Part 1 — OUR SUPPLEMENT STORY COMPETITIONS.

STORIES IN MINIATURE.

A SAILOR'S BRIDE.

First Prize (£2 2s.).

Florence Makin, Sheffield.

Second Prize (£1 1s.).

Una, Worlingworth, Wickham Market.

Third Prize (10s. 6d.).

Margaret Moscrop, Saltburn-by-the-Sea.

Honourable Mention.

Conor, Bonchurch, Isle of Wight; Esperance, Bridge of Allan; E. C. Harding, Dorking; Eleanor L. Harding, Dorking; Mary Lilla Harriss, Hackney, N.E.; Edythe Hoare, Leamington, Spa; Janet B. Imrie, Castle Douglas; Letitia E. May, Alton, Hants.; Mayfield, Llandaff; Annie S. Murphy, Tullow; Cecile Rahier, Brest, France; Ruby Smiley, Ballyclare, co. Antrim; Eva M. Waldren, Basingstoke; Wild-Thyme, Edinburgh; May Adèle Venn, W. Kensington Park.

To the Competitors.

My dear Girls,—Let me thank you all very much for the many pleasant pages I have read.

In reading your essays, I have fancied that there are some future story-tellers among you, who will be ready to take up our pens when we lay them aside.

In every phase of life we see that all cannot be successful at the same time; but such competitions as these bring eventual success to the strong ones, who have faith and courage to try again. I feel sure that "miniature" handwriting was not a feature of the competition! and hope that in other efforts no young eyes will be so cruelly taxed as some have been in this.

My warmest wishes for the future success of those not successful to-day; and congratulations to the winners.

Your cordial friend, Minnie Douglas.

THE BACK OF BEYOND.

First Prize (£2 2s.).

Annie E. Mellor, Hereford.

Second Prize (£1 1s.).

Annie Ascough, Scarborough.

Third Prize (10s. 6d.).

Helen Rickards, Dixton Vicarage, Monmouth.

Honourable Mention.

"Hermia," Colchester; Janet M. Pugh, Towyn; Louisa A. M. Mathew, Beckenham; Mary F. Howard, Oxford; Amy Miller, Brixton Hill; J. Ebdell, Wakefield; Nellie Cobham, Folkestone; Kate Kelsey, Bristol; Minnie Highton, Norwood; "Greta," Manchester; Lottie L. Creighton, Gorey; L. Harper, Belfast; Ada Browning, Limehouse, E.; Effie Mackintosh, Instow; Abigail Binns, Rochdale; Jessie Hickling, Sydenham; Mrs. Evelyn Upton, West Brighton; C. Winifred Dyer, Wandsworth; "Shamrock," Hyde Park; Annie F. Hepple, North Shields; Alice J. E. Mosley, Wentworth; Sophie Gardner, Richmond Hill; J. B. C., Fauldhouse; Lilian A. G. Slade, Crewkerne; H. Marjory Ingle, Ely; Eleanor Mary Ralls, Bridport; Maud Wilson, Belfast; C. Winifred James, Crown Hill; Margaret Christina Haynes, Bristol.

To the Competitors.

My dear Girls,—As summaries, your stories could hardly have been better. It is clear that, in organising the Competition, the Editor has been doing real educational work. You are acquiring a selective faculty: you are learning to distinguish between the detail and the design. Practice—this sounds arithmetical—is teaching you proportion. This critical power will stand you in good stead—in life as well as in letters.

But on some other points I cannot be quite so congratulatory. There is a good deal of adventurous spelling, and there is much distracted punctuation. Many of the miniatures are nearly large enough for family portraits.

And, while the stories are admirable skeletons, they seem—as skeletons are apt to prove in society—a little deficient in ease and grace, jerky and unpersuasive. Some, I am almost afraid, are rather dry, and even a little dull.

Girls, don't you think that, in dealing with a tale that was meant as a concession to the holiday spirit—a little interlude between more serious efforts—you might have accepted with less reserve the Editor's invitation to be bright?

And I should like to see you aiming at some distinction of style. Some of the stories reminded me of telegrams, some of strings of beads. Still, a good many are crisp and neat, and a few have quite a pretty touch.

The winner of the first prize, I must add, came very near to being disqualified on account of her sugared and beguiling words. On full reflection, however, her paper being much the best in point of sprightliness and verve, I decided, after making a conscientiously wry face, to absorb the saccharine matter. But, another time, she must not put bouquets on the judge's table.

With congratulations to many, and hearty thanks to all,

Ever most truly yours, Frederick Langbridge.

⁂ Unfortunately we have no space for printing the first prize essays this month.—Ed.