Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-25
THE WOMEN OF ICELAND.
THEY WORK LIKE MEN AND
WANT SUFFRAGE.
Girls Always Busy-Not Much So
ciety, But Great Deal
Of Hospitality.
From the Queen.


Each family supplies its own wants In
food and raiment. The people live prin-
cipally by sheep rearing and fishing. and
the women work as hard as the men for
a livelihood. They also take a large
share in the agricultural work that is
done on the island. They ride about the
country disposing of the things they
make. and they may be seen loading up
the cargo boats. During the long winter
evenings they spin, knit stockings, mittens
and shirts, embroider bed covers and sad
die cloths and weave carpets. They are
also experts in the use of vegetable dyes.
Their outdoor work is very hard, for
they have to fetch water for the cattle
from long distances and to help the men
mend their fishing implements, besides
the bearing and rearing of children and
the household work. In spite of all, how
ever, the average duration of woman
life is considerably longer than a mans.
There is no society in Iceland as we
practical hospitality. The women are
proud of their long pedigrees and the
broad acres which have been in their
families for centuries. No one Is rich,
yet no one is very poor. They are digni-
fed, simple and polite and are ell ex-
a man or woman who cannot read or
write. The general culture has been Of a
very high order for centuries, and many
learned societies exist in the country.
The girls receive the same education as
their brothers. There are also middle
grade and grammar schools. where they
study, and they are allowed to qualify
and practice as doctors. There are only
about thirty schools in the island, and
those who cannot attend them receive in
hn frNo o10 <,v~
from wandering teachers.
Fond Of Reading.
The love of literature and Of learning
for its own sake is general among the
people. They all know the sagas, and
their eyes glow with pride as they re-
peat the stories OF the heroic deeds Of
their ancestors in the former glorious
days of their 'country's history, while
European standard works have been
translated into Icelandic and are read
aloud and enjoyed at many a cottage
fireside. Some Of the farmers are at the
same time learned men and even schol-
ars. In some respects the Icelandic wom-
en- occupy a better position than their
sisters In England and in other Euro
pean lands. In 1850 a law was passed
giving them equal rights of Inheritance
with their brothers, but it was not. until
7
of self-government was given to the
country, that they began to take an act.
i've part In public affairs. and since then
the women's movement in Iceland has
progressed steadily Within the last
three years it has gone forward by leaps
and bounds. and though We hear little
about 1t outside, 1t is one Of the most
vigorous In Europe.
In 1881 unmarried women and widows
over twenty-five who were hOuseholders
mr. ffy,sw wnrA, rrS~y ~ 81
for parish and town councils. and FOUR
teen years later the Icelandic women g
alliance was founded, its main object be-
ing to improve the position of the women
in the country. Its members realised at
once that the first step must be toward
obtaining the political enfranchisement
Of women, and that no permanent good
could be done without 1t. They there
fore sent up a petition to the althing
bearing over 1900 signatures. but MOTH
Suffrage Association was founded at
Reykjaxik January u, 1907. Its objects
are to obtain political and civil rights
for women on the same terms as for men
and to interest women in the cause. Its
first undertaking was to collect sigma
lures to a petition for the full municipal
and parliamentary franchise. and so
eagerly was this taken up that. though
the country numbers only about $1,000 in
habitants. over 1900 names we're obtain.
ed in four months.
Bill to Enfranchise Women.
In the summer OF 1907 Skull Thorod-
den. a member Of the althing, and editor
of Bjodriljinn. an important political pa
per- brought forward bill to enfranchise
women. It was not discussed, but was
referred to a committee, and another bill
was passed granting all married women
in Reykjavik and Halnaifjordur who pay
taxes, however small, the right to the
municipal franchise and to sit in the
councils. The bill became a law Janu-
airy /. 1908. This was famous victory,
in conjunction with six other womens
societies. at once began to prepare for
the next town council elections at Reyk
javik.
A committee of thirty-one was formed
and four woman candidates were chosen.
The committee did magnificent work.
They personally canvassed every woman
elector, held demonstrations, gave lec-
lures and arranged meetings, which were
largely attended. There were few abb
sentees when the polling day came. with
the result that all the woman candidates
were elected. April 10 another bill was
passed, further extending the suffrage
to all tax-paying men and women over
twenty-five years of age who have lived
q year In an electoral district. This law
came into force January l. 1910. There
now remains but the parliamentary vote
be long delayed. The whole trend of pub
lie opinion is in favor OF 1t. The new
minister. Bjorn Jonsson, editor OF Isa-
ro1d leading national MINER "a