The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1906-10-19
\ INTERESTING CONTEST.
Heavy Cost of Unpaid Postage.

One or the most curious contests
ever before the public was conducted
by many thousand persons under the
offer of the Postum Cereal Co., Ltd,
of Battle Creek, Mich, for prizes of 81
boxes of gold and 300 greenbacks to
those making. the most words out of
the letters Y-IO-Grape-Nuts.
The contest was started in Febru-
ary, 1906, and it was arranged to have
the prizes awarded on Apr. 30 1906.
When the public announcement ap-
peared many persons began to form
the words from these letters, some
times the whole family being occupied
evenings, combination Of amuse-
ment and education.
After a while the lists began to
come ,il-to the Postum Office and be-
fore long the volume grew until it re,
quired wagons to carry the mail. Many
of the contestants were thoughtless
enough to send their lists with insult
f1cient postage and for period it cost
the Company from twenty-five to fifty
eight and sixty dollars a day to pay
the unpaid postage.
Young ladies, generally those who
had graduated from the high school,
were employed to examine these lists
and count the correct words. Web.
ster's Dictionary was the standard and
each list was very carefully corrected
except those which fell below 5000 for
it soon became clear that nothing be-
Nxxx fIzk fryf,, xNfN NE<1 fafc
required the work of a young lady for
solid week on each individual list.
The work was done very carefully and
accurately but the Company had no
idea, at the time the offer was made,
that the people would respond so gen
orally and they were compelled to fill
every available space in the Offices
with these young lady examiners, and
Notwithstanding they worked steadily
1t was impossible to complete the ex-
animation until Sept. 20, over six
months after the prizes should have
been awarded.
This delay caused great many In
quiries and naturally created some
dissatisfaction. 1t has been thought
best to make this report in practically
all of the newspapers in the United
States and many of the magazines in
order to make clear to the people the
conditions of the contest.
Many lists contained enormous
numbers of words which, under the
rules had to be eliminated. "Pegger''
would count "Peggers" would not
Some lists contained over $4,000
words, the great majority of which
were cut out. The largest lists were
checked over two, and in some cases
three times, to insure accuracy.
The $4,000 gold prize was won by
L. d. Reese, 1127-15th St., Denver,
Colo, with 9941 correct words. The
highest $1,000 gold prize went to S. X.
Fraser, Lincoln, Pa, with 1921 correct
words
The complete list of the 331 winners
with their home addresses will be sent
to any contestant enQuiring on a pos
tai card.
Be sure and give name and address
clearly.
Aio COhtSSI mas CUSJ lu0 70. many
thousand dollars, and probably has not
been a profitable advertisement, new
ertheless perhaps some who had never
before tried Grape+Nuts food have
been interested in the contest, and
from trial of the food have been
shown its wonderful rebuilding pow
ers.
1t teaches in practical manner
that scientifically gathered food ele-
ments can be selected from the field
grains, which nature will use for re-
building the nerve centres and brain
in way that is unmistakable to users
Of Grape-Nuts.
there's reason"
Postum Cereal Co., Ltd, Battle
Greek, Mich.