The Icelandic Canadian - 01.06.1956, Blaðsíða 13

THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
11
adians to make a concerted effort to
conserve Icelandic culture and customs
by circulating their cultural contribu-
tions through the medium of the Eng-
lish language and thus gain contact
with the majority rather than stub-
bornly attempt to prolong its original
form and thus reach only an ever dim-
inishing minority? In Canada, certain-
ly the future will provide fewer and
fewer personalities with a thorough
enough mastery of the Icelandic lang-
uage to truly benefit from any major
editions here in Icelandic. The subject
matter of such editions is even now
within the reach of only a select few
tvho have been fortunate enough to
retain a complete understanding of
their original tongue. These editions
no doubt have much to offer all Ice-
landic Canadians and the greater part
of their contents, if translated, could
become available to them in their
chosen or what is now their native
tongue. This could also be the vital
link in their association with the re-
markable heritage that those of Ice-
landic descent wish to preserve. So
also, should we not be anxious to share
Icelandic literature, or, for that mat-
ter any accomplishments, with our
fellow countrymen? Certainly it should
not remain bottled up within the con-
fines of the Icelandic language but
rather should flow freely as a foun-
tain of inspiration for all mankind.
No worthy literature has been sub-
jected to a wider field of translations
than the Holy Bible. The translations
have not lessened the power of the
Word of God. On the contrary they
have spread the high ideals of Chris-
tian living to the four corners of the
earth. The great Icelandic heritage
can likewise be shared throughout the
world through the medium of trans-
lations.
A. Isfeld
Withdrawals From the Mag azine Staff
In the case of a staff of twelve serv-
ing on a voluntary basis on the Mag-
azine Committee there are bound to
be changes in personnel from time
to time. The Icelandic Canadian
regrets two withdrawals at this time.
Dr. Askell Love
It is with feelings of both pleasure
and regret that we announce the de-
parture from Winnipeg of Dr. Askell
Love and his consequent enforced
withrawal from the Editorial Board.
Dr. Askell Love joined the Editor-
ial Board in May 1952 and during the
last four years has been a valuable con-
tributor to discussions on the policy
of the magazine and the purpose it
seeks to serve. Learned and well com-
posed articles have appeared in the
magazine from his pen which have
given some indication of the thorough
knowledge Dr. Love has of the branch
of Botany in which he has specialized.
This little diversion from his duties
at the University of Manitoba has
not prevented him from giving of his
time to research work and writing
articles in scientific journals. Neither
the writer nor most of the readers of
this magazine would glean much from
scientific treatises under the following
headings: Cytotaxinomical Evaluation
of Corresponding Taxa, by Askell
Love, published at The Hague in 1954;
Fruiting Bryoxiphium Madeirense, by
Askell Love and Doris Love, reprinted
from The Bryologist, 1955, etc. But the
writer can say this which all will under-
stand and ibe glad to hear: the late
Dr. A. FI. S. Gillson told him that
when applications were being received