Transcriber’s Note Page 23—the word ‘redpoles’ have been left as originally spelt. Page 62—presbyterian changed to Presbyterian. The Footnotes have been changed to a numeric order and placed at the end of paragraphs they relate to. The book cover is labelled - “Labrador and its people, Grenfell”, whereas the book is officially entitled, “Vikings of to-day, or life and medical work among the fishermen of Labrador.” VIKINGS OF TO-DAY [Illustration: S.S. PRINCESS MAY.] VIKINGS OF TO-DAY OR LIFE AND MEDICAL WORK AMONG THE FISHERMEN OF LABRADOR BY WILFRED T. GRENFELL, M.R.C.S.E., L.R.C.P. _Holder of the Board of Trade Certificate of Competency as Master Mariner_ ILLUSTRATED FROM ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPHS [Illustration] FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY NEW YORK CHICAGO TORONTO _Publishers of Evangelical Literature_ Dedicated BY KIND PERMISSION TO HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUCHESS OF YORK, _whose practical and gracious interest in the welfare of these far-off “Toilers of the Deep” has served in no small way to assist this enterprise, and to fire with loyal affections the hearts of England’s sons across the sea_. PREFACE BY FREDERICK TREVES, F.R.C.S., _Surgeon to the London Hospital. Examiner in Surgery at the University of Cambridge. Chairman of the Hospital Committee of the Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen._ At the present time—near to the close of the nineteenth century—we are being constantly reminded, with somewhat unpleasant persistence, that the human race is degenerating and that the changes of decay are most marked among the most civilised people. It is among the young men especially that these unwelcome signs of the times are assumed to be the more noticeable. It is claimed that the splendid physique and the heroic courage of the British race are both deteriorating, and that those who seek for the time of noble deeds and sturdy hearts must turn back to the days of Elizabeth—to the stirring times of Drake and Raleigh. There is said to be no longer a field for that pluck and daring, or for that determination and persistency, which at one period made the name of the British famous throughout the world. It would be idle, in this place, to inquire into the substance of these moanings and regrets, and it would be reasonable perhaps to allow that there may be some real or apparent element of truth in these lamentations over the man of the present. Be this as it may, it will be agreeable to those who are most concerned in these forebodings to turn to the record contained in this volume, while those who view with some disgust the fashionable youth of the day, with his many effeminacies and affectations, will find in the pages which follow some wholesome relief to their distaste.