The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-09-29


Win.
To-day is the last day of The Trib-
mes Educational Contest. This con-
test started on July 5, nearly three
months ago. or, to be exact, just
eighty-siX days ago, and will reach
its finish tonight at o'clock, when
the court house bell tolls that hour.
During the twelve and a half weeks
that have elapsed there have been
forty-two names enrolled IN the book
of contestants, but a majority of these
We're faint-hearted and soon wearied
of their self-imposed task. There were
sixteen, however. who stuck at their
posts. Some of these have fallen wo-
fully behind the last month, and to-
day, the last of the competition, sees
twelve active participants striving to
secure enough points to win one of the
ten special rewards. Two of them
must be left at the finish, but which
two will it be? That issue remains in
the contestants themselves. Those
who have worked hardest will reap
the reward of their labor in strict ac-
cordance with the showing they make
at the time the books are closed to-
night.
Many Changes Are Possible.
1t is quite probable that there will
De number of changes on Monday
morning from the list we publish
to-day, and it may be that some who
have held a commanding 'position all
through the contest may finish lower
down than they are at present. In
nearly all contests most of the COM
petitOrs reserve themselves until the
last day and finish in a grand rush.
This may or may not be the case in
The Tribune's Educational Contest.
But if there is any one of the leaders
who can strengthen his or her position
to-day, or who can even advance be
yond the point where they now stand
according to the published list, it will
be an act of extreme folly should they
fail to exert every effort to do so.
The race between the contestants from
first to twelfth place is closer than it
has been at any time during the past
two months, and even the position of
Charles Rodriguez who has been i'm
the lead for eighty-two days, is threat
ened by the upward rush of David V.
Birtley, who has gained forty points
on him in the last month, and from
third place down to twelfth there are
but slight differences. 1t is now open
to conjecture who will make the best
showing on this last day. AS it is
the last chance to better their stand
ing, ii may be depended upon that
each and every one of the contest
ants who has the least show to go up
higher will make the very best of the
few hours that remain.
Not Leaders" but Winners"
The list of leaders which is published
herewith appears for the last time
this morning. On Monday morning
there will be a list published, but it
will be the list of winners, and it will
give the correct order of their standing
at the close of the contest at o'clock
tonight.
The Tribune will not divulge the
standing of any contestant after this
mornings edition of the paper until it
is published on Monday morning. This
precaution is taken to protect the con-
testants as Well as The Tribune from
the charge of faVOrtism. During to-
day each contestant will be accorded
every opportunity to have the points
he has secured recorded, and the Of
flee of the Editor of the Educational
Contest will be open to receive points
from a. m. to p. m. No infOrma-
tion will be given out to any one, how
ever, and each contestant may feel
absolutely secure that his or her in
terests will be safeguarded. Contest
ants will take notice of the following
rules regarding the closing day:
Rules of Closing Day.
l. After the issue Of this morning no further
Information will be given out until the final re.
suit is announced Monday morning, Octo.
Der l,
p Returns will be received at this office until
o'Nocli p. m. tonight, but do not delay bring.
ing " your points until an hour dangerously
closceto the end, for no returns will be ac-
ccpted from contestants Except as provided in
Rule - who are not in the Office at the stroke
OF S O'Clock as told by the court house clock
g. Contestants will be required to make their
returns regardless Of the standing OF others at
the moment aud the number Of points any one
may have registered during the day will in no
case be disclosed prior to the nnal announce.
mcnt
T. Contestants who send reports 10y mail will
be credited for all that bear Il postmark at the
postoihce Of deposit Of p. m. or earlier. In
this connection II is important to remember that
letters left at a Postoficc are frequently not
postmarkcd at once, and it will be necessary 10
ascertain Just how long before the hour OF D.
m. a-letter should be deposited in order 10 in
sure its being properly stamped
8. In case of ties, the one who succeeds in
first scoring the number OF points will have the
first choice OF special reward The hour Of
making the return at The Tribune Office or the
poslnark will decide that question.
Interesting Tables.
In order that contestants may be
able TO do a little figuring on how
many points may be necessary for
them to get in some desired position,
providing the contestant who now
holds It does not make any extra
effort today, or does not increase his
daily average for the month, a table
Is given, showing the number Of points
secured by each contestant during the