28 DECEMBER 1956, Page 21

SPECTATOR COMPETITION No. 359 Set by Allan M. Laing

Competitors are to suppose that various of the illustrious dead—all diarists—are still alive, keeping their journals in the original styles. A prize of six guineas will be awarded for the most characteristic entry for the First of January, 1957, as it might have been written by any one of the follow- ing: Samuel Pepys, Daniel Defoe, Dean Swift, Celia Fiennes, Henry Teonge, Parson Kilvert, Mme d' Arblay, Thomas Creevey, the Goncourts, Dorothy Wordsworth, Sir Walter Scott, Arnold Bennett or W. N. P. Barbellion. Limit : 150 wbrds.

Entries, addressed 'Spectator Competition No. 359,' 99 Gower Street, London, WC1, by January 8. Results on Januttry 18.