25 JANUARY 1952, Page 14

In one of Pont's drawings for Punch before the war

there stood a statue of an Englishman holding a weird object. All you could read of the inscription on the plaque was " Hail to thee, blithe Praddle, For without thy Praddlescope . . ."

A prize of £5, which may be divided, is offered for the full text of the inscription, up to 150 words in-marmoreal prose or verse.

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 February 6th. Results will be published

in the Spectator of February 15th. •