The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-10-17
INTERESTING CONTEST
Heavy Cost of Unpaid Postage.

FICdNJ SOoL VI ohPdiO TOohoSSs
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 Y-I-O4Grape-Nuts.
The contest was started in Febru-
airy, 1906, and it was arranged to
have the prizes awarded on Apr. 80,
1906.
peared many persons began to form
the words from these letters, some
times the whole family being occu-
pied evenings, a combination OF
amusement and education.
After a while the lists began to
come in to the Postum Office and be-
fore long the volume grew until it
required wagons to carry the mail.
Many of the contestants were thought
less enough to send their lists with
insufficient postage. and for period
it cost the company from twenty-five
to fifty-eight and sixty dollars day
70 pay Tie uupdtu pUSIdSC-
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 these which fell below
5000 for it soon became clear that
nothing below that could win. Some
Of the lists 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 generally and they
were compelled to NIL every available
space in the Offices with these young
lady examiners, and notwithstanding
they worked steadily, it was impos-
sible to complete the examination
until Sept. 29, over six months after
the prizes should have been awarded.
This delay caused a great many in
quiries and naturally created some
dissatisfaction. 1t has been thought
best to make this report in practical
ly all of the newspapers in the Uni
ted 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, 'HPeggers" 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, 1227-15 St. Denver, Colo
with 9,941 correct words. The high,
est $1,000 gold prize went to S. X
Fraser. Lincoln, Pa, with 1921 cor
rect words
A complete list of the 331 winners
with their home addresses will be
sent to any contestant enQuiring 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
nevertheless perhaps, some who had
never before tried Grape-Nuts food
save been interested in the contest
and from trial of the food have been
shown Its wonderful rebuilding pow
ers.
1t teaches in a 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 a way that Is unmistakable to us
ers OF Grape-Nuts.
There's a Reason