Future King Joins Trade Union

It has recently been reported that Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and heir to the throne of the United Kingdom, has joined a trade union. He has become a member of the trade union for writers, the Society of Authors. Prince Charles, born in 1948, is the author of two books: The Old Man of Lochnagar and A Vision of Britain. The first book is a children's story in which a mysterious old man haunts the mountain of Lochnagar in Scotland. The second book has caused a lot of discussion. The matter is the Prince of Wales is an advocate of more traditional architecture and would like to witness a return to the principles of classical architecture. It's only natural that the architectural establishment has been angered with his views.

Isn't it strange that a millionaire of royal blood chose to join the trade union? Of course, he can expect some legal services as a member of the Society of Authors. His Union could help him to check the contracts with publishers in order to make sure that he is treated fairly. He might use the Society's photocopying equipment a little cheaper. If he fell on hard times, he could get financial help from the trade union.

Mark le Fanu, General Secretary of the Society of Authors, which was founded in 1884 but became an official trade union only in 1978, is happy to welcome the Prince to the membership of the Union. He thinks it's unlikely that the Prince will ever need the Union's legal services. But he is sure that applying for membership the Prince displays a true interest in writing.

The Prince doesn't overestimate his own literary talents. However, the critics say, that unlike many other famous people, the Prince of Wales wrote every word of his books himself.

The Prince of Wales is not the only and the first notable personage — member of the Society. Such writers as Graham Greene and George Bernard Shaw have also been members. A number of people who are better known for their public standing than for their writing have been members too. Among these is Sir Winston Churchill, the former British Prime Minister, who was really talented with his pen. The Society unites 5000 members and many modern politicians are also applying for membership being novelists or thriller writers.

The Piligrims

The Pilgrims were puritans, that is to say, people of England who objected to the form of religious feelings shown to God and religious services used in the Church of England. King James punished all who refused to follow laws and traditions of the Church of England and to give money to support it. These people had to leave their country and went to Holland trying to find religious freedom there. But they were not allowed to own land in Holland and, besides, they did not want their children to grow up and become Dutchspeaking people. They wanted to remain English; so, they soon returned to England with the idea of leaving for America. There, where the lands were still wild, they hoped to build homes for themselves and start a new life based on their own ideals of religious and civil rights. Pilgrim Fathers decided to form a colony that should be governed by just and equal laws, established by common agreement.

With the idea of a new England in America some of the strongest English people crossed the broad Atlantic on the little ship known as "The Mayflower". These people were independent and God-fearing. Some of them were also learned.

The departure of the Pilgrims from England marks a period in history.

Towards the end of November in 1620, this company of about a hundred persons, with Captain Miles Standish as their leader, landed on Cape Cod, not far from where Boston now is.

A short time after landing, they found a suitable place to live and, about Christmas, began to cut trees and build houses. Winter came on, and they were not prepared for difficult times. Many of them got ill and about half of them died. But those who survived did not give up; they were not easily discouraged by the difficulties.

In the spring and summer following that hard winter, their crops grew, and the colony became rich. They made friends with the Indians and were not afraid of them. At last, they felt sure that they had found the land that they had hoped to find so long. In the autumn, they decided to have a great holiday and to unite in giving thanks to God for everything they had received. They also invited the Indians, and all sat down together to celebrate the first Thanksgiving Day in America.

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