The Icelandic Canadian - 01.06.1982, Qupperneq 45

THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
43
coverings have to be installed. Historic
Sites is attempting to replicate historic pat-
terns on the linoleum by silk-screening. To
our knowledge, no other agency has done
this and it will be a matter of time before it
is known how well this process withstands
visitor traffic.
The Stephan G. Stephansson Homestead
Restoration Committee, which has been a
great help to Historic Sites the past three
years, has co-operated with us in a number
of ways. The gift of money which was
given in 1975 by the Icelandic Farmers’
Union has been held since then in trust by
the Committee. Last spring, it was decided
to use the funds towards the restoration of
the furniture. We have been lucky, for
Historic Sites has most of the original
furnishings which were donated by the
Poet’s daughter, Roas Benediktson. They
were, though, dirty and in some cases
badly damaged. And a number of items
known to be in the house in 1927, the date
to which we are restoring the house, were
missing. Under the guidance of Historic
Sites, the Provincial Museum of Alberta
has restored the furniture to a used but not
badly worn condition and has purchased
those artifacts that were missing.
We have been fortunate, too, in re-
ceiving the co-operation of all Icelanders.
A call for books to copy the Stephansson
library housed at the University of Mani-
toba has resulted in several large donations
from various clubs and smaller donations
from individuals. A koffort, needed for the
kitchen, has been donated by the Farmers’
Union and an Icelandic costume, identical
to Helga’s, has been made by the Icelandic
National League in Reykjavik. Without the
co-operation and enthusiasm of Icelanders
in Canada and at home in Iceland the
complete furnishing of the house would not
have been possible and, therefore, the
quality of our interpretive program would
have suffered.
The Stephansson House Provincial His-
toric site opens to the public 12 June, 1982,
and is open seven days a week from 10:00
a.m. to 6:00 p.m. until the Labour Day
weekend. Interpreters will give a guided
tour through the house and there is no
charge for this. Official opening ceremonies
will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday 7
August. Because of last minute arrange-
ments for the ceremonies, we are asking
that visitors not arrive at the site before
1:30 p.m. But everyone is welcome and it
is hoped that we will have a large crowd for
the opening of one of Alberta’s most
significant historic sites.
FANTASTY
by Holmfridur Danielson
Oh, the wonderful madness of youth!
The loving, the longing, the planning;
The yearning, the crying, the soaring
Of the soul in its prison.
Oh, happiness, heavenly pure, —
To be living and doing and daring!
Waiting and hoping, — yes knowing
That dreams do come true!
Oh, divine and delicious joy
Of dreaming, — of blissfully floating,
On delicate fabrics of fancy
Through fairy dells onward.
Then the fearful and fantastic grip
Of fetters that, binding and bruising,
Hinder our steps, ever holding
The soul from its freedom.
Ah, the torture, the terrible pain
Of curbed fires burning and raging;
Of groping in chaos and searching
Through Infinite Worlds of Mind!