Part 1 — A NEW PRIZE COMPETITION

A NEW PRIZE COMPETITION

THE GIRL'S OWN QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.

BEING Our Own School of Interesting Information.

Let every girl who wishes for the next three months to have something pleasant to think about, and something sensible with which to occupy her leisure, read the following—

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We now start a New Competition of remarkable interest, and likely, we believe, to be of great profit to all who take part in it.

The Subject of it is to be

A Series of Questions and Answers,

the questions being proposed by the Editor of The Girl's Own Paper and the answers being furnished by our Readers themselves.

The Competition will extend over three months, during which time twelve questions will appear in The Girl's Own Paper every other week. This will give one question to be answered for every working day, which should not, we think, prove much of an exertion for anybody.

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Prizes and Certificates of Merit will be awarded to successful competitors.

The Prizes will be worth struggling for. There will be fifteen of them in all. Every girl will have a fair chance, and we have tried to plan so that no one will have to compete against others who in age—and for that reason possibly in information—are greatly superior to herself.

The Value and Distribution of the Prizes are here shown—

For Girls of the Age of1st Prize2nd Prize3rd Prize

£s.d.s.d.s.

13-14inclusive1101065

15-16"1101065

17-18"1101065

19-20"1101065

21-23"1101065

The Certificates of Merit will be given to girls of any age who gain the necessary number of marks. They will be first, second and third class. The total number of marks being reckoned at fifty, all who gain over forty will be first class; between thirty and forty, second class; and between twenty-five and thirty, third class.

These certificates are an important feature. A girl who gains one of them—even though she may fail to win a prize—will have many reasons for feeling pleased. It will be something she can take a pride both in showing and preserving. And when she goes out into the world, it may be useful as a proof that she is painstaking and persevering—essential qualities for all who would succeed in life.

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Aim then, girls, first at taking a prize, and, failing that, a Certificate of Merit.

But even if you obtain neither, your work will not be lost. Prizes and Certificates are of secondary importance compared with the mental benefit which will fall to the share of every competitor, no matter who she may be or what abilities she may possess.

You will in any case add to your stock of information; your life will be richer because of the something you have stored away in your "knowledge-box;" you will be brighter because your mind has been active; and you will get some laughing into the bargain, because we must go cheerfully and happily about everything.

Are not these reasons enough why girls should enter upon this competition with energy and enthusiasm?

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All our readers are cordially invited to take part. It makes no matter whether they are regular subscribers or only occasional readers—all are welcome.

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The queries will be of the most varied kind, and no one need hold aloof on the ground that the competition will contain nothing of special interest to herself. She may count on its containing something, no matter whether her tastes run on housekeeping, history, biography, literature, music, art, or anything else.

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For information on which to base their answers competitors may go to any sources they please. All we are particular about is that they put the answers in their own words and in their own way.

When it is possible competitors will, at the foot of each answer, give the source from which their information is derived.

No; girls are not forbidden to ask their friends. In fact, the Competition may supply subjects for much useful and entertaining talk, and in this way be a real boon in many a friendly circle.

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A girl may not be able satisfactorily to answer all the questions—we shall be surprised if any one is able to do that. But if a Competitor cannot answer all let her answer as many as she can, remembering that to do a little well is much better than to do a great deal in a slipshod manner.

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In judging of the Answers we shall take note, first of all, of the sense. First, then, girls, see that the sense is all right. Next, we shall observe whether the sense is well expressed. Be sure you look to that too. Lastly, the neatness with which the papers are written will count. It is a matter of some importance, so don't forget that either.

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The length of the Answers. The answers are not in length to exceed one hundred and sixty words, but, if they only observe this restriction, competitors may, in the matter of length, please themselves. We do not, however, want too brief replies, say a mere name or date, a yes or a no. Economy of speech is good sometimes, but not always.

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For Example, supposing the question to be—"Are waves ever really 'Mountains high?'" It would be truthful enough, by way of answer, to write an emphatic "No," but it would hardly be a satisfying reply or one of much value to anybody.

We should all think it much better if the answer ran, say—

"ARE WAVES EVER REALLY 'MOUNTAINS HIGH?'"

"Waves never roll 'mountains high,' except by poetic license. As a matter of fact, it is very rare for waves at sea, even in furious weather, to exceed thirty feet in height.

"At Wick, in the far north of Scotland, where the sea sometimes displays wonderful energy, waves of about forty feet in height have been seen to strike the breakwater.

"The highest waves, however, which have been accurately measured, had their dimensions taken by Dr. William Scoresby, the well known Arctic explorer and physicist, who made some valuable observations on the subject in the Atlantic. He found that they reached the height of forty-three feet above the hollow.

"A foreign writer quotes the observations of others to the effect that waves have been seen from sixty to a hundred and eight feet high, but the evidence may not be trustworthy, at any rate he does not say how the heights were ascertained."

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A number will be prefixed to each question—the numbers will run from 1 onwards—and each answer must be preceded by a corresponding number. After giving the number competitors must also quote the subject of the query.

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Every query must be answered on a separate sheet or sheets of paper—the writing being on one side of the paper only—and the sheets when sent in must be fastened together at the left hand top corner.

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About sending in the Answers. During the course of the competition answers are to be sent in three times; the first time the answers from Nos. 1 to 24; the second time those from Nos. 25 to 48; and the last time those from No. 49 to the end.

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When a Competitor sends in her second instalment of answers she will kindly place at the head of the first page—"Answers 1 to 24 sent" (giving the date), and on sending the third instalment she will write "Answers 25 to 48 sent" (giving the date).

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The Time when papers are to be sent in. Answers to queries are to be forwarded on or before the last day of each month during the currency of the competition. The date however will be found given at the foot of each set of queries so that competitors need have no uncertainty on this point.

As a general rule, subscribers to the monthly parts will find they have one clear month for answering each set of 24 queries, and those who take in our weekly numbers will find they have longer.

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The full name, age, and address of the competitor must be put on the back of the last page of each instalment. Should the competitor not wish her name, age, and address to be printed, she should add the name of her favourite flower instead, and this alone would be published in the pass lists.

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The papers must be sent by post, addressed to The Editor, The Girl's Own Paper, 56, Paternoster Row, London, E.C.

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At the left hand top corner of the envelope or wrapper must be clearly written the words "Questions Competition."

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No papers can in any case be returned.

Here are the first twelve Questions:—

The Girl's Own Questions and Answers.

Questions 1-12.

1. Did a queen ever voluntarily lay down the sceptre and retire into private life?

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2. What stone is said to endow whoever kisses it with wonderful powers of speech?

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3. How is it that, though the moon turns round on its axis, we never see its other side?

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4. Why is hard water very unsuitable for cooking and washing?

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5. What celebrated work was written in a week to defray the cost of the funeral of the author's mother?

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6. How did the thistle come to be the emblem of Scotland?

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7. What sea has water so thick that you can move in it with difficulty?

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8. What are the characteristics of the music of Chopin?

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9. Who is the greatest poetess the world has ever seen?

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10. How is a rainbow a sign of bad weather in the morning and a sign of good weather in the evening?

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11. Has a besieged town ever been saved by a pig?

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12. How fast can an expert penman write?

The Answers to these Questions, Nos. 1-12, together with the Answers to Questions, Nos. 13-24, which have yet to appear, must be sent in on or before the 30th of December.