The Icelandic connection - 01.03.2018, Síða 34

32
ICELANDIC CONNECTION
Vol. 70 #1
to Stephansson is like comparing kangaroos
to pigeons - there is little ground for
comparison, and therefore little ground for
preference. Tragic and humorous elements
intertwine in experience, and these strands
of literature ought not to be spread apart,
studied and rated.
Tammy Einarson called K.N. Julius
the greatest poet from North Dakota. Sixty
years after his death, his drinking songs
are still sung in Iceland, which supports
the merit of such praise. To many, laughter
may seem_ a greater gift than seriousness
of purpose.
K.N. Julius honoured
by Christine Hall, Mountain North Dakota
Reprinted with permission from Logberg-Heimskringla, 24 September 1999
Christine Hall (nee Geir) was the
youngest of the Geir family with whom K
N. Julius livedfor many years in Mountain,
ND. The following is her address delivered at
the rededication ceremony of the K. N. Julius
monument at Mountain ND. on Monday
August 2.
resident Grimsson, dear friends who
are gathered here to honour the
memory of K.N. Julius.
I am the oldest of the Geir family
where K. N. had his home for forty years.
I've been asked to say a few words about
the K. N. we knew and loved. It is in
looking back that we have collie to realize
how privileged we were that through
all our growing up years we had him m
our midst, and how much our lives were
enriched. We knew he was a well-known
poet, but little did we dream he would one
day be deemed a literary giant. To us he
was just K. N. He had his special place at
the dining table, his special rocking chair
in the front room and upstairs he had the
south room.
An endearing trait of his was his
love for children. In thinking about this
I've come to realize that this special
love he lavished on two generations of
Geir children. When he first came here
my grandmother was a widow with four
children. Ours was a family of eleven.
There are no words to tell of his loving
kindness, his patience and gentleness. It
was so usual that the toddler in the family
was perched on his knee. The little verses
he wrote about us we cherish.
I have many memories of people who
came to our home to visit him. Those he
enjoyed very much.
Throughout his life he gave so much
of himself. The work he did was hard
work. He helped with chores, he worked
in the harvest: field, he built chimneys, he
dug the graves, I've wondered how many,
and some in the dead of winter. And
when there was work to be done, he was
always there. Not only with hard work did
he give of himself but also with his loving
kindness and his warm friendship.