The Icelandic Canadian - 01.03.1954, Page 27

THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
25
Z)he Stephan Q. StephanAAonA iiementoA
in the Icelandic Reading Room of the University of Manitoba Library.l
by FINNBOGI GUBMUNDSSON
In his home in Alberta Stephan G.
Stephansson had a little study of his
own where he used to sit deep into
the night writing poetry or letters to
his many friends. This study he called
“kompu” (den), his desk “pult” (table),
and the place where it stood, “horniS
mitt” (my corner).
This poetic corner has now been
transferred from Stephansson’s farm-
stead to a permanent place here.
First we have his chair and desk, the
latter made about 60 years ago by one
of Stephansson’s neighbours, J6n Jons-
son from Strond. When Jonsson died
Stephansson composed (in 1908) a very
fine obituary poem to his friend.
In 1906 or thereabouts some of
Stephansson’s friends in Canada and
the United States formed a group for
1) A part of an address (here slightly changed),
given at a gathering in the Icelandic Reading-
Room October 3rd, 1953, in memory of the
centenary of Stephan G. Stephansson.