178 HERE JON STEFANSSON^ PH.D., ON ICELAND: 



1262-64 Iceland was united to Norway, and in 1380 with 

 Norway to Denmark. The Danish rule ruined the island, 

 economically, but siuce the granting of self-government and 

 the re-estabhshment of the old Parliament, in 1874, at 

 Reykjavik great progress has been made. The revenue of 

 Iceland is now six times as large as 28 years ago, and it is 

 probably the only country with no debt, but wdth 1,000,000 

 crowns of savings in its exchequer. Yet more has been ex- 

 pended on the ways and roads of the island since 1874 than 

 in all the centuries down to that date. The Icelanders are 

 keen politicians. Women have been in possession of the 

 municipal vote earlier in Iceland than in any other country, 

 and they do not change their names when they marry. The 

 Parliament (althing) is composed of an Upper House of 

 12 members and a Lower House of 24. A minister for 

 Iceland is to reside at Reykjavik in place of the Governor, 

 who at present is the highest official in the island, and form 

 the link between the Crown at Copenhagen and Parliament 

 at Reykjavik. 



The Icelanders are a religious and God-fearing people, but 

 very averse to parsons' rule. It is a habit to criticize the 

 sermon when you shake liauds with the clergyman after the 

 service. There is little crime. It is lawful for a farmer to 

 steal his neighbour's hay when his cattle refuse to eat his 

 own hay, and for this stolen food the cattle are said invariably 

 to find an excellent appetite. 



Discussion. 



The Chairman. — Before we go further, I am sure I may thank 

 the author, in all your names, for the wonderfully interesting 

 and detailed paper that he has read to us. I do not know what 

 Dr. Stefansson may call the island in his own country ; but he 

 seems ratlier to disapprove of the name " Iceland." What do 

 you call it, Dr. Stefansson ? 



Dr. Stefansson. — The same. 



The Chairman. — It is a miiltum in parr o both from a geological 

 and I think we may say a literal point of view. 



\_The lantern slides were then exhibited on the screen.^ 



