The Result of the Competition

o:itt have been an exceptionally large number of entries the Ten Most Popular Characters in Fiction Competition, the result is of great interest, when we consider how resentative the Spectator public is. The total number of lions characters which were considered eligible for in this list amounted to 368 ; 169 of which, however, ived only one -vote. The ten most popular characters, the order of their popularity as elected by the plebiscite

re:- 1. Mr. Pickwick. 6. Mice.

2. Robinson CrusOe. 7. Becky Sharp.

3. Don Quixote. 8. Sam Weller.

4. Sherlock Holmes. 9. D'Artagnan.

5. Peter Pan. 10. Colonel Newcome.

here was no entry containing the above ten names ; twelve competitors voted for eight of the winning meters. The prize of £5 is awarded to Mr. James N. rdner of 'Heywood, . Skelinorlie, Ayrshire, whose list roximated most nearly to the order above. .

e winning list was as follows :- 1. Mr. Pickwick. 6. Peter Pan. - 2. Robinson Crusoe. 7, Sherlock Holmes.

3. Don Quixote. 8. Alice.

4. Lorna Doonc. 9. Aladdin.

5. Sam Weller. 10. Becky Sharp.

t may also interest our readers to see the list; printed ow, of- the ten characters which came next in order of

ularity :- II. Falstaff. 16. David Copperfield.

12. Cinderella. 17. Tess.

13. Hamlet. . 18. Elizabeth Bennett.

14. Jane 'Eyre:- 19. Jeannie Deans. -

15. Mr. Micawber. 20. Kim. • If the ten characters selected by popular vote, seven date the nineteenth century, one from the eighteenth, one m the seventeenth and one from the fifteenth. Twentieth- tury characters were not generally considered worthy of ace on the list. Soames Forsyte, Raffles, Dr. bolittle, .stopher Robin and Tesia (from The Constant Nymph) h had a following. Neither the " cat that walked" nor ix were folgotten. It would be interesting to know to how t an extent Mr. Douglas Fairbanks was responsible the popularity of D'Aitagnan.

a competition last year for the Seven Greatest Victorians, kens was awarded.the second place, and so it is not surprising

that our readers should head the list with Mr. Pickwrck. If this competition is repented in ten years time, will Mr. Pickwick - again be crowned ? Dickens and 'I'hackeray -share the distinction of having two of their characters on the list.

All the characters selected arc taken from novels and this may account for the fact that Shakespeare's characters.

must be classed as " also ran." .

Some celebrities, both living and dead; xmuld perhaps be surprised to find themselves amongst the " ten most popular characters in fiction." Mr. Chaplin and our late contributor; the ex-Kaiser William II share this honour, also King Arthur,. Richard Coeur de Lion, Napoleon, Bonnie Prince Charlk., Charles I, Mary Queen of Scots and Queen-Elizabeth.

Buddha Was also among those voted- for- as one of the most popular characters in fiction !