Sameiningin - 01.10.1961, Blaðsíða 19

Sameiningin
17
ments in North America. I have in mind men such as Dr. Brandur
Brandson, who distinguished himself in medicine and surgery, a
son of pioneers. He became most eminent in his chosen field and
a Professor of Medicine and Surgery at the University of Manitoba.
I have in mind men such as Hjalmar A. Bergman, a son of this
community, who became an eminent Canadian Jurist and Judge,
and a Doctor of Law at the University of Manitoba. I have in
mind a man such as Steingrimur Hall, who distinguished himself
in the field of music and became well-known as a composer, both
here and in Canada. I have in mind last, but not least, the Rev.
K. K. Olafson, the first son of this community, born of pioneer
parents, who became nationally known in his field as theologian
and leader of the Lutheran Church. I submit to you that all of these
men had to engage in a great struggle, first for their education,
then for recognition and for the maintenance of their excellent
reputations in their respective fields.
During his adoiescent years, when most people go to common
school and high school, there was no elementary school, and there
was no high school in the community. Anyone aspiring to get an ed-
ucation had to acquire it the hard way by private reading. We are
told that there was a library here in the early years consisting of
some choice books, exclusively Icelandic. The library was called
“Gangleri”, the name indicating that it was a circulating library.
We are told that K. K. read practically all the books in this library
at an early age, and this seems to be borne out by the fact that
he had an excellent command of the Icelandic language, its intricate
grammar and extensive vocabulary. We find that in several of his
many writings in periodicals and papers, he made frequent ref-
erences to his home community. Here is one quote: “There was a
refreshing atmosphere in the community of Gardar in the days of
early pioneers, men had faith in life, and men had faith in the
future. They were exceedingly well pleased with and proud of
their community and the land of their adoption; they looked with
hope and courage into the face of the future.” It seems that the
spirit of optimism, courage and forward-look characterized our
friend from the beginning. Having consumed the contents of the
library of Gangleri, and since it was obvious to his parents that
he was anxious to obtain an education and was an eminently
capable student, it was decided to send him to a private tutor. It
seems that the first private tutor who assisted Olafson in his early
training was The Rev. Fridrik J. Bergmann, who was then the
minister of the community, a scholar and theologian. Later, the
aforementioned Brandur J. Brandson came into the community as
a teacher. Rev. Olafson spoke very highly of both these men, and
it seems that his association with them and the instruction re-