The Icelandic Canadian - 01.03.1974, Blaðsíða 19

THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
17
From “RASMUS B. ANDERSON, — an Autobiography”
THE ICELANDERS
In 1856, Lord Dufferin, who after-
wards became governor-general of
Canada and viceroy to India and who
occupied nearly all of the most im-
portant British ambassadorships, in-
cluding St. Petersburg, Constanti-
nople, Rome and Paris, while yet a
young man, made a voyage in his
yacht to Iceland and Jan Mayen. In
Iceland he was most royally entertain-
ed. On his return he followed the coast
of Norway, stopping at various points.
This journey led him to make a fairly
thorough study of Iceland and its inter-
esting history, and of this visit he wrote
one of the most charming books of
travel ever produced.
In this work he takes occasion to tell
of the discovery and settlement of Ice-
land and of the causes that led to that
tremendous emigration from Norway.
He also touches briefly on the dis-
covery and settlement of Greenland,
and then gives an outline of the voy-
ages to Vinland. The title of his book
is, “Letters from High Latitudes”. It
overflows with good will to Iceland
and to the Icelanders.
This book has been printed in many
editions on both sides of the Atlantic.
While Lord Dufferin was governor-
general of Canada an American pub-
lisher asked him for permission to re-
print this very popular book. He
graciously granted this permission, but
said that he would like to give the
book a revision. This was in the 70s.
He wrote to me and said that he had
read my “America Not Discovered by
Columbus” and “Norse Mythology”
and asked whether I would be willing
to revise for him his “Letters from
High Latitudes.” A new edition was
about to be published and he was too
busy a man to undertake the revision
himself. He knew that his book con-
tained mis-spelled names, some wrong
dates and other minor errors. I answer-
ed him that I would be delighted to
render him this service. I said I would
correct and eliminate such faults as it
was possible for me to find, adding
that I did not regard myself as any
authority. He sent me a copy of his
book. I gave it as thorough a revision
as I was able and returned it to him.
For the pains I had taken he sent me
his hearty thanks and a draft for $S00.
This was my first big money for liter-
ary work and it made me feel rich.
From that time on my relations with
Lord Dufferin were most cordial. He
repeatedly invited me to visit him and
be his guest at the government man-
sion in Ottawa. But as I have more
than once stated my life was at that
time exceedingly strenuous and my
means very limited. I continued to
postpone this visit until it became
too late. Lord Dufferin left Canada
■or higher posts of honor in the old
world. Still he now and then found
time to write me a short letter. He
was particularly pleased when he
found that I too had been called into
the diplomatic service. He then ad-