The Icelandic Canadian - 01.10.1942, Page 32

28
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
away with the exception of a Scotch-
man, Thomas Hilgrow. He was care-
taker of the mill and all the company’s
possessions there. This included tools
and a small store, which had some
stock of coffee, brown sugar, rolled oats,
flour and working men’s clothing. He
could sell this and also a little lumber
when there was a demand for it.
This Tom, called by some “Ill-Temper-
ed Tom,” considered himself above the
Icelanders. He lived in a fairly good
house just south of the mill. Magnus,
the postman, lived on his homestead
north the mill. Because Magnus spoke
English fairly well when he came, he
acted as interpreter for the newcomers
who needed to speak with Tom. Tom’s
attitude towards the Icelanders was,
however, no insurance against love. He
was soon proposing to a young girl
called Hanna, who had come with
Magnus. After they were married she
acted as the interpreter.
Later Tom built a good two-storey log
barn. It seems to me that he had two
cows and a bull belonging to the com-
pany of which he gained possession as
payment for wages when there was a
change in ownership of the mill. I was
told that Tom had taught the Icelanders
to fish under the ice. He is supposed
to have learned that from the Indians.
TRAVELLING HIGHEST HONORS AT
SCHOLARSHIP MUSICAL FESTIVAL
ANNA J. ARNASON
Upon graduation in Home Economics
from the University of Manitoba, Miss
Anna J. Arnason received a two years
Travelling Fellowship from the Univer-
sity of Minneosta. Her parents, Mr. and
Mrs. Jon Arnason, reside at Oak Point,
Man.
BIRGIR HALLBORSSON
At the last Manitoba Musical Com-
petition Festival, Birgir Halldorsson
was awarded first place in the Solo
Class for his rendition of Puccini’s E
Nuvevau Le Stella, from Tosca. He is
now studying in New York.