The Icelandic Canadian - 01.03.2003, Blaðsíða 32

168
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
Vol. 57 #4
and dismal sanitary conditions—phenome-
na which have tended to be associated with
the Icelanders. Now the health situation is
improving. The land up north seems to be
barren, but only a small part of it has been
explored. Many are discontent; they think
that the Government is failing to fulfil its
promises about high salaries and good
housing, but these accusations are mostly
due to foolishness and avarice since the
Government tries to do its best to make
their (Icelanders) lives tolerable.
The Icelanders complain about not
having a minister, and have a good reason
to. It is absolutely awful that children’s
education is totally neglected. Recently I
got a letter from Sigtryggur Jonasson con-
cerning this matter. I hereby send it to you
and ask you to give us some indication as to
whether or not you would be willing to
take this job. I know that this job will be
more difficult than the average one in
Iceland but, on the other hand, the need is
so acute that it is hard to have to turn the
job down. However, I advise you not to
rush into this, at least not until we can be
sure that Icelanders settle down here and
form a community.
Concerning an “Icelandic Association”
I shall do my best, but it is difficult for me
to discuss the matter with the Icelanders
because most of them live far away from
me - out in the country. I am going to
appoint several local agents to assist me in
promoting the matter. However, I am not
very optimistic about this association
except maybe if we were to divide it into
two bodies, each with its own board of
directors, one of which would be located
where the majority of Icelanders live.
While the board of directors is located in
the States, Icelanders in Canada can not
attend meetings and therefore it is difficult
for us to join. When I have brought this
matter up to the Icelanders, I shall write to
you and tell you about the results.
Anyway I hope to be able to provide the
list of names.
I and my wife are well. I have a neat
(clean) and rather easy job in a shoe repair
shop. It doesn’t pay much, but I can man-
age, and I like it much better than in
Milwaukee.
Pardon my rush in writing this letter
which I send to you with the best wishes
for you and your wife.
Yours,
Fridjon Fridriksson
Letter 2 - To Jon Bjarnason
Toronto, Dec. 29, 1874
Dear Friend:
Tonight I was honoured by a visit
from Rev. Smithett of Lindsey and another
minister from Kinmount. They came to
find out what I had heard from you con-
cerning the Icelandic ministry in
Kinmount. Mr Smithett said that he had
sent you information about what you can
expect here - approximately a week ago -
but he said that he had not received an
answer yet. If you find it necessary to hire
a school teacher to assist you, Mr Smithett
thinks that that is not going to be problem.
Please answer Mr Smithett as soon as pos-
sible, but do not rush into turning down
any other job offer until you have an
explicit promise of a permanent position
and acceptable salaries here. If you find the
job offer here acceptable I do hope that you
will accept the job because it is urgent that
this position be filled.
After the New Year I am going to send
you the list of names of those Icelanders
who are living here in Canada.
I thank you for the sermon which I
received last night.
Yours,
Fridjon Fridriksson
Letter 3 - To Jon Bjarnason
Toronto, Jan. 8, 1875
Dear Friend, Happy New Year:
The widow's name - about whom you
asked me - is Sigrudur Gisladottir. She
lived in Akureyri last year and she came
from there with her three children:
Thorsteinn Benediktsson, Benedikt
Benediktsson and Ingibjorg
Benediktsdottir. They are all grown up,
intelligent and promising.
Thorsteinn is a carpenter by profes-