The Waikato Times. With which is incorporated The Waikato Argus TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 1927. BRITAIN AND AMERICA.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17133, 21 June 1927, Page 6

The Waikato Times. With which is incorporated The Waikato Argus TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 1927. BRITAIN AND AMERICA.

Perhaps no story of history so stirs Ihe imagination as does that of King Arthur and his valiant Knights of the Round Table. Everyone who has read the Idylls of the King and the short poems of William Morris dealing with Arthur and Guinevere is naturally anxious -to trace the source of the countless English and French romances concerning King Arthur and his Court, and to discover If he really lived or was merely a creation of the imagination in the legendary annals of the past. But any doubt as to the authenticity of the story has not been allowed to be an obstacle to the founding of a latter-day organisation in America and Canada, under the designation of the Knights of the Round Table. Like the making of books, the forming of societies in the United States appears to have no end. Their universities show the tendency, and the many civic and social clubs in their cities reveal this remarkable phase of their national life. As Britishers we are inclined to smile at their efforts to uplift. This modern organisation, however, has placed before its members no unworthy ideal, and if they live true to their professions the world will be better. It aims at embracing ail lands in an international fellowship with the motto, “He who seeks to serve a brother best, serves himself,” taking as a guide for its endeavours the Ideal of the King and his goodly company of Knights from whom its name is derived. But the most interesting suggestion made so far is the proposal to raise funds to excavate the old fortress at Cacrleon in Monmouthshire, the old fortress where Arthur and his Knlghls are supposed to have met centuries ago. The claim of Gaerleon to notice is founded on its Roman and British associations, but there is more than mere sentiment involved in the proposal that Americans shall help to bring to light old Arthurian memories. Indeed, Dr. Wheeler, director of the National University of Wales, who is the president of the Gaerleon Excavation Committee, has stated that he believes such a determination would give “a dramatic lead to public opinion in stirring up the British public to an adequate appreciation of this great centre of history and legend.” King Arthur has always been of intriguing interest to students of literature, and if all the conclusions drawn from legends, histories and place-names be correct, lie may be considered a real war-lea-der of the Britons against the invaders of their land. But for the work of Sir Thomas Malory, who wrote in the fifteenth century, the old Arthurian romances would have been known only to the learned few. lie made them common coin, and they have since been the inspiration of many poets, but none can “recapture the first fine

careless rapture” to which Tennyson comes nearest in the best of bis Idylls of the King. The American organisation will tend to revive interest in Britain’s storied past, but behind that is something of much greater moment. The misunderstandings between nations that 100 often have culminated in war arc largely due La lack ol under-

standing among the rank and file, and while those in authority decide the great issues for the nations, in the last analysys the people must give their support. Whatever therefore makes for greater friendliness among the individuals of different peoples helps in no small measure to remove the possibilities of wars. In this way the successful association of British and Americans to restore a fortress of long ago will have an effect far beyond that which appears on the surface. To be imbued with the romantic atmosphere' of the place, Tennyson is said to have lived at Gaerleon when he wrote the Idylls of the King. It may be that this proposed cooperation for the excavation of the oldtime fortress may similarly promote a deeper feeling of charity between the two nations than ever before. Whether we agree with the ideals of the American organisation or not, there can bo but one view of the friendliness that has prompted it to promise assistance in reading one of the earliest pages of our national history. It may he but a straw in the wind, but it shows the direction of a movement towards a finer and nobler Anglo-American friendship.