20 FEBRUARY 1953, Page 16

SPECTATOR COMPETITION No. is8

Set by Allan M. Laing

One of Samuel Butler's best-known notes is : " It was very good of God to let Carlyle and Mrs. Carlyle marry one another and so make only.two people miserable instead of four, besides being very amusing." Competitors are asked, for the usual prizes, to submit equally pungent " notes " (in English) on any other famous married couple : e.g.,- the Pepyses, the Steeles, the Brownings, the Webbs, the Shaws, etc., etc. Competitors' common sense will, on this occasion, impose its own reasonable word-limit.

Entries must be addressed to the Spectator, 99 Gower Street, London, W.C.1, in envelopes marked "Competition," and must- be received not later than March 4th. Results will be published in the Spectator of March 13th.