Here is the top of what is said to be the original King Arthur's Table. It is preserved in the cathedral at Winchester, England. The figure is that of Arthur, and the names are those of the original Knights. It was suggested that the badge be a reproduction of this, but if the entire table-top be employed designs will be so small they cannot be read. Besides, we Americans hardly want to wear badges bearing a figure of royalty, do we? Why not use the rose in the centre—the rose is historic—and vary the inscription around it?
In making designs, be careful to consider the time and nation. One member sends us a design in which appears the fleur-de-lis, which is French, not English. The sword, ancient pattern, the red and white rose, the cross, other than the Latin—all these may be used. Of course we will keep the "K. L. O. R. T." If need be, the words could be spelled out: "Knights: Ladies: Order: Round: Table." Let us have your designs at once. Any who wish may submit them. The two or three best will be published, if made so we can reproduce them. Possibly an artist can select the best features of several and combine them. So send along your ideas.
How to Plan a Gala Evening.
For July or August there are few entertainments more novel and delightful than out-of-door ones. Why not have some in aid of the School Fund? Or they might be partly in aid of the Fund and partly for the benefit of a Chapter. The way to begin is to get together from six to a dozen friends, and then write to us for particulars.
Here is briefly what we shall recommend, but be sure to write, because we can give you more explicit directions than we have space for here. We shall give you titles of some very funny farces and pantomimes, similar to those that college students give as burlesques, and which any company of persons of any age can learn and render with very little trouble and with certain success. We shall also tell you how to build a rustic stage out of doors, to arrange hemlocks or spruces for "scenery," etc. A good way is to charge a fee of twenty-five cents, and give, after the stage entertainment is over, a plate of ice-cream free. You will have plenty of fun—and help a good cause, and perhaps yourselves. Write us, sure.
A Natural History Bit.
There are a great many violets about here, and the ones we have the most of are the swamp violets and the little ones that grow in the fields. The swamp violets are a very light purple with darker lines on the lower petal. There are from two to twenty violets on one plant. They grow in the woods and in wet places. The white violets also grow in the woods. They are very much smaller, and are entirely white except the lower petal, which has purple lines. They are very sweet. I have never seen more than seven or eight violets on one plant.
There are three other kinds that I know of that grow in the woods. One is the yellow violet. It grows in dry places, and there is usually more than one violet on a stem. The leaves also grow on the stem, instead of starting from the roots, as most others do. The flower is a bright yellow, with purple lines on the lower petal. There is the crow's-foot violet, which grows in dry places and is a deep purple; also a little purple violet whose name I do not know. It grows much like the yellow violet, only it is much smaller, and often grows on rocks where there is very little earth.