Tímarit Þjóðræknisfélags Íslendinga - 01.01.1966, Page 65

the icelandic student society in winnipeg
47
called on at the meeting. On this
occasion Johannes Eirickson was
given the topic ,“To Be Or Not To
Be” — there may have been a little
satire in connection with the alloca-
tion of this subject, but Johannes
acquitted himself very well and de-
livered a masterful and entertaining
speech. I remember occasions when
former members came to a meeting
and gave speeches — two I remem-
ber in particular — Hjortur Leo
came after he had graduated in
theology and spoke on what the
Students Society had accomplished
and possibilities for the future. Olaf-
Ur Eggertson gave a talk on drama-
tics — incidentally he gave valuable
aid when the students put on their
drama, “Hún iðrast” — whether he
Was ever classed as official director
I don’t know, or whether he gave
assistance with other plays.
Debates were a major activity —
°n some occasions there were four
°r more debates during a winter —
debates were usually in Icelandic,
aithough there were some debates
ln English. There where two mem-
Uers °n a team and the object was to
ft as many as possible to take part.
^omen students took part in de-
b^tes, although if I remember cor-
rectly, they only debated against
each other. There were no mixed
^ebating teams and I recall no oc-
Casion when women students de-
^ated against men students. I re-
cail one debate where women stu-
^ents debated Women’s Suffrage —
believe that was in 1908—09 —
w°men didn’t have a vote then and
^ good many people thought (yours
^ly included) that this was a per-
fectly good world without giving
women the franchise. The Brandson
Cup was introduced in the winter
1909—10. The purpose was to in-
crease and encourage debating in
Icelandic. But there was an increas-
ing number of students who felt
that they were under too much of a
handicap if they debated in Iceland-
ic. I remember distinctly, the second
or third year the cup was debated
for, that one pair of contestants
asked permission to have the final
debate for the cup in English — this
pair had won some preliminary de-
bates in English and they felt that
they were under too big a handicap
if they had to have the final debate
in Icelandic. However, it was ruled
by the Executive that while preli-
minary debates for the Cup could be
in English, the final debate must be
in Icelandic. That year there was no
final debate for the Cup — the Cup
was awarded on the basis of the
preliminary debates. Each year the
final debate for the Brandson Cup
was held in the Good Templars Hall
and I believe there was a full house.
Each year, the Society held an
oratorical contest. In 1908 there were
four contestants — Baldur Jonsson,
Johannes Palsson, Haraldur Sigmar
and Jon Stefansson — Jon Stefans-
son won the silver medal on that oc-
casion — in the following years
there were usually eight contestants
(cannot be sure of all the names).
Women students took part in these
contests — in 1910, Thorstina Jack-
son and Salome Halldorson took
part. These annual contests became
quite popular and as I recall it the
house was packed on each occasion.