The Cousins’ Competitions

Southland Times, Issue 21820, 24 September 1932, Page 18

The Cousins’ Competitions

AWARDS IN THE 324th TEST. (a) Story: How Master Rabbit changed to black. First prize—3/- and 4 marks to Cousin Daphne Swift (13), 178 McMaster street, Invercargill. Second prize—2/- and 3 marks to Cousin Winsome Blue (12), 69 Elies Road, North Invercargill. Highly Commended—2 marks to Cousins Margaret Jellyman (12), Queen street, Otautau; Annie Birch (14), “Helenswood,’’ Kapuka; Molly Macalister (12), 111 Dalrymple road, Invercargill; Constance (15) and Dorothy Fox (16), 94 Earn street. Commended —1 mark to Cousins Zoe Smith (14), 24 Mitchell street; James Lynch (13), Otautfu; Eileen O’Brien (13), Lillburn Valley; Joan Carswell (11), Fortification; Graeme Anderson (8), 78 Don street; Leila Birch (10), Kapuka. (b) Anagram to: Spring is Everywhere. Prize of 2/6, and 4 marks, to Cousin Chrissie Ross (13), 66 Stafford street, Dunedin. Highly Commended —2 marks to Cousins Connie (13), and Margaret Jellyman (12), Queen street, Otautau. COMMENTS. Punctuation, my dears, is a part of writing which all of you should pay attention to, and most of you can improve. This was particularly noticeable this week, and one or two entries I really could net consider at all, because they would have needed so much adjusting, in the matter of commas, full stops, and quotation marks, before they could be intelligible. Daphne Swift’s had an original flavour about it, and was told with ease and naturalness. Cousin Winsome > Blue’s could have been expandedto advantage in places. She has an engaging style and her cheerful personality peeps through her lines. Cousin Margaret Jellyman, like one or two other cousins, very often begins a sentence with “however,” which is not good; nor are “also” and “so” good starting-off words, nor “therefore.” These things are an important factor in style, and should be watched. Cousins Annie Birch and Molly Macalister are both doing very promising work, which im-. proves with each new entry. The latter is one of those who should pay particular attention to punctuation, nowever. Cousin James Lynch still betrays some difficulty in expressing himself lucidly. He must write more simply yet. Cousin Eileen O’Brien is one of the worst offenders in the matter' of, punctuation. Cousin Joan Carswell, who writes quite well, did a thing this week you should all. be careful to avoid —ending a sentence—particularly a concluding sentence —with a preposition. “He finished up with” _ is a very weak ending to a story. Cousin Graeme

Anderson must not write on both sides of the paper. The anagrams were good—but, oh—how few! I am ashamed of you, my cousins—there. My verse-makers have certainly become very lazy and very unenterprising these days. I wonder Cousin Chrissie Ross’s anagram flowed very freely and pleased me very much. The work of the two Jellymans was, as usual, very good. —COUSIN BETTY. 325th COMPETITION. (a) Sonnet, entitled “Moonlight.” (b) Choose somebody of your acquaintance and write me a pen-por-trait of him or her, without identifying your subject, of course. Not more than 300 words. 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.” 4— 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, SEPTEMBER 20, 1932. -COUSIN BETTY. SPECIAL PAGE. “I BELIEVE IN FAIRIES.” All contributions to be in on or before WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1932. All drawing entries to be in by NEXT WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28.