IT will be remembered that this com- petition was started in 1918 and proved a great success, over 5,000 schools taking part. It was continued in the two following years, and though each year there was a considerable decrease in the number of schools which sent in essays the competition more than justified itself. The general standard was high, and the essays showed how clear and valuable a knowledge of the work of the Life-boat Service was being given by the competition to thousands of children.

In normal circumstances the competi- tion would have been continued yearly with the consent and help which the great majority of Education Committees willingly gave us. But in 1920 the cost of printing was very high, and the postage rates had just been increased.

In these circumstances the Committee of Management reluctantly decided to post- pone the next competition until 1924, and then to hold it as part of the Centenary celebrations.

This has been done, and the competi- tion has been carried out as before, except that it was decided, in view of the political situation, to postpone it in Ireland until another year. The results have justified the resumption of the competition, although the number of competing schools is much smaller than in the first year.

In the three previous competitions the subject set was " The Heroic Work of the Life-boats," and all schools were supplied with a short lecture on the history of the Institution, the teachers being asked to deliver this lecture before the essays were written. The result of this was that the majority of the essays retold this brief story of the j Institution's history, while the bolder and more imaginative competitors tried their hands at the description of a Life- boat rescue. Either was, under the title, admissible.

In the revived competition it was decided to set a subject which would give more scope for thought and be less of a test of memory of mere facts.

This year the subject was " The Value of the Life-boat Service to our Maritime People." The result seems to suggest j that the subject was beyond the capacity of most of the competitors. Very few really touched the subject. The great majority again simply retold the history of the Service, and these essays, however good in themselves, were necessarily put below those which attempted, how- ever inadequately, to deal with the national value of the Service. Some made no reference to ifc beyond the title.

Others were satisfied to dismiss it in a sentence, as did one essay which began " England's shores being so open to the sea need protection, so I think the Life- boat Institution a very good thing." Excellent—so far as it goes, but that is all that the writer says on the subject.

While practically all the essays showed a good understanding of the Life-boat Service, we feel some disappointment that so few tried to do what was asked, and that the great majority were content simply to repeat the lecture.

While this fact prevents us from ranking high the essays as a whole, it is only fair to say that the majority showed qualities which might perhaps be summed up—apart from this general failure—by the word correctness, in spelling, in punctuation, in English, and in the facts about the Service. " Correct but uninspired" is our verdict on the competition as a whole. There were not wanting, however, original and uncon- sciously humorous phrases showing more perhaps than mere correctness that the Life-boat Service had really touched the child's imagination.

Here is a sentence from a girl's essay, the rhetorical roll of which suggests forty rather than fourteen at the beginning.

At the end it suddenly drops to the 'teens.

"It is not a very rare occurrence for a ship to be lost to the world beneath the waves of a vast and fathomless sea.

and it is in some such cases that the Life-boats prove their value. In these cases a great many pounds' worth of' jewellery has been saved." TO. e • i -J i j . T - T j . - i i - The financial side of the Institution s, work not infrequently attracts the atten-1 tion of the essayist. In the following extract the piety is exemplary, though; the figures are incorrect.

" Last year we learn that the revenue was £150,000 against £7,000 for the previous year For this we should sayjfyrical a heartfelt ' Deo Gratias.' " i We are not likely to underestimate the value of the Life-boat Service, but we must admit that one or two of the essays put its claims higher than we should dare to do it. In one we read : " We sing ' Britannia rules the waves,' but we are only able to do so because of a wonderful organization called the Royal National Life-boat Institution." ; Another competitor, a girl from Kent, ! attributes to our agricultural population a terror of the sea, which we feel sure ' is exaggerated. ! " The owners of large pleasure yachts," she writes, " need money to | pay the sailors, but people would never I embark, even for pleasure, if they knew there was no one who would endeavour to save them, if any misfortune should j happen. There are many young men in this country who are skilled farmers, and who wish to make enough money to ! live on when they are old, and also , provide for their children. These men ! make up their minds to purchase land, I and as it is cheaper in our colonies some ' decide to settle there. But only the i bravest of these men would cross the ! ocean without feeling that the life-boats, i situated all round the coast, would help them immediately they were in danger." Not infrequently, in the previous competitions, essays were illustrated, and the winning essay for the whole of Great Britain this year has a page of pictures attached (this fact, of course, does not influence the awarding of the prize, the essay being judged solely on ; its own merits), but this year, we think, ! for the first time we have had two pieces j of original verse. The first of the two poets is a girl, the second a boy.

" Upon the ocean dark and wide, The seamen earn their fame and pride, But those who now should share the fame, Are Life-boatmen of honoured name. I' Their service wrought upon the sea, ? of ame Mld L™to?y An" people now their tribute pay. A £fel£ the Royal Life-boat Day." These verses—upon which we offer the author our congratulations—were ; sayjfyrical TnTfeeling, is not''certified, but we feel Sure that it is also an original specially certified by the teacher to be the girl's own composition. The second poem, less mature in style, but more composition.

I'm on the Sea ! I'm on the Sea ! I am where I would ever be With the blue above and the blue below, And silence wheresoe'er I go.

If a storm should come and wake the deep, What matter ? I shall ride and sleep." Good. But it seems to suggest that the writer feels no particular need for a Life-boat Service.

Of the six districts, Wales was the least successful, sending in very few essays and these poor in quality. In previous years Ireland and Wales have formed one district for the purposes of the competition. This year, in view of the fact that the competition was not held in Ireland, and of the poor result in Wales, it has been decided, while awarding individual prizes to the Welsh schools, not to present the Challenge Shield.

It is particularly interesting to note that none of the winning schools in the six Districts has previously held a Challenge Shield, and we hope that this fact will be an incentive not only to them, but to the schools which have headed their districts in previous years, to make a big effort next year.

The best essay in Great Britain is by Doris Potter, aged thirteen, of the Priory Church Girls' School, Christ- church, Hants, who thus not only wins for her school the Challenge Shield for the Southern District, but for herself the Special Prize. Our congratulations both to her and to her school. She has the honour also of being the first in the south of England to win this Special Prize. In 1918 it was won by the Midlands, and in 1919 and 1920 by Ireland. As in 1920, the best essay • , . , n • . , J agam comes tio™ a glrl and m otl*er ways it has been, as in 1920, a girl's year.Whereas in 1918 and 1919 in four out of the six districts the winners were boys, in 1920 five of them were girls, and in 1923 four of them are girls.

Now that the competition has been resumed we hope that it will be con- tinued every year, and will attract an increasing number of schools until it becomes a regular and recognized part of the instruction of boys and girls in the history and achievements of their country.

If we are to realize this aim it can only be through the cordial help of the teachers. On them the success of the competition depends, and we offer them our very grateful thanks for their help in reviving the competition in our Centenary year.

Particulars of the next competition will be sent to the schools in the autumn, and arrangements are being made at once for the distribution of the prizes.

Below will be found the list of success- ful competitors, and the best essay for the whole country.

List of Successes in the Essay Competition.

LONDON DISTRICT.

Name.

Age when.

given School.

Lottie Norman • Owen Miller .

A. Turtle . . .

Phoebe Stratford. .

K. Simmons .

Mary E. Gildersleeve Doris M. E. Willats .

Lilian Beaven Jessie Hefiernon .

H. Perkiss . .

14 11 13 13 Sailers Hill Girls' School, West Norwood, S.E. 27.

Pelly Memorial Boys' School, West Ham, E. 15.

Vernon Square School, King's Cross Road, W.C. 1.

Heston Mixed School, Heston, Middx.

St. John's Boys' School, East Dulwich, S.E. 22.

The Lawrence Girls' School, Bethnal Green, E. 2.

Shaftesbury Road Girls' School, Forest Gate, E. 7.

Credon Road, L.C.C. School, Rotherhithe New Road, S.E.

Woolwich C. of E. Girls' School, Kingsman Street, Woolwich.

St. James's Boys School, Enfield Highway, Middx.

RoseWythe . .

Matthew W. Smith Doris Craig . .

Minnie McDonald Lily Burn Mabel James .

Lily Baskerfield .

Stanley G. Deackes Elsie King . .

Percy Field . .

Minnie Wickham William F. Watling Douglas Beckley .

Ruby Gipps Ella Leslie F. Gibbs . .

Albert E. Lloyd Evelyn Patten Eric J. Grant Fred Field .

13 12 14 14 13 12 13 13 13 U Victoria Girls' School, Addiscombe Road, Watford.

Scarsdale Road L.C.C. School, Camberwell, S.E. 5.

The Ingram Girls' School, Thornton Heath.

Stamford Hill Girls' School, Vartry Road, N. 15.

Denmark Street Girls' School, Plaistow, E. 13.

Bell Street Girls' School, Marylebone.

South Mymms C. E. School, Barnet, Middx.

Plashet Lane Boys' School, East Ham, E. 6.

Baring Road L.C.C. School, Lee, Lewisham, S.E.

St. George's C.E. Boys' School, New Road, Battersea, S.W. 8.

Page Green Girls' School, Tottenham, N. 15.

Latham Road Boys' School, East Ham, E. 6.

Mortlake Central Boys' School, Lower Richmond Road, Mortlake, S.W. 14.

Forest Road Girls' School, Walthamstow, E. 17.

The Beulah Girls' School, Beulah Road, Thornton Heath.

Upper Hornsey Road L.C.C. School, Holloway, N. 7.

Leo Street Boys' School, Peckham, S.E. 15.

Salway Place Girls' School, Stratford, E. 15.

Fair Street L.C.C. Boys' School, Tooley Street, S.E. 1.

South Halsville Council School, West Ham, E. 16.

LIST OF SUCCESSES—continued, NORTH OF ENGLAND.

Name.

I Age when ' given.

School.

Norman Hampson . . . 13 j St. Paul's School, Aitley Bridge, Bolton.

Mary Peak . . . . . 11 i St. Paul's School, Astley Bridge, Bolton.

William Hickey .... 14 j St. Wilfrid's R.C. School, Blyth.

James Kilbride . . . . ... S.S. Peter and Paul's School, Tyne Dock, South Shields.

Jennie Angus . . . . 13 j Galley's Meld School, Hartlepool.

Mabel Ireland . . . .•...! Bowling Green School, Stainland, Halifax.

Mary Brown 13 Our Lady's School, Birkenhead.

Leslie R. Hunter . . .13 Western Council Boys' School, Penman Street, North Shields.

Daisy Midgley . . . . i ... ] East Stamford Bridge Council School, Yorks.

Lily Turner 12 ! St. Andrew's Girls' School, Brighcmse, Yoiks.

i Richard Small | Eastern Senior, North Shields.

Mabel Parker j Cross Green, Otley, Yorks.

Jack Colgan ; 13 i St. Mary's School, Wrexham.

Jenny Motley 13 j George Street, North Shields.

Lily Fowles 13 Heap Bridge, Bury.

Henry Watson 12 j St. Thomas (Boys), Ardwick, Manchester.

David Lewis 13 ! Clint Road, Liverpool.

Arthur Waite 13J Egertou School, Totton Street, Salford.

Irene Lichtenstein . . . ... i Heath Street, Cheetham Hill, Manchester.

Walter Jordan . . . . •• ... ! Riverside, Seacombe.

Sarah Murray Magdala Council School, Heywood.

Vera Shaw 13 i Orford C. of E. School, Winwick, Lanes.

Maud Turner. . . . . ... Gee Cross Trinity School, Hyde, Cheshire.

Wilfrid Nixon Christ Church, North Shields.

Elsie Sykes St. Paul's, Brunswick Street, C.-on-M., Manchester.

Edith Brown 13 ; St. Mary's, Wrexham.

Daniel Mooney 14 St. Alban's, Liseard.

Doris Lonsdale . . .14 Cathedral (Girls) School, Ripon.

Woolf Yesorsky . . . . j 13 Alexandra Road, Gateshead.

Lucy Lynch i ... ; St. Mary's R.C. School, Leeds.

i SCOTLAND.

School.

Jfame.

Age when given.

Janet W. Bertram Jack McCaskill .

Evelyn Poole Margaret McKinveu .

Neil Brown May Johnston John Peterson Duncan McDonald .

William Kerr . .

Frances Donald .

13 12 12 14 14 Lamingtpn Public School, Lamington, Lanarkshire.

Achtercairn Public School, Gairloch, Ross-shire.

Sciennes Public School, Sciennes Road, Edinburgh.

The Grammar School, Campbeltown.

Buckhaven Primary School, Buckhaven, Fife.

Kelso Public School, Kelso, Roxburgh.

Collafirth, Side School, Voe, Delting, Shetland.

Strathcouon Public School (Muir-of-Ord).

Higher Grade School, Barrhead.

Crudie P. School, Tirriff, Aberdeenshire.

John T. Sutherland .

Sadie Clifford. . .

Robert C. Macdougall Cathie Todd . . .

Kathleen Connolly .

Edward Foy . . .

Annie Hendry Louise Stuart.

John A. Fisher .

Annie Scarth .

Kenneth MacColl. .

12 13 13 13 13 13 15 12 13 South Fara School, Stromness.

Littlemill Public School, By Patna, Ayrshire.

Central P. School, Inverness.

Williamsburgh School, Paisley.

Queen's Cross R.C. School, Aberdeen.

St. Patrick's R.C. School, St. John's Hill, Edinburgh.

Merry Street Public School, Motherwell, Lanarkshire.

Buckhaven Primary School, Buckhaven, Fife.

Grammar Public School, Ayr.* Barony Public School, Birsay, Orkney.

Kinlochleven Public School, Argyll.

LIST OF SUCCESSES— SCOTLAND— co ntinued.

Age Name. : when given.

Ruth H. S. Grant . . . 13 George Lamb. . . i 13 Nellie Colston 14 Alexander Eraser. . . . 1 3 Mollie M. Neil . . . . 1 4 James Fraser 12 Jean Armstrong . . . . 1 . . .

William Taylor . . . . 13 Age Isame. when given.

Mildred John . . . 13 Edith T. Thomas . . . 1 2 Joseph Cannard . . . .

EthnaToye 11 Margaret Ann Edwards . . ...

William Hayden Jordan Margaret Lees . . . 11 Ethel Morgan . . . . 14 Catherine Davies . . . . . . .

R. Conolly Edgar Jones 12 Kathleen Myra Danes Dorothy Ada Jones . . 12 Cyril Howard Morris . . i 11 E] Age Name. when given.

Florence Mills . . . . 13 Janie Mitchell . . . . ; 14 Stuart Toft 11 Charles Mitchell . . . . 13 Harry Marlow . . . . . . .

Mabel Rickinson . . . . 13 1 Gladys Lownds . . . 13 | Arthur Bowcock . . . . 13 1 Ernest Cox Jack Pickin 13 Raymond N. Dunn Joseph Sellars Mabel Cox School .

Dnthil P. School, Carr Bridge, Inverness-shire.

Gateside P. School, Cambuslang.

Sciennes Public School, Sciennes Ro'ad, Edinburgh.

Mitchell Street Public School, Mitchell Street, Dundee.

Mitchell Street Public School, Mitchell Street, Dundee.

Grammar Public School, Ayr.

Dalchreichart P. School, Glenmoriston, Invernessshire.

Stoneyburn Public School, West Lothian.

Public School, Coaltown of Wemyss, Fife.

WALES.

School.

Crunwere N.P. School, Whitland.

Hendrefadog Girls' School, Tylorstown, Rhondda.

Tyr Craig Council School, Aberbeeg.

Abercynon Girls' School, Glam.

Llantwood Council School, Cilgerran.

Central Schools, Treharris.

Copper Works Council School, Llanelly.

Penygraig Council School, Penygraig.

Park Girls' School, Cwmpark, Rhondda.

Court Road Boys' School, Cardiff.

Forth Girls' Council School, Rhondda.

Council School, Treherbert.

National Girls' School, Llanelly.

Lakefield Girls' School, Llanelly.

Castle Caereinion C.E. School, Welshpool.

Bigyn Boys' School, Llanelly.

NGLAND (Midlands).

School.

National School, Hucknall, Notts.

St. Joseph's School, Monks Kirby, Rugby.

Park Road School, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent.

Sproxton C. of E. School, nr. Melton Mowbray, Leics.

Grove Senior School, Hanley, Staffs.

Cross Street Senior School, Stoke-on-Trent.

Glass Street School, Hanley, Staffs.

Smallthorne Boys' School, Stoke-on-Trent.

Berridge Road Council School, Nottingham.

Broom Street Boys' School, Hanley.

Upper Standard School, Valley Road, Lye, nr. Stourbridge.

Higher Elementary School, Dudley.

Nether Street Girls' School, Beeston, Notts.

Derby Road Girls' School, Gloucester.LIST OF SUCCESSES—ENGLAND (Midland*)—continued.

Name.

Age when given.

School.

Nellie Morton . .

Prudence Hawkins" .

Winifred Steger .

Percy Adlington .

A. R. Winkle . .

Henry J. Dolman Millicent Eardley Harry Edwards . .

William Arthur Ward Rosalie Farmer .

Florrie Brown Christina E. Dancey Adeline V. Freeman .

William Goodwin Florence Perkins Margery Merrin .

13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 14 St. John's Girls' School, Worksop, Notts.

Florence Council Girls' School, Longton, Stoke-on- Trent.

I King Sterndale C. of E. School, nr. Buxton, Derbys.

Corporation Road Boys' School, Newport, MOD.

Florence Council School (Boys'), Longton, Stoke-on- Trent.

St. James's Church Boys' School, Malcolm Street, Derby.

Hanley Grove Senior School.

Aversham Council School, Newark-on-Trent, Notts.

Long Street Council School, Wigston Magna, nr.

Leicester.

Valley Road Upper Street School, Lye, Worcs.

Broadway Central School, Burton-on-Trent.

Tredworth Road Girls' Council School, Gloucester.

Churchtown School, Darley Dale, Matlock.

Horainglow Council School, Burton-on-Trent.

Maindee Girls' Ccranoil School, Newport, Mon.

Elston All Saints' School, Elston, near Newark, Notts.

SOUTHERN DISTRICT.

Name.

Age when given.

School.

Don* Potter 13 Priory Church Girls' School, Chrutchurch, Hants.

Bertram K. Johnson . .14 Wing Boys' Council School, Bucks.

Annie Austen . . . 13 Swan Street Girls' School, Swan Street, Southsea.

Jack Hawken 11 Liskeard Parochial School, Liskeard, Cornwall.

Jessie Kemp '11 Church Street Girls'School, Portsmouth.

Mollie Bateson . . . . ... SS. Mary and John Girls'School, Essex Street, Oxford.

Vera Grace 14 Kent Street Girls' School, Portsea, Portsmouth.

Sylvia Nottingham . . . 13 Senior Girls' School, March, Cambs.

Thomas J. Day . . . .13 Oakfield Boys' School, Ryde, I. of W.

Dorothy Nichols . . . . j Francis Avenue Council School, Portsmouth.

Phyllis Ward j Shipbourne Council School, Shipbourne, Kent.

Thomas J. Somerfield . . ... Ashley Road Senior School, Barnstaple, N. Devon.

Eva Turner 13 C. of E. Girls' School, North Walk, Barnstaple, N.

Devon.

Freda A. Sewell . . . . 13 i Childerley Gate Council School, Cambridge.

Alfred T. Knight . . . ... Slindon Church of England School, nr. Arundel, Sussex.

Winifred Beechey . . . i 13 C. of E. School, Princes Rjsboro', Bucks.

May McNeil Christ Church Girls'School, Bamet, Herts.

Gladys Rolfe South Oxford Council Girls' School, Thames Street, i St. Aldate's, Oxford.

Josephine Hall ' St. Augustine's School, Tunbridge Wells.

A. H. Myers . The Council School, Newbury, Bucks.

Reginald Waghorn . . • . ... i St. Augustine's School, Tunbridge Wells.

Nora Bunting . . . 13 • The School, Edgefield, nr. Melton Constable, Norfolk.

R. Past on ! ... l Heigham Street School, Norwich.

Charles Keay 13 St. Peter's Boys' School, Tunbridge Wells.

Frederick Thyer .... 14 j Somerset Bridge School, Bridgwater.

Leslie W. Seal . . . . ; ... j Swancombe C. of E. Boys'School, Manor Road, Swans- combe, Kent.

Harry Phillips .... 13 Tichborne C. of E. School, Alresford, Hants.

Emily Ash Harbledown C. of E. School, Canterbury.

Phyllis Weeks Cromwell Road Council School, Redhill, Surrey.

G. E. Siggs 14 Willowfield Central School, Eastbourne.

THE BEST ESSAY IN THE COMPETITION.

By DORIS POTTER (aged 13), of the Priory Church Girls' School, Christchurch, Hants.

One of the greatest Societies is the Royal Life-boat Institution, which for nearly one hundred years has built and maintained the Life-boat services of Great Britain with its fleet of nearly 260 Life-boats, and its brave crews of about 7,000 boatmen.

This Society has saved the lives of thousands of men, women, and children from a watery grave, and it has rescued vast cargoes of mer- chandise from destruction. Such an Institu- tion is of great national importance and an absolute necessity in a maritime country like ours, if we still wish to hold the first position in the world for trade, and for naval power.

Great Britain, " bound in with the trium- phant sea," is the centre of the land hemi- spheres, and of the world's shipping. It has 5,000 miles of sea coast, with many perilous points. To save the lives of people of any country when in danger, during peace or war, and to preserve ships, this Society was formed.

We are a nation of shopkeepers, and our immense trade depends almost entirely on our shipping. Britain's shipping and number of men employed are greater than that of the whole of the United States, Germany, and Prance put together. So the losses in lives and ships round our shores are enormous in comparison with other countries.

During the War the Life-boats saved not only over 5,000 lives, but also over 180 vessels and boats, which carried thousands of tons of food and materials for industry.

This noble work is still going on round our sea-girt land—" This precious stone set in the silver sea "—and at all dangerous places, there are brave men always ready to battle their way to rescue those in danger.

The Life-boat service keeps alive the true British spirit of our forefathers, which has made our Empire what it is to-day, and that is the spirit of sacrifice, heroism, duty, courage, endurance and comradeship. There is, on nearly every page of English history, some story of our sailors' brave deeds, so we should ever " be prepared" to help them, for the lessening of our sea-power will lead to Eng- land's downfall.

The lives saved by the Life-boats are chiefly those in the prime of life. Their deaths would not only mean great losses to the country as citizens and workers, but would render thousands of homes miserable, and cause a great many widows and children to be sup- ported out of the rates and in charitable homes.

Our Life-boat service has been so much admired, that many foreign maritime countries have modelled their institutions on our own, and thus it has extended its good work all over the world, and made others realize its necessity and importance.

To-day the Life-boats are manned by just as fearJess and noble men as our Nelson led to battle, and every Britisher should earnestly support, with pride, the Royal Life-boat Institution..