COMPETITION IN PENMANSHIP.
FIRST ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES.
In order to encourage the acquisition of a free, legible style of
handwriting:, (?) means of extensively increasing throughout Ireland the
power of obtaining remunerative employment, I offered, in November last, the
undermentioned prizes to pupils and teachers of Irish National or other
schools, public or private.
Pupils Prizes.—To the most faithful imitators of the whole of the lines, the
first twelve pages and the last twelve pages of my copy-book (No. 7),
containing three lines of Christian-names on one side of each leaf, and two
lines of sentences on the other side; two prizes of £5 each, twenty prizes
of t1, thirty prizes of 10s. Each, and one hundred prizes of 5s. each—
Teachers Prizes.—For the best written sets of twenty-five of my
copy-book—namely, five of each of the following numbers:—1, 2, 5, 6, 7,
comely copied by as many different writers (pupils) as books, i.e,
by twenty different pupils, the whole of the lines to be faithfully imitated
in size style, each word, exclusive of capitals and the small letter x,
being continuously written through, from end to end, without lifting the pen
from paper—two prizes of £5 each, and twenty prizes of £1 each—total, £30,
prizes to be equally divided between male and female teachers,(?) stated
that, as a condition of the distribution of so large a sum, I
should(select?) at least 1,000 competing pupils and fifty competing teachers
of each
J(?) only fifteen teachers have competed (for twenty-two prizes), of whom '*
have mistaken the conditions, one having executed tho Herculean task himself
writing thirty!!! books of strokes, pothooks, hangers, and sentences
completely through, their books will be held over for next year's
competition_ There has not been the required competition of pupils, there
being 750 competitors; however, as I should be extremely sorry to
disappoint those who have entered the lists, and as I think the bona fide
distribution of the prizes offered will materially promote the effect
intended, I shall on this occasion dispense with the condition as to
numbers, at the same time holding myself at liberty to distribute the prizes
according to merit, without distinction of sex; the only reason for the
proposed distinction having been the disadvantage under which numerous
female teachers and pupils had hitherto laboured, in being accustomed to
angular writing.
The following gentlemen kindly assisted me in the examination and judgment
of the books:—Mr. J. Carlisle, one of the head masters of the Belfast
Academical Institution, formerly Inspector of National
Schools, and Mr. P. Reilly, an excellent writer, self-taught from the use of
my copy-books, formerly a National teacher, and now a clerk in one of the
largest commercial establishments in Belfast.
The prizes are awarded as follows :—
TWENTY PRIZES OF £1 EACH.
Angus D. Webster, Clonmore National School, Tyrone.
Wm. J. Nesbitt, Castlederg National School, Tyrone.
THIRTY PRIZES OF 10s. EACH.
Daniel Finn, Clonmore National School, Tyrone.
Deborah A. Moore, Omagh Model National School, Tyrone.
Alexander Gray, Letterbin National School, Tyrone.
ONE HUNDRED PRIZES OF 5s. EACH.
Jas. M. Hamilton, Erasmus Smith's School, Dungannon, Tyrone.
James Farrell, Killyman National School, Tyrone.
Thomas Dunn, Killyman National School, Tyrone.
James Cullen, Killyman National School, Tyrone.
Joseph J. Quinn, Dunamore National School, Tyrone.
John M'Dowell, Erasmus Smith's School, Aughnacloy, Tyrone.
John M'Cullow, Plumbridge National School, Tyrone.
Joseph Quinn, Plumbridge National School, Tyrone.
Andrina Mitchell, Omagh Model National School, Tyrone.
Robert Boyd, the Academy, Cookstown, Tyrone.