5 APRIL 1930, Page 21

The Competition

Tim Editor of the Spectator offers a prize of £5 5s. for the best County Story. Stories must not exceed two hundred words in length. The Editor reserves the right to publish any story entered for the competition. He cannot return contribu- tions or enter into any correspondence' on the subject. Entries for this competition must be received by the Spectator before Friday, April 25th. . ; The reason for this competition is that the Editor believes that there is a vast number of stories which illustrate, mostly in humorous form, the characteristics of the various English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish Counties.

In order to make the matter quite clear we append a specimen story :- AN EAST ANGLIAN STORY. _

A labourer was paying a visit of condolence to a woman who had recently lost her husband. The widow explained that every night since -the death of her husband- she had-seen hini appear at her bedside. She proceeded : " He keep all on alookin' at me and strokin' my ould face with his little ould- hand. - That fare to Make me feel wonnerful an' queer ! " The visitor exclaimed, " Well, that's a rum 'tm ! Ain't that a masterpiece ? I wormer whatever that do meant " Whereupon the widow replied, " I reckon that's a goin' to rain."