A prize of £5 was offered for a Valentine in

the manner of Herrick, George Herbert, Isaac Watts, W. S. Landor or Swinburne.

I wish, competitors, that I had a box of comfits, so that these might be a prize for you all—well, nearly all. A very large number of competitors sent in an even larger number of entries. Two diligent entrants attempted all five of the models proposed, and several sent in two or three shots. One entry came from Switzerland and one from Kenya. The standard was remarkably even. There were very few Valentines which failed to be recognisable as essays in the manner of the chosen poet, and only one or two competitors had so far failed to note the terms of the competition as to submit just Valentines. Several, however, had to be disqualified for poor versification, imperfect rhymes (e.g. "Queen-supreme," "Valentine-time ") or the use of images which just could not have occurred to our quintet.

Herrick claimed more than half the entries, but he is not so easy as he looks. The remaining entries were pretty evenly divided among the other four, with Herbert slightly ahead. He elicited some delicious verses, several in the shape of hearts. The Wattses on the whole failed to achieve the exact note of inspired flatness ; and the Landors, though there were some gallant efforts, found it hard to get the effect of etching with acid on marble. The Swinburnes were fluidly passionate, and some of them pretty purple as well.

There is no doubt about the winner. First prize of £3 goes to E,F. G. Haig for a first-class Herbert—a charming poem in its own right, such as these literary competitions often inspire. His Herrick, Watts, Landor and Swinburne were almost equally good. A second prim of fl to Douglas Hawson- for a nice Herrick acrostic. The like to M. S. for a competent Watts. P. M's. Herbert and Oswald Clark's Swinburne are highly commended. Jane Strachey sent in a Herrick as her first entry for a literary competition : she should not let it be her last. Finally, I must niention Granville Garley, who, aiming at Herrick, hit a very good Blake—at any rate in his first four lines.

When Tyger's ravisht by the Lamb, Or Phenix multiplys, When untam'd Beare leads dancing man, Or Munkies catechise ; Then will my burning Heart avovrdly thine Turn marbled ysicle, 0 Valentine I FIRST PRIZE (E. F. G. HAIG)

Thy silver sparkled in the frosty grass At dawn : and then-did die : To see such beauty into nothing pass I wept awhile. But why ?

For Thou all beauty into Thine own breast, Lord of Love, hast beguiled : With flowers and stars let me, too, share that nest, Sinful, yet Thine own child.

SECOND PRIZES (DOUGLAS HAwsoN)

As the true swan with breast of snow No other mate doth ever know Than her first chosen, so do I, Herrick, with equal constancy, Elect thee first in every line, Anthea, my true Valentine.

(M. S.) The worldly praise thy form and face, Thy outward charms extol, But I prefer that inner grace,

The beauty of thy soul.

A beauty free from earthly feints, Where bright all virtues shine, There in the galaxy of saints, I greet my Valentine.

HIGHLY COMMENDED (P. M.)

See now my Paper Hearte, Brittle it is and delicate.

A breath doth make it palpitate

Or blow aparte.

But for discerning eyes It holds a prize :

Thy Name shines through the Darke

And is its water-mark.

(OSWALD CLARK)

The trees have blossomed with birds Rehearsing the rites of spring, And cold the call of my words Compaied With the songs they sing. 0 lift my love to the eaves, And weave it in walls of nests, Where time is the colour of leaves And space a caressing of breasts.