CHRISTMAS COMPETITIONS

The Editor offers two prizes of £5 each :- 1. For a new Talc for Children in not more than six hundred words of prose or sixty lines of verse : 2. For a new " Biography for Beginners," after the estab- lished model.

The original and classical example.; of " Biography for Beginners " are by Mr. Edmund Clerihew Bentley, and are published with illustrations by Mr. G. K. Chesterton in a volume of that title (T. Werner Laurie, Os. net). The form combines the virtues of order and liberty, being very rigorous in rhyme sequence and number of lines, and very free in rhythm and length of lines. For those of our readers who have for- gotten-'the genre we will quote a couple of examples from Mr. Bentley's work.

DAVID RICARDO.

The intrepid Ricardo With characteristic bravado, Alluded openly to rent Wherever he went.

Mother example—with rather less biography in it—is the

following :-- JAN VAN Evcv.

The younger Van Eyck Was christened Jan, and not Mike. The thought of this curious mistake Often kept him awake.

The " Tales for Children " may be of any kind—fairy tales, fables, or ordinary narratives ; and they may be designed for children of any age from infancy to fourteen or fifteen years.

We are leaving the competitions open well into the New Year, and hope that they will add to the joy and interest of the holiday season. Entries may be sent in at any time before the closing date.

RULES FOR COMPETITORS.

1. All entries must be received on or before Friday, Jan. 22nd.

2: - COmpetitors'may send in as many entries as they wish, but each entry must be accompanied by one of the coupons to be found on page 1200" of this issue.

3. The name and address (or the pseudonym) of every com- petitor must be written clearly at the foot of his manuscript.

4. The Editor cannot return any manuscript submitted for the competition, nor can he enter into correspondence with competitors.

5. The Editor reserves the right of printing any manuscript submitted.

6. Envelopes must be addressed : Competition, the Spectator, 13 York Street, Covent Garden, London, W.C. 2.