The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-10-17
INTERESTING CONTEST
Heavy Cost of Unpaid Postage.

One of 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 800 greenbacks to
those making the most words out OF the
letters YiO Grape-N
The contest was started in February,
1906 and it was arranged Ito have the
prizes awarded on April 80, 1906. "A
When the public announcement ap.I
peared many persons began to form the
words from these letters, sometimes the
whole family being occupied evenings,
a combination of amusement and edu-
cation.
After while the lists began to come
in to the Postum Office and before
long the volume grew until it required
wagons to carry the mail Many of the
send their lists with insufficient post
age and for period it cost the Com
pany from twenty-five to fiftyeight and
sixty dollars 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 cor
rected except those which fell below
5000 for it soon became clear that moth
ing below that could win. Some of
the lists required the work of young
lady for a solid week on each individ-
ual list. The work was done very
carefully and accurately but the Com
pany had no idea, at the time the offer
was made, that the people would re-
spond 50 generally and they were com
cd TO i1ob
the offices with these young lady ex-
aminers, and Notwithstanding they
worked steadily, it was impossible to
complete the examination until Sept.
49,, over six months after the prizes
should have been awarded.
This delay caused a great many in
quiries and naturally created some dis
satisfaction. 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
of the contest.
Many lists contained enormous num-
bers 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. rsar- IA
The $4,000 gold prize was won by
L. D. Reese, 1927 18th St., Denver
Colo, with 9941 correct words. The
highest $1,000 gold prize went to S. X
Fraser, Lincoln Pa, with 9,921 correct
words
A complete list of the 331 winners
with their home addresses will be sent
s to any contestant erquiring on a postal
card.
Be sure and give name and address
clearly
This contest has cost the Co. many
thousand dollars, and probably has not
been profitable advertisement, never
theless perhaps some who had never
before tried Grape Nuts food have beer
interested in the contest, and from tria
Of the food have been shown it's won
derful rebuilding powers.
It teaches in a practical manner thai
scientifically gathered food elements cal
beselected from the field grains, which
nature will use for rebuilding the nerve
s centers and brain in way that is un
mistakable to users of Grape Nuts
aThere 8 reason
Postum Cereal Co, It'd, Battle Creek
Mich.