THE third year of the Essay Competition has brought a number of interesting and very readable essays, and although scarcely up to the excellent standard of the first two years, it can be said that only in a few cases did they fail to show an intelligent grasp of the history and the importance of the Life-boat Service, while the great majority bore 'evidence of the care with which the teachers had lectured, and the interest with which the scholars had listened. It should be added that, with a few exceptions, the handwriting was excellent.

There was, unfortunately, a consider- able falling off in the number of essays received, and only in the Northern and Midland Districts was the number of meritorious essays sufficient to justify the award of thirty-five certificates.

Not only did these two districts, as was the case last year, send in by far the largest number, but their average standard of merit was higher than in any of the other districts, although neither sent in .the best essay from the whole of the United Kingdom. This distinction belongs for the second time to Ireland, which, once again, out of the smallest number, has given us the best.

Though the number from Ireland was most disappointing, the quality was good, and it will be seen that in the section for Ireland and Wales, Ireland holds the first four places, thus repeating the relative position attained last year.

The winning essay comes this year not from the South of Ireland, however, but from the North, and is one of six sent in from Belfast schools. "We con- gratulate Maggie McCabe, of the Bloom- field National School, on having won the Special Prize, and we do it all the more heartily since she has the distinc- tion of being the first girl to win it. In fact, 1920 has been distinctly a girls' year, for in no less than five out of the six districts it is to girls' schools that the Challenge Shields will now go, whereas last year they held only two.

In the other districts it is of interest to note that for the second year in succession the Challenge Shield in the i Northern District has been won by 1 the St. Anne's School, Rockferry, i Birkenhead, which, if it can win it for a third year in succession, will retain it; while in the London District the Shield j returns to the St. Mary's Church of ! England School, Woolwich, which won it in the first year of the Competition.

We congratulate both these schools on their second success. In the other four districts the Shields go to schools which have not yet won them.

As in the last two years, the essays have brought a large number of quaint and original sayings, many of which have shown, more surely than correct and more conventional phrases, that the child's imagination had really been touched by the heroic story of the Life-boat Service. We should like, if there were space, to quote a number of these sayings, but we must confine our- selves to one only, and will choose the delightful -comment of a boy in a Midland school on the heavy cost of Motor Life-boats. After speaking of their value, he goes on to say—and one can see him gathering all his forces to do justice ,to the stupendous fact of their expensiveness—" Budding millionaires and mighty governments are about the only ones able to buy them though, for they cost over £5,000 each." May all budding millionaires be touched by this appeal! The Next Competition.

The Competition has been productive of so much good during the past three years, that it is with the greatest regret, and only after most careful consideration, that the Committee of Management have decided to postpone the next Competition until 1923. They have felt it right to take this decision on account of the great increase in the cost of. printing and in the postage rates, which has added very much to the expenses of the Institution. But while they deeply regret the necessity of this postponement, they hope that it will increase rather than diminish the interest in the Competition when it is resumed. There will be a new generation of scholars when 1923 comes, and the Committee of Management hope so to arrange the Competition as to ' allow rather more scope for imagination and originality than has been possible in the past three years. While they feel the-importance of making boys and girls familiar with the history of the Institution, they think that possibly; less interest has .been shown in the j Competition this year because, as in' the first two years, the subject appeared to limit the writers to recounting the i history and development of the Life-boat; Service. | Their chief reason, however, for hoping i to see the Competition resumed in 1923 : with greater zest and interest than ever, is that in 1924 the Institution will celebrate its centenary. The Committee of Management intend that it shall be celebrated in a way worthy of the Institution's splendid, achievements and its position as a great National Service, and they look forward to see the revived Essay Competition contribute an important part of these celebrations.

Meanwhile those schools which have won the Shields this year will have the pleasure of holding them for three years; on very easy terms, and we hope that, as new boys and girls arrive, the old will not forget to tell them, when they show them the Shield, that in a year or two they will have to fight to retain it. We hope also that those schools which have not the Shields to remind them of the Competition will still re- member that they are waiting to be won when the time comes.

We have once again to offer our most cordial thanks to the many Head- teachers who have not spared them- selves, as the essays abundantly show, to interest their scholars in the work of the Life-boat Service. In thanking them we would express the hope that during the next two years, although the Competition, is suspended, they will still feel that a knowledge of the heroism of the Life-boat crews and of their great services to our sea-faring people is a necessary part of the education of all British boys and girls.

We print below the list of successful writers, and the best essay, with regrets.

that it is not possible to find space for the winning essay in each district.

List of Successes in the Essay Competition.

LONDON DISTRICT.

Name.

Age when given.

School.

Daisy Morgan. .

Emily Maud Salter A. Whatley . . .

Henry Paul Beatrice Milburn .

S. Lewis.

Stanley Charles Hodson Edward Day . . .

Ernest E. Cotton . .

Ruth Youdan .

13 13 U 13 13 13 13 11 13 13 St. Mary's Church of England School, Woolwich.

Hargrave Park L.C.C. School, Upper Holloway.

Moreland Street L.C.C. School, Goawell Road.

The Stockwell Church of England School, Stockwell.

Silwood Street L.C.O. School, Rotherhithe. , Teesdale Street L.C.C. School, Bethnal Green.

Boundary Lane L.C.C. School, Gamberwell.

The Charles Dickens School, Southwark.

Gipsy Road L.C.C. School, West Norwood.

The Stockwall Church of England School, Stockwell.

Ivy Simmons . .

J. Pogoielsky . .

Elizabeth Stamford Doris Fitzgerald .

Elsie Lilian Busch David Young : Thomas Darby.....

Alfred Griffin . ' . . .

Lilian Till Marie Marks Sadie Greenstein ....

Hannah Keys ......

Gladys Osborne ....

William Slater ....

John Conrad William Wagner 13 11 13 13 13 12 12 13 12 14 13 13 14 12 11 Cobourg Road L.C.C. School, Camberwell.

Columbia Road L.O.C. School, Bethnal Green.

St. Mary Boltons School, South Kensington.

The Oliver Goldsmith School, Peckham Road.

The Lawrence Girls' School, Bethnal Green.

Archbishop Sumner's Memorial School, Kennington Road.

St. Peter's School, Vauxhall.

Penrose Street L.C.C. School.

St. Sepulchre's L.C.O. School, City.

Westminster Jews' Free School, Han way Place.

Virginia Road L.O.C. School, Bethnal Green.

The Chaucer L.C.G. School, Berroondsey.

The Moberly L.OiC. School, Maida Hill.

Grove Street L.C.C. School, Deptford.

Bridge Boys' Council School, Wealdstone.

LONDON DISTRICT—continued.

Name.

Age when given.

School.

Fred Johnson . .

F. 0. Webb . . .

James Bell . . .

Doris Lilian Biddle 13 13 11 13 Wesleyan Practising School, Millbauk L.O.G. School.

St. George's Boys' School, Camberwell.

St. Francis' Roman Catholic School, Peokham.

Faunce Street Girls' School, Southwark.

SOUTHERN DISTRICT.

Name.

Age when given.

School.

12 13 13 12 13 15 12 13 14 12 13 13 13 9 14 13 13 12 15 14 12 14 11 10 14 11 13 12 12 12 Charlotte Purrott John Young . .

Agnes Allen. . .

Nellie Stephens H. Marshall . .

W. H. Dick . .

Dorothy Tomblin .

Dorothy Chapman William Smith. .

W. J. Beck . . .

Herbert Fish ....

Elsie Bush Bertie Thurlbourn. . .

James Bartlett....

George Knight....

Reginald W. Shippen . .

Thomas Cyril Staples John Hawke ....

Nellie Millican . . .

Gertrude Surman . . .

Royall King . .

Lucy M. Phillips . . .

Lily Powell ....

Ivy Matthews ....

J. Meagor Victor L. Gelsthorpe Wing Gertrude Hatton .

Beginald Steel ....

Ivy Dorothy McDermott.

Norman Vincent Grossman Childerley Gate Council School, Cambridge.

St. Augustine's School, Ramsgate.

Central School, Lowestoft.

Crantock Council School, Newquay.

Arundel Street Council School, Landport, Portsmouth.

St. Luke's School, Southsea.

Peasenhall Council School, Saxmundham.

Allen's Green Council School, Sawbridgeworth.

St. Agatha's Boys' School, Landport, Portsmouth.

Ladysmith Road Council School, Exeter.

Allen's Green Council School, Sawbridgeworth.

St. Andrew's Church of England School, Halstead.

Childerley Gate Council School, Cambridge.

Church of England School, Birchington.

Southchurch Hall Council School, Southend-on-Sea.

Central School, Lowestoft.

Connaught Road School, Littlehampton.

Seale Church of England School, Surrey.

St. Mary's Girls' School, Bury St. Edmunds.

St. Aloysius' Roman Catholic Girls' School, Oxford.

Council School, Fairfield, Havant.

The Holme School, Headley, Bordon.

Meads Church School, Eastbourne.

St. Andrew's School, Leigh, Dorset.

High Street Council School, Plymouth.

Church of England School, Staverton, Devon.

Summertown School, Oxford.

Tresco School, Isles of Scilly.

Church of England School, Staverton, Devon.

Dover Road Boys' Schools, Northfleet.

NORTH OF ENGLAND.

Name.

Age when given.

School.

Henry Farr Jessie Marshall.

Adeline Hall .

Doris Robson .

Kathleen Wood Margaret Clarke Alfred Anatey .

Eric Beaumont John Bill . .

Margery Burrow Mary Forrest . .

Alice .Worthington Rupert Baker . .

Joseph Charnley .

14 12 14 13 10 13 13 12 11 12 13 13 13 13 St. Anne's Road School, Rock Ferry, Birkenhead.

Bromboro' Pool School, Birkenhead.

Catchgate Council School, Durham.

North Council School, Whitley Bay.

Rusholme St. Agnes' Church ,of England School, Manchester.

St. Anne's Girls' School, Edward Street, Lancaster.

Marlborough Road Council School, Salford.

Rusholme St. Agnes' Church of England School, Manchester.

Bishop Bilsborrow Memorial School, Manchester.

Dewsbury Read Girls' School, Leeds.

Wood Top Church of England School, Burnley.

Rostherne Church of England School, near Knutsford.

Rostherne Church of England School, near Knutsford.

St. Joseph's Roman Catholic School, Brindle.78 THE LIFE-BOAT. [AUGUST, 1920.5 NORTH OF ENGLAND-confinued . Name. Age- when given. School. Alioe Johns . .... 11 14 13 11 13 13 13 13 13 12 13 13 12 13 12 13 14 14 13 13 13 Church of England School, Hoylake.

Gray Street Council School, Bootle.

Seaton Carew National School, West Hartlepool, St. Paul's Church of England School, Astley Bridge, Bolton.

Brighton Avenue Girls' School, Gateshead-on-Tyne.

St. Andrew's Church of England School, Huddersfield.

St. Paul's Church of England School, Astley Bridge, Bolton.

St: Paul's School, Seacombe.

Rose Street School, Gateshead-on-Tyne.

St. Joseph Roman Catholic School, Brindle.

All Saints' School, Hoole, Chester.

St. Andrew's Church of England School, Huddergfield.

Central Girls' School, Kendal.

Egerton School, Tattou Street, Salford.

Mornington'Road School, Bingley, Yorkshire.

St. Peter's School, Blackley, Manchester.

Eggleston Church of England School, Co. Durham.

Garville Council School, Wallsend-on-Tyne. .

Mount Carmel School, Blackley, Manchester.

Dawdon Council School, Co. Durham.

West End Council School, Morecambe.

MIDLANDS. Edith Blanco Fenwick Harding .... Cissy Davidson ....

Jack Schofield Jjeslie Cole Harriet Hale . Hilda Charlton .... Frank Gowen .... Hilda Frame M. McWhinney ....

Ernest Lloyd Alice Mary Nunweek . .

Arnold Collinge ....

John Ernest Maddison . ' .

Alice Payne May Wilson Ethel Knowles William Crossley .... Name. Age when given. School. Nora Teresa Parker . .

Tom Mitchell 14 15 13 11 14 13 13 14 11 12 St. Joseph's School, Monk's Kirby, Lutterworth.

St. Matthew's Central School, Rugby.

Mellor Street Council School, Leicester.

Alfreton Road Council School, Nottingham.

The Convent School, Brockhurst, Lutterworth.

Irthlingborough Council School, Wellingborough. : Churohtown School, Darlej Dale, Derbyshire, Green Lane Council School, Leicester.

Roman Catholic School, Monk's Kirby, Lutterworth.

Tunstall Central Boys' School, Stoke-on-Trent. ; George Arthur Brown Eleanor Mitchell ....

Hilda Watts Cicely Smith William Butler ....

Kathleen Carroll ....

Fred Bloor Constance Mary Green . .

S. Wood 11 12 13 13 14 14 11 13 13 12 12 13 13 11 12 12 14 13 11 12 14 10 11 13 13 Great Alne School, Alcester, Warwickshire.

Elliston Street Boys' School, Cleethorpes.

Farndon Church of England School, Notts.

Thornhaugh Council School, near Peterborough.

Churchtown School, Darley Dale, Derbyshire Avenue Road Council School, Leicester.

Broom Street School, Hanley, Staffs.

Severn Street Council School, Birmingham. ;' St. Patrick's School, Stafford.

Sileby Church of England School, near Loughborough.

Front Street Council School, Arnold, Notts.

Parson Street Council School, Bedminster, Bristol.

Queen Street Council School, Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent.

Eastwood Vale Girls' School, Hanley, Staffs.

Stratton Church of England School, Cirencester.

Dilhome End6wed School, Stoke-on-Trent.

Rea Street Council School, Birmingham.

Coventry Road Council School, Bulwell, Nottingham.

Farndon Church of England Boys' School, Notts.

Gresley Church of England School, Burton-on-Trent.

Jenkins Street Boys' School, Birmingham.

St. John's Church of England Girls' School, Burslein.

St. Mary's Church of England School, Tunstall, Burton-on-Trent.

Great Barr School, Staffordshire.

Rea Street Council School, Birmingham. Alice Meash'am ....

Doris Quartermain William Ellis Bray . . .

Lilian Lois Inman Lev! Lythgoe Alfred Warner Louis Samuel Dakin . . .

Jack Taylor William Bath Millioent Bateman . . '.

Dorothy Forrester ...

Kate Soule . Charles Tompkin ....

BertHoughton ....

Winston Watkin ....

E Morley . . . Charles Edward James .

Margaret Paton ....

Henry Dean James John Binsley . SCOTLAND.

Name.

Age when given.

School.

Mary Penman ...

William Edgar . . . .

Gladys Stodden . . . .

John Martin Margaret G. Watson . . .

Margaret McLennan .

Christina Young Thompson Lizzie Donald .

Nellie Scott. .

Lizzie Webster 12 14 13 13 13 13 13 12 13 13 East Plean School, Stirlingshire.

East Plean School, Stirlingshire.

Ayr Grammar School.

Ayr Grammar School.

Middlefield Special School, Glasgow.

Garnet Bank Public School, Glasgow.

James Clark Technical Higher Grade School, Edin- burgh.

Crudie Public School, Turriff.

North School, Kirkcaldy.

Wemyss Public School, East Wemyss, Fifeshire.

Alexander H. Banks Jack Denchrass John Cosgrove . .

William J. Skea .

James H. Girvan .

13 14 13 13 11 Brabster Public School, Canisby by Wick, Caithness.

MidHlefield Special School, Glasgow.

St. John's Roman Catholic Public School, Portobello.

Sellibister Public School, Sanday, Orkney.

Ferguslie Public School, Paisley.

IRELAND AND WALES; Name.

! Age I when i given.

School.

'Maggie McCabe .

Evan Johnston . .

Ethel Marion Travers W. J. McDowell . .

Albert Shacklady . .

Alfred Binding . .

Betty Bichards Murielle Luke . . .

Lily Hunter . . .

Margaret Moyra Jones 12 14 15 14 13 13 10 '14 12 12 Bloomfield National School, Belfast.

Thomas Street National School, Portadown, Co.

Armagh.

Courtmaosherry National School, Co. Cork.

Hillman Senior School, Belfast.

Belvoir Hall National School, Belfast.

Miskin Council School, Mountain Ash, Glamorgan- shire.

Bryndu School, Kenfig Hill, Glamorganshire.

Shegoniell School, Belfast.

Belvoir Hall National School, Belfast.

Council School, Aberdovey.

Doris Pugh ....

Aubrey Morris . . .

Hetty Haddock . .

Hugh C. Bowlands George Albert North .

John Edward Thomas 11 13 14 11 13 14 Mochdre Council School, Newtown, Montgomeryshire.

Mochdre Council School, Newtown, Montgomeryshire.

Antrim Boad National School, Belfast.

Council School, Aberdovey.

Dowlais School, Merthyr Tydfil.

Castle Caereinion Church of England School, Mont- gomeryshire.

* Special prize awarded for the best essay in the United Kingdom.

IRELAND AND WALES DISTRICT.

Bloomfield National School, Belfast, March, 1920.

By MAGGIE McGABE (aged 12J).

The Royal National Life-Boat Institution.

THERE are few people living now, who have not heard, at least, of some of the glorious deeds of heroism performed by members of the crews of the Royal National Life-Boat Institution.

As our Island Empire has always been famous for its activity on the sea, and as our Naval Power is supreme, our commercial life developed immensely.

M the same time the number of ship wrecks increased. These caused many humane persons to consider the most effective methods of saving lives in danger at sea.

The result was the formation of the Royal National Life-Boat Institution, with its Life- Boats fully equipped, and manned by men, who have been famous for their courage, endurance, and humanity.

Like many great institutions, it owes its origin to the self-sacrifice and devotion of one kind-hearted and noble-spirited gentleman, Colonel Sir William Hilary, a resident of the Island of Man. This man had been instru- mental in saving many lives on the Island, but his most famous achievement was the rescue of a crew numbering twenty-two persons, of the Royal Mail Steamer, St. George, at Douglas, in 1830. In this, he was assisted by three other persons. Unfortunately, he was severely hurt whilst engaged in this enterprise. For his services on this occasion, he was presented with a Gold Medal.

This gentleman was the founder of the Royal National Life-Boat Institution, which was begun in March 1824, under the name of "the National Institution for the preservation of life from shipwreck." This Institution got its Royal Charter in 1852. Many of the famous men of that day were enrolled as members, such as The Archbishop of Canter- bury, The Prime Minister, Peel, Canning, and that noble high-minded man—Wilberforce.

The boats used at the early stages were very liable to capsize, and many lives were lost. Consequently, many thoughtful scientific men turned their attention to the production of a boat, which would be more reliable in a storm.

Of course, the modern Life-boats are much superior to the early productions, and are much better equipped. Then again, their numbers are greatly increased. The Institu- tion now possesses 258 Life-Boats, including Self-righting boats, Steam Life-Boats, and Motor Life-Boats of various types. The cost of maintaining such a fleet of Life-saving boats is very great.

At most stations, there is a Life-Boat House, and a slipway which enables the boat to glide rapidly into deep water. These Boat- houses are furnished with sails, gear, and all life-saving requirements. The Life-Boat ser- vice means, therefore, a noble organization for the benefit of humanity. It is maintained largely* by the voluntary contributions of people who realise its usefulness and the nobility of its service.

This Institution proved its worth during the great war, when shipwrecks were of daily occurrence. It was the means of saving thousands of valuable lives.

The National Life-Boat Institution is, there- fore, worthy of the sympathy and support of every loyal citizen.

* " Largely" should, of course, be "entirely '—ED..