The Washington times., 1935-12-23
NOW
Washington
To IceLGnder
LIKES AMERICA
BY HELEN EssARY

some ana uengnClul CnOugn lie
may be during his present visit
to Washington, is-in a way
somewhat disappointing.
Any gentleman, particularly an
important gentleman, arriving
from Iceland-in the North Pole
neighborhood-four days before
Christmas, should look like Santa
Claus!
He should wear a red jacket,
bordered in white fur, red knick-
ers, high black boots and red
peaked cap.
While Mr.. AsgeirsSon lunches
with the Danish Minister and
Madame WadSted, the jingle of
sleigh bells and the neighing of
the reindeer, "Prancer, Dancer
and Vixen" should echo from
the roof of the legation.
Mr.. ASgeirSSon said in excellent
English after the legation luncheon
that he knew he was diSappoint-
ment. He was sorry he hadn't
brought at least some false
whiSkers. They might have helped
him keep warm in this very cold
Washington.
But surely to an Icelander,
Washington is not cold" 1 said.
"On the map we look very
bleak" replied the visitor from
the Far North. But our climate
is temperate. The Gulf Stream
washes our shores. Here in Wash
ington it has been so cold 1 have
enjoyed staying indoors"
It is always rude to admit an
ignorance of the Homeland of a
stranger. Curiosity overcame good
manners, however, and I asked to
be told about Iceland.
Iceland, Mr.. ASgeirSson said, is
not large or busting, but it is
very peaceful. Its 100000 people,
living along the coast, are con-
tented with fishing and farming.
Iceland, the country, is so very
beautiful. So full of color. There
is always the sea near the towns.
Inland are blue oun tainS,
glaciers and red and purple vol
canoes. The air is clear. The eye
can see for great distances.
But your country, your United
States" said Mr.. ASgeirSson, lis
great and thrilling. I have been
lecturing in the South and North
west. I have seen cities, no older
than I am, and I am not so very
old, rich in culture and oppor-
tunity. Fine schools, art galleries
and museums are open to all your
people. You have excellent maya
zines, books, newspapers and con-
certS. Everywhere in America 1
see both eagerneSS and chance for
the best of life You should never
feel apologize here for any lack
of culture. I like your country
greatly"
Another Icelander, Lief Ericsson.
made a famous trip to America
in about the year 1000 He also
liked our country greatly. Lief's
name is on page one Of the
American history books. His
voyage with congenial crew of
sea rovers began in Iceland.
crossed the Atlantic and con-
tinued down the American coast
to Rhode Island. There, almost
500 years before Columbus men
toned the matter of "A Passage
to India" to Queen Isabella, Eric
son settled the colony of Vinland.
To return to Mr.. Asgeirsson--
he was prime minister of Iceland
when his country'S parliament
was celebrating its one thou
sandth birthday.
Iceland's parliament is the old
est in the world.
Although subject nominally to
the King of Denmark, Iceland
governs itself without interfer-
ence.
Mr.. Asgeirsson is one of the
most intelligent and likeable for
eignerS who has visited Wash
ington in years. He has the
blessed quality of repose, so rare
in this country where we seem
often to be pursued by the Furles
At the luncheon of the Minister
of Denmark who is likewise min
lister from Iceland, another we'll
known Icelander, Vilhjalmur
StefanSson, the Arctic explorer,
was also a guest. He discussed
with DR.. Gilbert Grosvenor, pres
ident of the National Geographic
Society, the Arctic expeditions OF
Greeley and Admiral Peary. Mr..
Stefansson on one of his Arctic
explorations with two companions
made a 600-mile sled journey in
Alaska over broken and moving
ice.
He discovered new Arctic lands,
rivers and islands which were
added to the map of Canada and
he lived a year with Eskimos who
had never before seen white
man. DR.. Stefansson said many
Eskimos had certain European
like characteristics.
Now to another famous Nordic.
Senator Schall, who was fatally
injured in an automobile accident,
not only spoke Norwegian fluently,
but to the delight of his older
constituents, who are first genera
ton Americans, he was able to
speak the dialects of seven prov
inces in Norway.
At the hospital where Senator
Gchall StaMad dllrinn his last ill: