----

43736 Norah Sh.e.l.ley 12 43737 I. E. Chandler 12 43738 GRACE E. BRABROOK, Lewisham 14 43739 M. C. C. Bather 10 43740 K. M. Smith 11 43741 Ernest T. Hamer 13 43742 M. E. Bartlett 14 43743 A. L. Whitworth 12 43744 George H. Ray 14 43745 Harry P. Francis 10 43746 Harry P. Money 13 43747 Nellie Leroy 11 43748 E. W. c.o.xwell 8 43749 Thos. J. Roberts 12 43750 G. H. Wheeler 13 43751 Flora Dormer 16 43752 Edwd. M. Jorey 15 43753 Henry V. Jorey 12 43754 H. G. c.o.xwell 12 43755 Ethel Roberts 10 43756 Alice M. Cooper 12 43757 A. Meinerbyhagen 14 43758 Lydia M. Cooper 9 43759 Eliza E. Green 13 43760 Lizzie Kendall 10 43761 Harriet Gibbons 16 43762 W. H. Newsham 13 43763 Shirley M. Bouts 12 43764 Helen L. Barff 11 43765 H. E. Fleming 15 43766 E. M. Brabrook 9 43767 A. G. Brabrook 11 43768 I. M. Brabrook 9 43769 A. R. Brabrook 12 43770 Wm. H. Smith 13 43771 F. E. Brabrook 16 43772 H. G. Brabrook 13 43773 Chas. W. Sabin 4 43774 H. R. Brabrook 13 43775 Edith M. Sabin 6 43776 Alfred H. Sabin 9 43777 M. C. Kingsford 15 43778 F. K. Kingsford 11 43779 N. B. Kingsford 9 43780 A. G. Kingsford 12 43781 Jessie Barff 13 43782 W. J. Brabrook 14 43783 Arthur J. Sabin 7 43784 T. H. Barff 9 43785 Ethel S. Barff 6 43786 Herbert Brawn 14 43787 Thomas R. Hird 13 43788 F. T. Langridge 14 43789 MABEL MALLETT, Nottingham 8 43790 Eliza Staniforth 10 43791 W. H. Baldwin 11 43792 Percy Hill 11 43793 M. Edmondstone 12 43794 Arthur Lynn 8 43795 Annie Fussell 18 43796 Nellie Moss 13 43797 Owen Hill 9 43798 Mary A. Brooks 12 43799 Jessie Goodall 11 43800 H. Baldwin 17 43801 Hannah Lester 8 43802 I. Lowenstein 11 43803 Florence Young 8 43804 Arthur Dodds 7 43805 Cath. J. Brooks 9 43806 C. Edwards 8 43807 A. H. Mallet 11 43808 Florence Baldwin 16 43809 E. G. Lowenstein 6 43810 M. Lowenstein 10 43811 Lizzie Gascoigne 7 43812 Ada Widdowson 7 43813 Eliza Smarte 9 43814 Annie Sanday 8 43815 Alice Savage 9 43816 Lawrence Facon 9 43817 Clara Allen 9 43818 Tom B. Durose 8 43819 Emma Lindley 10 43820 Mary Kemp 10 43821 A. E. Buckland 11 43822 Katie Burton 11 43823 H. Bannister 12 43824 A. Frettingham 10 43825 M. Trenchard 10 43826 Clara Lane 9 43827 E. N. Hopkinson 13 43828 Annie E. Moore 9 43829 Florence Gill 13 43830 Thomas Morris 8 43831 Henry Budworth 8 43832 Thomas Marsh 10 43833 Emma Raynor 10 43834 Emily Bannister 10 43835 Emma Raynor 8 43836 G. M. Hopkinson 11 43837 A. E. Hopkinson 6 43838 Edith E. Adams 7 43839 May Angelinetta 8 43840 JAMES L. SNOWDON, Regent's Park, L. 14 43841 Katie Sworn 14 43842 Arthur Morris 14 43843 Cecil Littlejohn 15 43844 Jas. H. Hudson 13 43845 H. W. J. Hudson 11 43846 Walter Furley 13 43847 Lena Brunton 9 43848 Sidney J. Smith 13 43849 Mabel Skinner 12 43850 Minnie Fend.i.c.k 13 43851 E. Buickhardt 15 43852 J. W. P. Chapman 14 43853 A. F. Trevelyan 14 43854 John Webb 12 43855 P. D. Trevelyan 12 43856 Emily S. Cole 10 43857 Edwin J. Withers 17 43858 Edith Foot 12 43859 Chloe Foot 10 43860 Wm. P. Cooke 14 43861 G. I. Teasdale 16 43862 Henry J. Clark 15 43863 Laura Read 16 43864 A. E. Speaight 14 43865 Selina Read 19 43866 Frederick Smith 13 43867 Henry Millachip 13 43868 Nellie Brunton 12 43869 Gertrude Charles 11 43870 Henry Denew 12 43871 A. J. Chapman 15 43872 Helena Clarke 13 43873 Helen Stormont 14 43874 E. Branthwaite 12 43875 Chas. R. Heath 13 43876 William Smith 14 43877 T. S. Lascelles 13 43878 Annie Snowdon 13 43879 R. E. Thornley 11 43880 Richard Varfy 13 43881 George Wright 15 43882 Thos. Blackblock 14 43883 Henry J. Long 14 43884 Chas. E. Hardy 14 43885 Fredk. Roberts 14 43886 W. G. Rogers 13 43887 E. J. Warren 16 43888 J. A. Auchinvole 16 43889 Lizzie Dieppe 7 43890 f.a.n.n.y Everest 13 43891 F. E. Warren 13 43892 L. M. Auchinvole 9 43893 Berthold Feil 8

----

43894 Wm. G. Farrow 11 43895 Dan Farrow 10 43896 Mary Supple 13 43897 MARIA LILLEY, Birmingham 14 43898 Harry Austin 3 43899 Dora M. Wilson 4 43900 Elsie Wilson 5 43901 Miriam Austin 5 43902 Nellie Hinds 5 43903 R. T. Thompson 6 43904 Sidney Halliley 6 43905 Annie Austin 7 43906 Charlotte J. Gent 7 43907 C. C. Whitworth 7 43908 Bertie Lilley 8 43909 C. G. Thompson 8 43910 Francis Murphy 8 43911 Elsie Halliley 9 43912 G. E. Higgins 9 43913 G. E. Gent 9 43914 James Brierley 9 43915 Lilly Austin 9 43916 Verah Brown 9 43917 Bernard Murphy 10 43918 Harry Sheldon 10 43919 Beatrice Sheldon 10 43920 Louisa Heath 10 43921 Oliver J. Biggs 10 43922 William Scragg 10 43923 F. M. Brown 11 43924 Martha J. Scragg 11 43925 Mable G. Hill 11 43926 H. S. Whitworth 11 43927 Hannah Hinds 11 43928 Chas. H. Brown 12 43929 Ella Smith 12 43930 Grace Floyd 12 43931 M. E. Higgins 12 43932 J. F. Whitworth 12 43933 Louie Trease 12 43934 William Murphy 12 43935 Wm. A. Heath 12 43936 Alice Brown 13 43937 John Brierley 13 43938 Gertrude Heath 14 43939 Albert Brierley 15 43940 E. T. Brown 15 43941 Ethel S. Hill 15 43942 Mary Trease 15 43943 Mary A. Wood 16 43944 Lizzie Barrett 18 43945 Katie Lilley 19 43946 Carrie Trease 19 43947 Caroline Glading 19 43948 f.a.n.n.y S. DAWE, Fulham 12 43949 John S. M. Gill 16 43950 Sarah Baker 20 43951 Margaret Welsh 15 43952 Ellen Welsh 17 43953 f.a.n.n.y Jolly 18 43954 John Jolly 16 43955 Annie M. Dobson 14 43956 H. L. Dobson 11 43957 Herbt. J. Dobson 10 43958 M. W. Miller 7 43959 A. A. Miller 6 43960 I. G. B. Cardwell 13 43961 M. A. Lewington 18 43962 Frances Collison 13 43963 M. A. Collison 10 43964 M. S. Collison 8 43965 F. V. C. Collison 7 43966 Alice Sillitoe 16 43967 Rosetta C. Taylor 15 43968 Charlotte Turner 20 43969 Florence Bartlett 9 43970 Mary E. Baxter 11 43971 E. Olorenshaw 11 43972 Lily Olorenshaw 9 43973 Mary A. Batley 15 43974 Wm. Richmond 14 43975 John Bickerdike 13 43976 Eliza A. Lee 16 43977 Emma Lee 14 43978 Myers Wilkinson 18 43979 Daisy Chapman 10 43980 A. M. M. Thomas 12 43981 Bertie Vandeput 9 43982 Sarah Sweeney 15 43983 Ellen Strutton 17 43984 Mary Dawyar 15 43985 Pollie Sullivan 18 43986 Mary Leary 12 43987 Blanche White 14 43988 Lizzie Murphy 11 43989 Clotilda Chiron 12 43990 Mary Folley 16 43991 Bessie Lovey 15 43992 Lizzie Ham 17 43993 Bessie Stannard 15 43994 Melissa Pinsent 15 43995 William Wagland 13 43996 Kezia Wagland 11 43997 George Wagland 9 43998 A. J. Wagland

----

43999 Sonython Jeffrey 8 44000 James Davidson 13 44001 A. Thomson 10 44002 John Huggan 12 44003 John Davidson 8 44004 George Davidson 8 44005 Nelly Walker 5 44006 Thomas Scott 8 44007 William Walker 7 44008 Robert Scott 9 44009 John Lowrie 10 44010 William Oliver 7 44011 John Oliver 12 44012 William Haig 7 44013 A. Davidson 6 44014 Gertrd. Beaman 13 44015 Annie Martin 10 44016 Ethel A. Hooton 13 44017 Maude Hicks 11 44018 Irene Hooton 11 44019 Rose E. Peach 7 44020 Emily S. Baily 12 44021 Ellen L. Ashwell 11 44022 ALICE HOWELL, Croydon 14 44023 Katie Norton 9 44024 R. F. Norton 7 44025 Geo. B. Norton 12 44026 Charles Norton 11 44027 H. T. Waterman 20 44028 Emily Griffiths 15 44029 A. D. Howell 17 44030 Lilian M. Pryce 6 44031 Fredk. H. Pryce 8 44032 Edith S. Pryce 11 44033 S. P. Griffiths 14 44034 Adelaide Paxton 14 44035 Jane Spicer 9 44036 Emily Spicer 10 44037 I. C. Paxton 10 44038 f.a.n.n.y Griffiths 13 44039 B. P. Griffiths 11 44040 Elizabeth Wyatt 11 44041 Ernest A. Howell 8 44042 Robert Paxton 13 44043 Walter Faldo 9 44044 K. L. Faldo 12 44045 Laura Faldo 7 44046 Rebecca Faldo 14 44047 Clara S. Faldo 16 44048 Annie Weston 8 44049 Percy Weston 6 44050 Arthur Weston 15 44051 Bessie Weston 18 44052 Frank Weston 20 44053 Chas. H. Griffiths 9 44054 William Gatland 15 44055 Clarissa Goodwin 16 44056 Edith Carter 15 44057 Emily Weston 16 44058 Maud Griffiths 7 44059 Matilda Gatland 17 44060 Elizabeth Paxton 5 44061 Mary Paxton 7 44062 Annie Paxton 9 44063 Emily G. Garneys 13 44064 Maurice Ashby 7 44065 Francis P. Ashby 11 44066 N. C. Ashby 8 44067 Edith W. Ashby 10 44068 Ethel M. Lester 10 44069 Howard Lester 8 44070 Amy C. Lester 7 44071 Caroline Hawes 14 44072 Maud C. Wise 16 44073 A. A. TOPPINS, Penrith 13 44074 Clara Waiting 16 44075 George Salkeld 11 44076 Thomas Turner 10 44077 Albert Waiting 11 44078 C. Waiting 13 44079 Isaac Turner 9 44080 John Davidson 6 44081 John Strong 9 44082 John Toppin 7 44083 Mary H. Hill 12 44084 G. N. Witherell 6 44085 Sarah J. Toppin 21 44086 A. Wetherington 8 44087 Margaret Strong 10 44088 Helena Grundy 10 44089 Rose Crane 15 44090 Edith Page 10 44091 John F. Sides 11 44092 Mary Forrester 9 44093 Bertha Grundy 12 44094 Florence Pearson 14 44095 Marie Lane 11 44096 Edith B. Young 9 44097 Arthur S. Young 8 44098 Ernest E. Young 6 44099 Elizab. A. Smith 18 44100 S. Bossaert 9 44101 Mary Tooke 13 44102 May Rhodes 17 44103 Hope Grant 17 44104 E. L. Langdon 17 44105 Louisa Stevens 13 44106 W. R. Johnson 12 44107 W. A. Vignoles 10 44108 Lizzie Cole 16 44109 C. R. Bartram 7 44110 Henry J. Bartram 12 44111 M. G. Henderson 11 44112 M. E. Vignoles 7 44113 Ella Bremner 13 44114 C. E. Darroch 13 44115 Helen E. Lamb 9 44116 Mary F. Lamb 11 44117 G. Meinertzhagen 14 44118 M. Meinertzhagen 12 44119 E. F. Fenwick 9 44120 C. L. H. Fenwick 10 44121 A. W. Bryan 11 44122 John S. a.s.sheton 9 44123 Blanche Edens 13 44124 HEARTIE M. B. BATE, Ashbourne 11 44125 Mabel M. b.u.t.t 11 44126 Fredk. W. Snape 11 44127 Louisa M. Snape 9 44128 Percy G. Snape 7 44129 Gertrude Norman 11 44130 E. Southern 10 44131 Marie Southern 6 44132 L. Southern 5 44133 Tom C. Southern 3 44134 Evelyn Southern 3 44135 F. A. George 18 44136 Chas. H. Bullock 3 44137 Annie Savory 18 44138 Chas. B. Savory 16 44139 Fredk. M. Savory 14 44140 William J. Wager 14 44141 Louisa Elizabeth 16 44142 Alice J. Broad 9 44143 F. M. Broad 7 44144 Kate P. Broad 5 44145 Charles H. Lowe 8 44146 Lilian A. Lowe. 7 44147 Adelina F. Lowe 6 44148 Irena A. Lowe 4 44149 Cyril L. Hare 3 44150 Harriette M. Hart 17 44151 Mary E. Bell 19 44152 Ethel M. Bird 7 44153 Mabel F. Bird 5 44154 H. Hare 19 44155 Harry Davies 18 44156 William Barton 18 44157 Allin Jessop 12 44158 William Ford 16 44159 Albert Webb 8 44160 Arthur Beardsell 13 44161 Samuel Sprat 18 44162 William Mills 16 44163 Charles Bamford 16 44164 Emmie Gaud 18 44165 Kate Elliot 12 44166 Norah Thomas 9 44167 Constance Payne 18 44168 Walter R. Payne 9 44169 William F. Payne 10 44170 Daisy Elliot 7 44171 Amy Elliot 5 44172 Clara Coole 17 44173 B. K. Tacon 13 44174 Francis W. Ford 6 44175 Percy Parker 7 44176 Mary S. Parker 5 44177 Lizzie Parker 4 44178 ADA I. SECKER, U. Holloway 12 44179 Cecil Ottaway 15 44180 Frank L. Vincent 14 44181 Jack Findlay 13 44182 C. W. H. Secker 10 44183 Cicely Secker 11 44184 B. L. Secker 14 44185 M. L. Copeland 10 44186 Mary J. Hay 17 44187 Georgina Hay 20 44188 E. J. Braithwaite 10 44189 Daisy M. Wyatt 8 44190 Lily L. Wyatt 10 44191 Ellen E. Vincent 10 44192 Alice M. Vincent 8 44193 Ellen Clark 10 44194 Edgar W. Clark 15 44195 Sydney W. Clark 11 44196 C. H. Eldridge 14 44197 J. A. Coemeke 15 44198 J. H. Broadhead 12 44199 Florry E. Wood 11 44200 F. E. S. Bryant 18 44201 Alice E. Esling 10 44202 Florence M. Shaw 9 44203 E. S. Kemshead 8 44204 H. F. Kemshead 14 44205 C. R. Kemshead 11 44206 Joseph H. Feil 13 44207 Edward Feil 11 44208 Ottmar Feil 9 44209 C. A. C. Read 14 44210 Annie Walker 18 44211 E. E. Sparrow 10 44212 Ada J. Sparrow 11 44213 May Ba.s.sett 11 44214 M. E. Roberts 10 44215 Edith Gell 12 44216 Nellie Challis 12 44217 Thos. H. Prince 13 44218 W. H. Summers 15 44219 A. M. Summers 10 44220 Mary Jenkins 19 44221 Lizzie Beckett 15 44222 Mary E. Beckett 12 44223 F. M. Hawkes 14 44224 Rose A. Murcott 15 44225 E. M. Harris 12 44226 Julia Winter 13 44227 Esther Warren 13 44228 E. A. Hamblen 11 44229 Ada D. Sturges 13 44230 Jessie Prichard 12 44231 FLORENCE MARKHAM, Dalston 13 44232 Alice Smith 10 44233 F. C. Howard 13 44234 Gertie Oatley 13 44235 Kate Bovey 11 44236 Lila C. Bovey 9 44237 Annie Eustace 13 44238 W. E. Newlyn 10 44239 Gertie Turner 10 44240 Thos. H. Sochon 8 44241 Wm. T. Barnes 8 44242 Alice Walker 17 44243 Nellie Mackie 8 44244 Annie Treble 8 44245 Ellen G. Fordham 14 44246 Henry W. Archer 18 44247 Ernest Eustace 11 44248 Jessie R. Howard 6 44249 Annie Brown 18 44250 Rose Mathys 14 44251 Lilian G. Sochon 6 44252 Emily Foale 18 44253 Violet Hoppe 10 44254 Phoebe Holness 12 44255 Emma Walker 15 44256 Edith Auther 10 44257 Mary Hadland 9 44258 Agnes M. Hilling 8 44259 Florence Sochon 10 44260 Wm. H. Clarke 9 44261 Katie Lehany 11 44262 Adelaide Sh.o.r.ey 12 44263 E. M. Fordman 16 44264 Lillian Fordman 9 44265 Maud E. Sochon 11 44266 Alice Lehany 13 44267 Agnes Oates 12 44268 Emily M. Clifton 8 44269 Victoria Russell 13 44270 Ada F. Clifton 10 44271 F. H. Moore 9 44272 Lily Lehany 8 44273 Katie Archer 13 44274 Nellie M. Pilbeam 14 44275 Jane Treble 15 44276 Maryann Oates 9 44277 Ada Lehany 10

[_Officers and Members are referred to a Special Notice on page 55._]

OUR LITTLE FOLKS' OWN PAGE.

PRIZE COMPEt.i.tION (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 amus.e.m.e.nt 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 amus.e.m.e.nt 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 sh.e.l.ls, 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 amus.e.m.e.nt, 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.

Sh.e.l.ls may be utilised in numerous pretty ways. If for a collection, the arrangement and cla.s.sification 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 alb.u.ms 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 princ.i.p.al 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 a.s.signed to each variety.

Some boys seem to think it worth while to polish the pretty pebbles which are found on some sh.o.r.es, 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, pa.s.ses the paper to the next player, who writes a question on it. Each paper is then pa.s.sed 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 amus.e.m.e.nt.

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-b.a.l.l.s 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, pa.s.s 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 pa.s.s 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.

OUR LITTLE FOLKS' OWN PUZZLES.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

PICTORIAL NATURAL HISTORY PUZZLE.

3, 5, 6, 17, 8, 2, 6 = A periodical wind.

1, 13, 4, 10, 11, 18 = A contest.

19, 23, 22, 21 = To utter reproach.

7, 13, 6 = Gained.

14, 20, 16, 21, 12 = A failing.

15, 22, 9 = Design.

What is the whole?

MESOSTICH.

The letters read down the centre form the name of a country in South America.

1. A country in Africa.