Lögberg-Heimskringla - 12.02.1988, Blaðsíða 2

‘ < J J.» ‘ H I I v f I • J ♦ • » f ' > f r 1 w * ' ' ‘ j * 'i > > t > / 1 < f ■ I ^ V > C M f * »
2-L06ÉERG ‘CENTENNIAC YÉAH, FOSTODAGOR 12. FEÖRUAR 1988
What's new
The University of Manitoba is ac-
tively interviewing applicants for the
position as head of the Department
of Icelandic Language and Literature,
left vacant by Haraldur Bessason,
who recently returned to Iceland to
become Rektor (President) of the new
University of Akureyri.
* * *
Haraldur Vidal is retiring next sum-
mer after 25 years as a professor with
Brandon University. Haraldur origi-
nally hailed from Hnausa, Man.
where his family is well remem-
bered. He has long been an en-
thusiastic member of the Falkinn
Chapter of the Icelandic National
League, and is a past president of the
chapter.
* * *
Oli Narfason, President of the
Icelandic National League, was in
Winnipeg and reminds us that the an-
nual convention of the league will be
held at Innisfail, Alta. on March 25,
26 and 27 this year. This is the Cen-
tennial Year of the Icelandic district
at Markerville, the home of the well-
known bard Stephan G.
Stephanson.
* * *
Wherever there are old Icelandic
books to be set up as a library you are
certain to find Hrund Skulason up to
her elbows in cartons retrieving these
valuable treasures and cataloguing
them while arranging them properly
on shelves.
Many years ago she had her hands
full in the Icelandic section of the
library at the University of Manito-
ba. During recent years she set up the
hbrary of Icelandic books at the Scan-
dinavian Centre; presently she is
sorting out books at the First Luthe-
ran Church on Victor St. and is wait-
ing for shelves so she can sort out the
books in the library as Betelstadur in
Winnipeg.
If it is about books ask Hrund
Skulason, especially if they are
Icelandic.
EXODUS HAWAII
This is Jan. 27th and the day when
a fairly large group from Beterstadur
Early Icelanders in Winnipeg
Part XV
In time there were many Icelandic
women serving as domestic help in
Winnipeg. Wages were increased as
they learned English and became ex-
perienced in household duties. Ear-
ly the pay scale rose to ten dohars per
month. ..... -
A number of Icelandic women took
in washing and this was considered
to be more remunerative than
domestic service. A Sigurbjorg Han-
nesdottir became the head cook at a
hotel and earned $25 per month.
These Icelandic women earned in
total considerable money, which they
sent to their parents in the rural dis-
tricts which was of tremendous help.
Generally the daughters were unable
to assist their parents more fully than
the sons. This help enabled the par-
ents in many instances to gain a
foothold in the rural areas. Then of
course considerable money was re-
quired by women for hats, dresses
and other worthless finery. The
Icelandic women soon showed a
desire to be well dressed, and that
was acceptable within discretion. But
some of their desires seem to have re-
quired all of their earnings, regard-
less of increased income. Many of the
Icelandic gö-ls were thrifty and spent
their monqy carefully. There is no
doubt, that the daughters did more to
help their parents arid relatives dur-
ing the early years, through generosi-
ty and self denial, than the sons of the
original arrivals from Iceland.
In all fairness it should be pointed
out, that during this era it was
difficult for men to find employment.
It is mentioned in Framfari Dec. 23,
1878 that recently a man had come
to New Iceland from Winnipeg. He
had mentioned considerable employ-
ment existed in the city. He had gone
a total of 12 miles from Winnipeg and
nowhere had he been able to find
employment.
On Dec. 3rd of that year, the rail-
way was completed to Winnipeg.
r----------------------\
Upcoming Events
Saturday, Feb. 20 The Icelandic Canadian Fron of Wpg. — Thorrablot
* * *
Saturday, Feb. 20 The Icelandic Club of Seattle — Thorrablot
* * *
Saturday, Mar. 12 The Icelandic Canadian Club of B.C. — Thorrablot
at Heritage Hall, 3102 Main Street, Vancouver, B.C.
* * *
Fri., Sat. & Sun., Mar. 25, 26 & 27 The Icelandic National League
Conference at Innisfail., Alberta
* * *
Saturday, Apr. 9 Falkinn Society of Brandon — Thorrablot
* * *
Friday & Saturday, June 18 & 19 Alberta Icelandic Picnic —
Markerville
* * *
July 29, 30, 31 & Aug. 1 Markerville Centennial Celebrations, Mar-
kerville, Alberta.
V_______________________________________________________________________J
in Winnipeg took off for Hawaii, to
enjoy the sun. We Icelanders wait for
the summer and take off for Iceland
and enjoy the cooler weather.
It sure is fun to be old . . . not too
old.
* * *
A letter from California has come
to us which Dr. Gestur Kristjansson
forwarded. It is from Sidney F. Chris-
tianson. He says, 'T am a member of
the Icelandic club here in San Diego
Lítil
An exercise in Icelandic
Einu sinni voru systkin sem hétu
Rakel Ýr og Teddi. Eitt skipti langaði
Tedda að fara upp í sveit. En Rakel
Vildi það ekki, hún var svo hrædd við
dýrin. Loks sömdu þau um það að
Rakel ætti að vera inni þegar þeir
(pabbi og Teddi) færu að skoða dýrin.
Svo fóru þau upp í sveit. Þau
keyrðu langt norður. Loks voru þau
komin. Þá kom stór svartur hundur
segja konunni að kalla á hundinn.
rosalega hrædd. Hú veinaði upp yfir
sig og stökk inn í bíl, en Teddi faldi
sig bara bak við pabba sinn. Það tók
nokkuð langan tíma að ná Rakel út
úr bílnum. Hún neitaði að fara úr
bílnum fyrr en pabbi væri búinn að
segja konunni að kalla á hundinn.
Svo fóru pabbi og Teddi að skoða
dýrin. Þeir sáu geitur, svín, hænur,
hesta og kindur. Á meðan sat Rakel
inni og borðaði kleinur og klappaði
kisunni.
Svo fóru þau heim. Rakel og Teddi
sofnuðu á leiðinni og þau dreymdu
bæði að þegar þau yrðu stór myndu
þau verða bóndamaður og
bóndakona.
and when I saw your card I had to
write to find out if we shared a rela-
tionship." We will send him the in-
formation on his people who emigrat-
ed here listed in Vesturfaraskrá.
* * *
The Icelanders are ironically poet-
ic. Only recently in Iceland, because
of high employment levels, there is
labour shortage. A suggestion was to
import labour. Guess what they sug-
gested it be called, 'ICEJOB'.
saga
Once there were a brother and
sister whose names were, Rakel Ýr
and Teddi. At one time Teddi
wanted to go out into the country but
Rakel did not want to go, she was so
afraid of the animals. Finally they
agreed that Rakel should remain
inside when (their father and Teddi)
went to look at the animals.
Then they went into the
countryside. They drove a long ways
north. Finally they arrived. A big
black dog came towards them. Rakel
became very frightened. She yelled
and jumped into the car, but Teddi
just hid himself behind his father. It
took quite a long time to get Rakel
out of the car. She refused to go out
of the car before her father had told
the lady to call the dog. Then the
father and Teddi went to look at the
animals. They saw goats, pigs,
chicken, horses and shee,p. In the
meantime Rakel sat inside and ate
doughnuts and patted the cat.
Then they went home. Rakel and
Teddi fell asleep on the way and they
both dreamt that when they were big
they would be farmer and farmer's
wife.
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