The Wilmington morning star., 1944-06-25
Iceland Again A Republic,
Nation OfPeace And Toll

"Konungsrikid Island,' reads the
legend over the brightly emblaz-
oned coat of arms on the front OF
900 Sixteenth Street, N. w., in
Washington. Passersby, unfam-
iliar with an Icelander's spelling
of his homeland name, are f-e-
quently puzzled by this island
surrounded by busy hotels.
The legend means THE King
dom of Iceland" On June II, 1914,
Iceland will cease to be a king
dom. From that date 'Lydveldid
Island" meaning 'The Republic
of Iceland" will mark this Ice
landic Legation in Washington, and
others in London, Moscow, Stock
holm and Copenhagen.
When the worlds oldest Parli-
ament, sitting in the capital at
Reykjavik, discards the old and
adopts the new Constitution of Ice
land it creates the newest, small
est in population, of the worlds
free democracies. A National Geo.
graphic Society bulletin summar-
ICES the geography and history of
the June II change-over on the
Yankee-defended island.
Iceland, with 10000 square miles
of area, is about as large as Ohio.
Its $4,000 inhabitants match one
tenth the population of metropoli-
tan Cleveland. Touching the Arc
tic Circle in the far north Allan
tic, it is known as the land of
frost and fire because of its vast
snowfields and glaciers mixed with
a hundred volcanoes, countless
craters, lava streams and hot
springs, or geysers. Only two-fifths
of the island is habitable.
Yielding livelihood only to
toilers, Iceland is a nation of hardy
fishermen and farmers. Refrigera-
tor ships have in recent years ex-
banded the world market for Ice.
lands herring and cod. Farmers
herd sheep, raise hay and potatoes
on volcanic soil, and have green
houses heated by water from hot
springs.
Oce-third of Iceland's people
live in modern Reykjavik on the
southwestern coast, where Ameri-
cas- Gulf Stream helps to keep
midwinter almost as mild as it is
in New York. Water at ITO de-
gees, piped in volume from hot
springs ten miles away, will soon
heat all Reykjavik, making orna-
ments of chimneys.
The city is the center of lee
lands ancient and renowned cul-
ture. The University, broadcasting
station, six daily newspapers and
scores of book and magazine pub
fishers carry to all Icelanders the
language almost unchanged in
thousand years. Three-fourths OF
the people speek two languages.
Music, art and drama are encour-
aged and supported by the State.
Fines for liquor law infractions
boost the Cultural Fund.
No trees taller than a man, no
army, no navy, no railroads, no
night in mid-June for their In.
dependence Day fireworks)-these
lacks make Iceland seem strange
to American boys stationed there
to watch Atlantic sea and air traf-
fic and Eucope's weather in the
making. But Iceland's ideals =
peace, independence, education
and work for all-are Americas
ideals.
The same search for freedom
which, stimulated later COLOMBIA
ton in North America prompted
Norwegians to flee royal oppres-
sion in their homeland and settle
on Iceland's west coast 1,07O years
ago, in 874 A. D. Today's inhabit-
nts are descended from those Vik-
ings and from Irish, Danish, Scotch
and English, some of whom reach
ed Iceland's shores even EARLIER.
They were free. In $50 they set
up their republic and its govern
ing Althing, the Parliament. In the
year 1000, while an Icelander,
Left Ericsson, was discovering
the Parliament adopted
Christianity as state matter, and
all citizens were baptized. T.
After three centuries Of freedom IT