The Icelandic Canadian - 01.06.1995, Page 34

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THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
SPRING/SUMMER 1995
what part of Iceland he was from, or when
he had come to America, and no one knew
for sure what his name was. He called him-
self‘John Island,’ pronounced ‘Eye-land.’
Some people said they had heard his name
was John Johnson, from Hornstrand, who
had gone to sea as a young man and had
settled in America five or six years before
Icelanders began to emigrate to Canada.
But this was only speculation. Someone
thought he had seen him in Milwaukee in
the fall of 1872 and others understood him
to be in Chicago in 1875. All agreed that
he was on a continuing journey, that he
never travelled on the railroad, but rather
walked everywhere like the wanderingjew,
that he carried nothing but a small suitcase
which contained samples of several books
for which he was getting subscribers. This
was all the Icelanders in Winnipeg knew
about him. Some called him ‘the wander-
ing Icelander’ behind his back but when
they addressed him, they called him ‘Mr.
Island.’
In Winnipeg he was never seen without
his suitcase. He was very cheerful and cour-
teous in manner, always walked slowly, head
held high, and carefully, especially on the
prairie. Once some boys asked him why he
walked so slowly. “I am in no hurry, my
boys,” he answered smilingly, “because I
own all the earth.” It was thought to be a
strange answer and some guessed that he
must lean towards socialism. Another time
he was asked why he never travelled on the
railroad train. “I am neither rich enough
nor healthy enough to travel any other way
but on foot,” he answered. Some guessed
that he must be too stingy. Still, people
soon noticed that he was quick to lend a
helping hand to those in need. Once he
was asked to give a few cents to a poor
widow. “How much was given by the per-
son who gave the most to this widow?” he
asked. “Five dollars,” was the answer. He
handed out ten dollars. Then men said he
was compassionate.
I was present the only time he came for-
ward at an Icelandic concert in Winnipeg.
He delivered a long and eloquent speech
in excellent Icelandic. That speech was
memorable, for he gave western Iceland-
ers good advice. He divided his speech into
four parts and he ended each part with
these words: “Before everything else, give
your children a good education.” He be-
lieved that the future of Icelanders in this
land was mainly dependent on their chil-
dren receiving a higher education, or learn-
ing farming or some trade as soon as possi-
ble, and that they should stop being com-
mon servants. “If your children are well
educated,” he said, “they will gain honour
and power in this good land, but if they
are not educated, they and their children
will be the servants of servants.” Although
people had always known this, nevertheless
the speech awakened many to serious
thought about the future of their children.
After his speech, this mysterious Icelander
had a long discussion with two of the offic-
ers of the Icelandic League. And later that
night he talked with several others and I
knew he was asking about someone. Finally
I was pointed out to him and he came over
to me and greeted me very pleasantly.
“My name is John Island,” he said, “and
I am told your name is Erlingur.”
“Yes, I am Bjarnhebinsson,” I said.
“People of this land must have a hard
time pronouncing that name,” he said,
smiling agreeably. “I sympathize a little with
other races about that. I use an English
name in North America and England and
a Danish name in Denmark. But in Iceland
I use my Christian name and my father’s
name. I reckon when in Rome, be a Ro-
man.”
“Would you use a Chinese name in
China?” I asked, with a little grin.
“Yes, of course,” he answered. “I would
likely call myself‘Li Hing’ or ‘Sing Li.’ For-
eigners must abide by the laws of the lands
they inhabit and adopt all the good cus-
toms of the native people. And you, the Ice-