The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1906-10-18
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 Greek. Mich. for prizes OF
81 boxes OF gold and 300 greenbacks
10 those making the most words out
Of the letters Y-I-o-Grape-Nuts.
The contest was started In Febru-
airy, 1906. and Il was arranged to have
the prizes awarded on Apr. 80. 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. a combination Of amuse-
ment and education.
After a while the lists began 70
come in 20 the Postum Once and be-
fore long the volume grew until II re-
quired wagons TO carry the mail.
Many Of the contestants were thought
less enough 10 send their lists with
insufficient postage and for a period
IL cost the Company from twenty-five
to hfty-eight and sixty dollars a day
10 pay the unpaid postage.
Young ladies', generally those who
had graduated from the high school.
we're employed 70 examine these lists
and u the correct words. Web
stor's Dictionary was the standard
and each list was very carefully cor
rected except those which fell below
5000 for Il soon became clear that
nothing below that could win. Some
Of the lists required the work OF a
young lady for a solid week on each
individual list The work was done
very carefully and accurately but the
Company had no idea, az the time the
offer was made. that the people would
respond 50 generally and they were
compelled to an every available space
in the omccs with these young lady
examiners. and Notwithstanding they
worked steadily, q was impossible
90 complete the examination until
Sept 20. over six months after the
prizes should have been awarded
This delay caused a great many IN.
uuirics and naturally created some
dissatisfaction IL 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 10 make clear 10 the people tho
conditions OF the contest
Many lists contained enormous
numbers of words which. under the
ruiea had 10 be eliminated "Peggor
would count 'PeEgers" 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. ID Reese. l227-i5th ST., Denver.
Colo. with 99it correct words. The
highest $1,000 gold prize went to s
X. Fraser, Lincoln. Pa, with 1891 cor
rect words.
A complete list Of the SSi winners
with their home addresses viii be
sent 10 any contestant enqHiring 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 a profitable advertisement,
nevertheless 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 It's wonderful rebuilding pow.
ers.
Il teaches in a practicable mannor
that scientifically gathered food eie-
menis can be- selected from the field
grains. which nature will use FOR ~
building the nerve centres and brain
IN a way that Il unmistakahle 10
users OF GrapoNuts
There's q reason.
resiun cereal c. L'a hssus olssk nisA