream-world of ages
unnumbering,
Sight likq Valhalla — the golden
shields splendidly
Gleaming and flashing between the
clouds gathering
Dark-chiselled ridges áscending the
mountainside.
(Translator’s nóte: Some years agoí
the late Skuli Johnson pronounced
this poem untranslatable, but I did
not read this until the translation was
done. However, it is done, and I hope
the result does not detract too much
from the strength of the original. I
will admit I had to stretch the English
language to the full, and use poetic
licence — judiciously, I hope.
Paul A. Sigurdson
he breathes in the fumes.
This distinguished physician
reports that all the patients he has
treated by this method recovered
completely within eight days and that
the sulphur fumes kill the infection
and prevent the spread of the disease.
This method of treatment is now
being used in Ontario with good
results. It would not be out of the
way for residents of the colony to try
it if scarlet fever spreads more
widely.
Editor:
This is one of many interesting ar-
ticles in Framfari, which appeared as
part of the newspaper editions of
more than 100 years ago. Because
Framfari is now available in English
you are no longer locked out, these
interesting stories published in New
Iceland are part of the tolal transla-
tion of all the original copies pub-
lished. They are bound in book form,
for convenience.
Framfari is available by ordering
from The Gimli Chapter4f The Ice-
landic National League, P.O. Box
1979, Gimli, Man. ROC 1B0.
Icelandic
Canadian Fron
Chrjstmas Party
Stop tíié presses! Our fami-
ly Christmas Party has been
moved to Sunday, Decem-
ber 6, at the First Lutheran
Church, 580 Victor St. (as if
you didn't know where it
was), beginning at 2:00 p.m.
We've got some wonderful
entertainment lined up, in-
cluding an entertainer for the
kids, who is so special he
gets his own headline.
INTHE
BARDAL FAMILY
TRADITION
Every Neil Bardal funeral service is
performed with honesty, dignity and
respect — a long-standing
tradition from two previous
generations. Now with a
modern interpretation to
suit today’s family needs.
984 Portage at Aubrey Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3G 0R6
24-Hour Telephone Service
786-4716
Winnipeg’s only Bardal family-owned Funeral Service.
Open 9 to 5 Monday thru Saturday.
Ask for a free brochure.
- INC
FAMILYIFUNERAL
COUNSELLORS