PRIZE COMPETITION (Vol. XIX., p. 376).
FIRST PRIZE DESCRIPTION OF "RAINY DAY INDOOR OCCUPATIONS AT THE SEA-SIDE."
While the weather is bright and warm, children seldom lack amusement during their annual visit to the sea-side; but in this changeable climate of ours rainy days often occur, when out-door recreation is impossible, and little folk must be content to seek employment in the house. Many boys and girls while enjoying the fine days give a thought to these occasions, and lay in a store of matter for amusement in readiness for the time when the somewhat limited pursuits of indoor sea-side life will have lost their charms. It is a very good plan to make a collection of shells, seaweeds, pebbles, and such marine treasures while opportunities occur. These may be arranged and sorted at leisure, and will afford employment for many idle hours.
One almost unfailing source of amusement, within the reach of every boy and girl, is an aquarium. A great deal of pleasure and instruction will be found in the study of its various little inmates—no matter if their home consist of nothing more than a common earthenware pan. An establishment of this kind, however, demands constant attention, cleanliness and light being very necessary to the health of the fish.
Shells may be utilised in numerous pretty ways. If for a collection, the arrangement and classification of each species form a very pleasant employment. They may also be used to cover boxes, brackets, and such small articles with very good effect.
Neither does their use end here, for they may be tied in neat bags, and will then be gladly received by the secretaries of any Children's Hospitals, for the benefit of the patients.
Seaweeds, if neatly mounted, make very pretty collections, and are useful in the decoration of albums and Christmas cards. The easiest method of preparation is to float them on paper, after allowing them to expand in a basin of water. No gumming is required, but the larger specimens may be further secured by strips of paper pasted across the principal parts, after they have been thoroughly dried and pressed. They may be arranged in books like plants, the proper name and that of its locality being assigned to each variety.
Some boys seem to think it worth while to polish the pretty pebbles which are found on some shores, but this process is both tedious and unprofitable. In these days there are few children who do not possess a microscope; those who do will find innumerable interesting objects both for mounting and inspection.
"Variety is charming," as every one knows, and after a little recreation of this kind young people are often glad to return, by way of a change, to books, work, and sketching, and appreciate all the more a favourable rise in the barometer. But while so usefully and pleasantly employed they will soon learn to greet with less regret an occasional rainy day.
Hilda Frisby.
2, St. Mary's Crescent, Leamington. (Aged 15.)
Certified by Jane A. Frisby (Mother).
SECOND PRIZE DESCRIPTION.
When the day is fine and the sea calm, it is very pleasant to wade and splash about in the sunny water, and to roam among the rocks, searching for little crabs, many-coloured anemones, starfish, &c.; but when the rain is pouring down as if it would never stop, and the sea looks grey and dismal, it is sometimes difficult to amuse oneself within doors.
It is interesting to collect seaweed, though in pressing it, it is difficult to prevent the thin fibres from matting together when taken out of the water. One of the best methods is to float the seaweed on a plate, full of water, and after placing a piece of rather thick blotting-paper in the water, underneath the seaweed, to raise the paper suddenly out of the plate, when the water sinks through the blotting-paper, on which the most delicate parts of the seaweed remain spread out.
There are many games suitable for a rainy day; amongst them a poetry game, in which each player is provided with a slip of paper and a pencil. A circle is formed; every one writes a noun, and, folding down the line on which he has written, passes the paper to the next player, who writes a question on it. Each paper is then passed to the next person, who, unfolding it, has to make a short piece of poetry, not only introducing the noun but also answering the question.
When finished, the rhymes are read aloud, and generally cause much amusement.
This game can be varied by limiting the "nouns" to names of animals, with any absurd question concerning them: for instance—
"Porcupine," and
"Does it like sweets?"
The porcupine of many spines
Always eats sweetmeats when it dines,
'Tis very fond of chocolate-creams,
And munches candy in its dreams.
The little ones, as may be seen,
On brandy-balls are very keen,
And peppermints they will devour,
And lemon-drops eat by the hour.
For girls, painting and drawing are a great pastime, and a very pretty and effective method of shading small landscapes is produced by drawing on smooth paper the outlines of a landscape (a sea view is the prettiest, with the moon shining on the water), and then painting with a weak solution of gum-arabic the lightest parts of the picture, such as the moon, the ripples, and the high lights. When quite dry, rub the whole surface over with lead-pencil dust, applied either with a stump or with chamois leather, till the whole becomes dark grey; then mark out with a B pencil the shadows of the rocks, &c. When everything is drawn, pass a damp handkerchief down the picture, which will wipe off the gum, leaving the places where it has been perfectly white.
Such occupations, although the day may be dull, will pass the time pleasantly within doors.
Margaret T. S. Beattie.
St. Michael's, Torquay. (Aged 13.)
Certified by E. Rogers (Teacher).
LIST OF HONOUR.
First Prize (One-Guinea Book), with Officer's Medal of the "Little Folks" Legion of Honour:—Hilda Frisby (15), 2, St. Mary's Crescent, Leamington. Second Prize (Seven-Shilling-and-Sixpenny Book), with Officer's Medal:—Margaret T. S. Beattie (13), St. Michael's, Torquay. Honourable Mention, with Member's Medal:—Edith M. Mason (14), 64, Park Walk, Chelsea, S.W.; Sharley Fullford (12), High Street, Fareham; Grace Pettman (14), Ladbroke, The Elms, Ramsgate; Sue May (12), 8, South Parade, Bedford Park; C. M. Battersby (15), Cromlyn, Rathowen, Co. W. Meath; Sybil A. Coventry (13-1/4), Severn Stoke Rectory, Worcester; May Johnson (15-3/4), Boldmere Road, Chester Road, near Birmingham; Leonard Watts (12-1/2), 12, Broadhurst Gardens, Finchley New Road N.