Jón Bjarnason Academy - 01.05.1936, Page 28

consideration the conditions under which he labored. He did
not complete his professional studies until at the age of thirty,
and had, until he was sixty-live years of age, to cultivate his
literary and intellectual interests in the spare time from the
exacting duties of public office and the earning of a living for
a large family. During his earlier years he was, moreover, re-
peatedly weighed down by great personal sorrows. A lesser man
would have (at least in a degree) succumbed to such adverse
circumstances; nor is it to he denied that Jochumsson’s art
and production have suffered from the hostile circumstances
under which he was compelled to do his literary work.
For six years (1874-1880) he was the editor of the leading
Icelandic weekly, Pjodolfur, published at Reykjavik, through
which he doubtless exerted considerable influence on public
opinion in Iceland. Later (1889-1891) he edited the semi-
monthly Lydur (The People) at Akureyri; and to the end of his
days he contributed frequently to a number of Icelandic papers.
His newspaper articles would fill several large volumes.
As an editor Jochumsson wrote especially on educational
and literary subjects, also giving some attention to religion and
church affairs. His discussions of the latter in the columns
of his own and other papers were, as ever, characterized by
his liberal views and his broad-mindedness. His educational
theories were also progressive; he advocated the establishment
of rural public schools and wrote in favor of educational insti-
tutions similar to Grundtvig’s People’s High Schools in Den-
mark, which he had studied extensively by means of a stipend
from the government.
In politics Jochumsson’s editorial policy was conciliatory.
Never an ardent partisan, he steered clear of political quarrels,
considering the interests of his country best served by following
a middle course.
As a journalist he was therefore primarily interested in
educating his countrymen and in thus furthering their spiritual
as well as material progress. This is clearly stated in his first
editorial where he says that he “wishes to arouse sane and im-
partial public, opinion, a general progressive tendency in the
land, based on liberalism, intelligence, and justice.”7
Aside from his numerous essays in papers and periodicals,
.lochumsson wrote three travel books: Chicago-for min (My
Journey to Chicago, Reykjavik, 1893), Fra Danmorku (From
Denmark, Ivaupmannahofn, 1906), and FerS um fornar stodnar
(Visiting Old Haunts, Reykjavik, 1913). The second one is the
7 pjoOolfur, May 4, 1874. Cf. porsteinn GIslason, Matthias Jochumsson,
1906, p. 38. In this article a sympathetic and fairly detailed treatment of
Jochumsson’s journalism is to be found (pp. 34-45). See also Jochumsson’s
autobiography, Sogukaflar a] sjdlfum mer, pp. 273-278. An interesting light
on his political views is thrown by his letters to the Icelandic statesman and
patriot, J6n SigurSsson, Skirnir, 1921, pp. 13-19.