The Cousins’ Competitions

Southland Times, Issue 21657, 19 March 1932, Page 18

The Cousins’ Competitions

AWARDS IN THE 298TH TEST. (a) Poem: "'What the Moon Saw.” Prizes of 2/6 and 4 marks to Cousins Margaret Jellyman (11) Queen street, Otautau, and Mary O’Brien (11) Haldane. Highly Commended —2 marks to Cousin Dorothy Fox (16) 94 Earn street, Invercargill. Commended.—l mark to Cousins Daisy Dunlop (12) Niagara; Margaret Henderson (14) Mataura. (b) Family dialogue during a motor ride. Prizes of 2/6 and 3 marks to Cousins Constance Fox (14) 94 Earn street, and Hannah Skerrett (13) Pahia. Highly Commended —2 marks to Cousins Katherine O'Brien (16) Haldane; Ngaire Horrell (11) Mandeville; Connie Jellyman (13) Queen street, Otautau; Daisy Dunlop (12) Schoolhouse, Niagara. Commended—l mark to Cousins James Lynch (13) Main street, Otautau; Annie Birch (14) Kapuka; Margaret Henderson (14) Mataura. COMMENTS. Although I should have expected heaps and heaps more, I was very pleased indeed’ with some of the entries in the poem competition. Cousin Margaret Jellyman nearly wrote a completely delightful poem; and although, there were certain little flaws, her effort is still very good indeed. The flaws include the "near-rhyme” of “on” and “one”. Then, just as when one. is rhyming one must see that the words do rhyme. So when one is employing unrhymed lines, it is necessary to make sure that rhymes or near-rhymes don’t slip in. If your pattern is rhymed and unrhymed line's, you must still conform to it all the way. In that case “now” and “flowers” are a little too close, and “shades” and “made” closer still. Mary O’Brien’s poem, too, was particularly good—so good that I had to abandon my first inclination to give a 5/- prize to Margaret, and split the prize between them 1 Cousin Daisy Dunlop, who does not make verses very often, has done very well indeed. She needs more practice, and must try to avoid beginning lines with “and” or "but.” Cousin Margaret Henderson made such a good start as a verse-maker in our page, that it is just as well she trips once in a while—none of us can hope to achieve very much without some reverses to give us endurance and fortitude, you know. It is rhythm that is tripping her up this week — she must develop the habit of reading her work over aloud after it is written down, to see if the lines match. Those that were dialogues were very well done indeed, only a very few competitors slipning into the past tense during the descriptive passages. Cousins Margaret Henderson, Annie Birch and James Lynch wrote very commendable stories; but, they were not in dialogue form, and therefore could not be judged. They will see by the dialogues printed this week where they went wrong. By the way, there is still a great deal of confusion about the spelling of “already” and “all right.” Do look at these carefully, and remember them, Cousins. —COUSIN BETTY. 299th COMPETITION. (a) Drawing (black and white). Take one of last week’s “Lace” stories—any one you choose—and illustrate it with four little sketches. (b) Story, entitled “Cows."

Rules to Remember. 1— Write in ink on one side of the paper only. 2— There must be separate sheets for each competition. 3— Each Cousin must work unaided, and enter his or her own work, clearly marking it “original” or “my own work.” -I—Drawing must be in black ink, preferably in Indian ink, and on drawing paper. 5 — No one more than 16 years of age may compete in these classes unless otherwise stated. 6 — Remember that spelling and neatness will be taken into account. 7 — Write your name, age and address at the end of each entry. Closing date—Tuesday, March 22, 1932. —Cousin Betty. 300th COMPETITION. (a) Descriptive essay: Children’s Faces at a Party. (b) Poem, entitled "Peace.” Closing date—Tuesday, March 29, ,1932. —Cousin Betty.