FAR-AWAY ICELAND

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 March 1930, Page 4

FAR-AWAY ICELAND

THINGS WE DIDN’T KNOW. What do we know of Iceland who only England know? Nothing. . . . Mr Arni Palssen. of Reykjavik, Iceland, travelled all the way from his native land to spend Christmas in Leeds. I asked Mr Palssen (writes a special correspondent of the “Sunday Express”) why he wanted to spend Christmas in Leeds, and he replied, “Why not? I expect it will be very jolly.” “Wo have mild winters and warm summers,” he said. “Here it is cold and wet. In Iceland, when it is cold, it is also dry. Oh! yes it is.” There are three kinemas, one theatre, twelve policemen, twenty motor-cars, a. prison containing three prisoners, and thousands of beautiful

women in Reykjavik. “The women of Iceland are lovely. Oil! yes they are,” said Mr Palssen. “And the children, of Iceland are lovely. too.” But there is also prohibition. Prohibition is not a success in Iceland. “When the prohibition law was passed,” said Mr Palssen, “then we began to drink. Oh! yes we did. Prohibition has increased crime in Iceland. Before prohibition there were two men in our prison. Now there are three. Oh! yes there are.” The only alcoholic drink allowed in the country is Spanish wine. This is because Spain threatened to place a duty on imported fish from Iceland if the Government, al. Reykjavik refused their wine. “I remember* the first bottle of

•- i vut: UIOI- iiulliu Of whisky arriving in Iceland," said Mr Palssen. “It was- in. IS9O. Oh! yes it was!” There are no railways in Iceland and no murderers. Servants are their employers’ equals. They sit at table with the family and eat the national dish, smoked mutton with mustard. “Which country had the first Parliament?” asked Mr Palssen. “England,” I said. “Oh! no it wasn’t,” said Mr Palssen. “It was Iceland. Next, year we celebrate Ihe thousandth anniversary of nn>- Partin mrani Cib t ,i„ »

our Parliament. Oh! yes we do.” “Who first discovered America?” asked Mr Palssen. “it was Leiper Eriksson, a viking of Iceland. He discovered America the year 1900.” “Who wrote the Sagas?” asked Mr Palssen fiercely. “Edgar Wallace,” I suggested. “Ob! do it wasn’t,” said Mr Palssen. “It. was a. poet of Iceland. Ob! yes it was.”