In the JUNIOR DIVISION, out of 233 papers, the PRIZE is won by FRANCIS WILLIAM SMITH (12), Orphan Working School, Haverstock Hill, N.W.

CERTIFICATES are awarded to the following, in order of merit :ERNEST DUNAND (Orphan Working School), JAMES HOWELL (Cardiff), UNA MURIEL HAIGH (Walmer-hill), WALTER J. PAYNE (Brighton), F. G. HEATH (Lordship-park), A. O. FRY (Walton), ADA M. BATT (Portsea), ERNEST GEESON (St. Ives), HUBERT C. WILDE (Shepherd's Bush), ARTHUR CLARKE (Crouch End), HERBERT T. COLE (Dunmow), HENRY T. NEWMAN (Dalston).

We HONOURABLY MENTION EVELINE M. RUTHERFORD, HARRY W. DURHAM, HENRY POND, EVA SARGENT, HERBERT SARGENT, H. F. BELL, FREDERICK W. AUSTEN, CYRIL BENBOW, HARRY T. GREY, BERTHA PEACHEY, LILIAN STOREY, OSWALD TIPPING, LILY BRADLEY, STEPHEN P. LUDBROOK, FRANK ROBERTS, FRANK E. SAYERS (aged.6), ARTHUR DUTTON, ALBERT SCOTT, ARTHUR W. FITZ-SIMMONS, EMILY C. FITZ-SIMMONS, AMY SILVERS, EDWARD H. CAMPBELL, WALTER E. CHARDIN, JANE CLEMENT.

IN

BAND OF HOPE RECITATION.

the SENIOR DIVISION we award the PRIZE to THOS. H. KNIGHT (19), North-street, Lostwithiel, Cornwall. CERTIFICATES are gained by MARY J. BROWN (Salisbury), ADELINE KELSEY (Brockley), CHARLES S. HERD (Guildford), EMILY C. RUNDLE (Moseley).

We HONOURABLY MENTION CHARLES WHEELER, ELEANOR E. ARCHER, TOM H. CLARKE, H. W. WRENCH, BLANCHE DEANE. In the INTERMEDIATE DIVISION the PRIZE is gained by AUGUSTUS H. SCALES (16), Brompton Cemetery, S.W.

We HONOURABLY MENTION JAMES E. ARCHIBALD, J, W. VERRIER.

In the JUNIOR DIVISION WE HONOURABLY MENTION ISABELLA M. MEEHAN (Amble, Northumberland).

ANSWERS TO PUZZLEDOM IN PART 17.
I. Timon of Athens (Time on O-Fat Hens).
III. P-aid-Piano-and-O

II. PLAN

THIS

ROME

OMER

NERO

2. WHOLE

3. KNEW

4. SHAG

VIII. A-sa, 1 Kings xv. 9

N-un, Joshua i. 1.

N-oon

A-ra, 1, Chronicles vii. 38. Anna, Luke ii. 36, 37.

OUR PIONEER COLUMN.

THIS column is always open to receive the names of those of our readers who are willing to assist us in extending the circulation of our magazine, either by distributing our illustrated leaflets among their friends or by personally recommending them to become readers and subscribers. We have still a supply of these leaflets, which we will forward post-free to those readers who will send us their names and addresses.

Since we started this scheme, no less than 219 young people of both sexes have come forward as volunteers. The following are the latest additions to the list.

OUR PRIZE COMPETITION PAPERS.

SCRIPTURE PUZZLES.

(Selected from the Senior Prize Paper.)

I.

SEXAGONAL PUZZLE.

Proem.

To those who stray without the heavenly fold;
To those whose hearts are chill, whose love is cold;
Thus doth the Saviour speak, with longing deep,
And calleth to Himself His wand'ring sheep.

Lights.

1. A symbol this of Him who reigns above,
Who breathes on us His mercy and His love.
2. The heathen king his edict grim here made;
If disregarded, death; life, if obeyed.

3. The "vale of giants," where the Jewish king
O'erthrew his enemies, twice triumphing.

4. A bringer of glad tidings, words of joy,
Which tell of pleasures free from earth's alloy.
5. To Him who reigns lift high your sounding lays;
Repeat with glad acclaim this word of praise.

6. To fight with thee the shepherd took the field,
With faith his weapon, and with hope his shield.
7. Before the stars uplit the spreading dome,
Thou wert, and art, for ages yet to come.

8. The name (reversed) of one whose language bright
Foretold of Edom's fall, and Jacob's might.

9. Here did the Lord His chosen ones forsake,

When Israel did its graven idols make.

10. A Roman numeral, which doth begin
A tribal name, and penalty for sin.

Finals read down, and initials read upwards, give a text containing one of Christ's adopted titles.

II.

CIRCULAR PUZZLE.

Beginning of hope, yet no part of desire,
To heaven thy votaries often aspire;

In charity shining, in earth's choicest bliss,

Whose breathings both honour and honesty miss. Within thy wide borders the "city of might,"

Her battlements lifted to heaven's dizzy height; Bat now o'er thy marshes the wild bittern flies, And breaks the dark silence which over thee lies.

Lights.

1. The deep rolled o'er them like a veil, When rose King Pharaoh's dying wail. 2. Before the Lord she knelt in prayer, And rose, her heart relieved from care. 3. A prophet of the olden days,

Who sought a "house of God" to raise. 4. A patriarchal dwelling place, The sepulchre of Abram's race. 5. The conqueror of Canaan's land, By aid of God's almighty hand.

6. This sacrificial beast was slain
To wash the unclean from his stain.
III.

(PARAPHRASE) QUOTATION PUZZLE.
Give ear, O people, to my law,
Towards my words thine ear incline;
And hear my sayings dark of old,
My sayings of the Lord divine.

1.

Ye wives be subject to your lords, That if the word they disobey; They by their spouses may be brought To tread again the narrow way.

2. Awake, O north wind, come thou south, Upon my verdant garden blow; And forth upon the balmy air

Its sweet and fragrant spices throw.

LIBRARY TO THE VALUE OF SIX POUNDS

to the School which, throughout the year, subscribes for the greatest number (relative to its certified average attendance of copies of YOUNG ENGLAND; and

PRIZES OF FOUR POUND AND THREE POUND LIBRARIES

to the two next highest, on the following conditions:-(1) Winners of the £10 and £5 Prizes are excluded. (2) The numbers of copies already subscribed for will be carried forward until September, when the year ends. (3) The First Prize will be open to only such Schools as have an average attendance of 100 and upwards. The Second and Third will be open to all Schools.

These three prizes are offered to those which have been already competing and have been unsuccessful.

For Schools which have not yet competed, we offer

TWO PRIZE LIBRARIES, VALUE FIVE POUNDS AND THREE POUNDS,

for the Schools which shall subscribe for the greatest number of copies of YOUNG ENGLAND (relative to certified average attendance), during the six months from April to September inclusive.

Conditions: The First Prize is open only to Schools having an average attendance of 100 and upwards. (2) The Second Prize is open to all Schools.

OUR PRIZE COMPETITIONS.

Owing to the large number of old Excelsior readers who have lately become subscribers, and the numerous appeals made to us by Young Englanders who have “attained their majority," we have resolved that, henceforth, the limit of age, in the Senior Division of our monthly competitions, shall be raised to TWENTY-TWO, and, on special occasions, still further extended.

WE offer a PRIZE OF BOOKS TO THE VALUE OF HALF A GUINEA

to Competitors under Twenty-two; a SECOND PRIZE TO THE VALUE OF SEVEN SHILLINGS AND SIXPENCE to those under Seventeen; and a THIRD PRIZE TO THE VALUE OF FIVE SHILLINGS to those under Fourteen, for the best

EASTER HYMN.

The above may be in any metre, and must not exceed 40 lines, but may contain less.

We offer BookS TO THE VALUE OF HALF A GUINEA to Competitors under Twenty-two; a SECOND PRIZE TO THE VALUE OF SEVEN SHILLINGS AND SIXPENCE to those under Seventeen; and a THIRD PRIZE TO THE VALUE OF FIVE SHILLINGS to those under Fourteen, for the best

DEFINITION OF EARNESTNESS.

Brevity, conciseness, and, above all, originality will be the chief qualifications. Short essays and dissertations severel lines in length are not wanted. A few words will be ample in conveying the meaning. Each competitor may, if he please, send in more than one definition.

We offer BOOKS TO THE VALUE OF HALF A GUINEA to Competitors under Twenty-two; a SECOND PRIZE TO THE VALUE OF SEVEN SHILLINGS AND SIXPENCE to those under Seventeen; and a THIRD PRIZE to the Value OF FIVE SHILLINGS to those under Fourteen, for the best paper on

SUMMER AND WINTER AMUSEMENTSWHICH ARE PREFERABLE ? MSS. must not contain more than 1,500 words. Competitors must count and affix the number to the end of the last page. General conditions applicable to the above Competitions:All papers must have name, age, and address at the top of the first page.

Must be guaranteed as original by parent, guardian, minister, or teacher.

All papers must be sent in not later than 19th March. All papers must be fastened together, but different competitions must be kept separate.

CORRESPONDENCE.

DECLINED WITH THANKS.-"The Pleasures of Memory," and "The Memory of Childhood," by P. R. W. (Walsall); Sympathy and other verses by J. B. (Edinburgh); "The Boy's BIANCA.-(1) Superfluous hair on the hands or face should not Resolve," by W. S. be tampered with. Consult a surgeon. (2) The second peculiarity you mention is a sign of want of exercise. (3) Deciphering character by handwriting is a mythical accomplishment. Many profess to have the power, but correctness is usually attained more by guess-work than anything else. WANTED.-Volumes of The Family Friend for 1872, 1874, and 1879. Must be clean and cheap. Please state price, including carriage, which must come by the cheapest train.-Address, Emma M. Scott, St. Oswin's, Tynemouth.

I AM wishful to form a small lending library for my Sunday School class, and ask gifts of suitable books, not new ones, from any friends who would kindly help me.-Apply for address to Miss Archer, Westfields, Harbury, near Leaming