Offered in Five Unique Contests.
Harper's Round Table puzzles are famous. During the year five prize puzzles will be published, and $40 in cash will be offered for best solutions to each. Competition for these prizes is open only to actual subscribers to Harper's Round Table, and to the subscribers of a few newspapers which print these puzzles simultaneously with this periodical.
These prize puzzles are given in addition to the usual "Kinks." As a rule, the Kinks are not prize contests. The prize puzzles consist of stories, which are interesting as stories, and are good puzzles besides. The five cover as many varieties or styles of puzzles, and so give solvers of different tastes and abilities a chance at the particular kind of puzzle for which they have a bent. Here are titles of two of the prize puzzles: "The River Styx Puzzle," and "A Wonderful Outing Tragedy." Others are similar. The prize-money is $40 to the best three solvers in each contest. The right is reserved to divide the prize-money according to merit of answers. As a rule, it may be said that the best solver wins $20; the one who comes next wins $12, and the third $8. These puzzles will appear in Harper's Round Table during November and December, 1896, and January, February, and March, 1897, with the particulars of the contest. Correctness and neatness are the tests of excellence.
Prizes for Short Stories—$150.
First Prize, $75; Second, $50; Third, $25.
Harper's Round Table offers $150, divided in three parts, thus: First Prize, $75; Second Prize, $50; Third Prize, $25—for the best stories written by actual subscribers to it, those whose names are on its subscription list for a one year's subscription. Stories must contain at least five hundred words, and must not exceed two thousand words, actual count. The plot must be probable, and the story well told, both in sequence of events and in language employed. As far as practicable type-write the story. But this condition is not imperative. At the top of the first page place your name and address in full, and the number of words in your story. Do not roll your manuscript. Use paper about five by eight inches in size, unless the story is type-written, when use regular type-writer paper. Prepay postage, and enclose return postage. Address it, not later than February 28, 1897, to Harper's Round Table, New York, and put in the lower left-hand corner of the envelope the words "Story Competition." No story may be sent by you that is not wholly original with you, and none may be submitted that has ever been submitted in any contest. One person may not submit more than one story. Two persons may not join in writing a single story. If you are not a subscriber, and desire to compete for these prizes, send $2 with your story, and give address to which paper is to be sent for one year.