Jón Bjarnason Academy - 01.05.1931, Blaðsíða 45

Canada that a gift would be forthcoming from the Dominion,
the nature of which was not disclosed.
“For several days Reykjavik looked like a beleaguered
city; for in its harbor lay the war-ships of many nations,
among them the second largest battleship afloat, the Rodney
of the British fleet. The hotel at Thingvellir, a frame build-
ing, is appropriately named Valholl, or Valhalla. Here the
representatives and official delegates of the different countries
were comfortably housed and fed.
Asgeir Asgeirsson chairman of the Icelandic Parliamentary Celebration
Delivering the Official Address at Logberg, 1930
“At the historic place of Thingvellir, the road dropped
down a slope between high and rocky walls upon either side.
It is useless to try to describe the extraordinary aspect of
nature in that unusual place. Only God and elemental fire
could create the marvels that meet the eye in this place of
Olympic grandeur.
“On the plain itself, lay the improvised cities, thousands
upon thousands of gleaming white tents in which the visitors
were housed. Water-pipes had been laid so that excellent
running water was everywhere available. The ponies, which
brought the pepole from all parts of the island, were grazing
here and there in uncounted numbers. They were plump, well
fed and seemingly in the very pink of condition.
“The plains of the Althing lie about thirty miles from
Reykjavik. Every precaution was taken against accident or
disorder. Thousands of trips were made hack and forth dur-
43