The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1906-10-18

Heavy Cost Oh Unpaho Ecs@@
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 300 greenbacks to
those making the most words out OK
the letters Y-I-O-Grape-Nufs-
The contest was started in February.
1906, and 1t was arranged to have the
prizes awarded cn April 80, 1906
When the public announcement APP
peared many persons began to form
the words from these letters, some
times the whole family being occupied
evenings. a combination of amusement
and education.
After awhile the lists began t. come
in to the Postum Office and before long
the volume grew until it required wag-
ons to carry the mail. Many OF the
contestants were thoughtless enough
to send their lists with insufficient
postage and for period 1t cost the
Company from twenty-five to nifty
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. Websfers
Dictionary was the standard and each
list was very carefully corrected ex-
cent those which fell below 5000. for
1t soon became clear that nothing be-
low that could win. Some of the lists
required the work of young lady for
a 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,
| It was impossible to complete the ex-
animation until Sept. %. over SIX
months after the prizes should have
| been awarded.
This delay caused a great many In
| ouiries 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 10
make clear to the people the condi-
\ lions OF the contest
| Many lists contained enormous num-
bers OF words which, under the rules,
had TO b. 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. u. Reese, 1927 18th ST.. Denver,
Colo. with 9941 correct words The
highest $1,000 gold prize went to s. X.
Fraser. Lincoln. Pa. with 1921 correct
| words.
| A complete list of the 331 winners
with their home addresses sill be sent
to any contestant enquring on a postal
card
Be sure and give name and address
clearly
This contest has cost the Co. many
| thousand dollars. and probably has mol
been a profitable advertisement. never
theless 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 powers.
1t teaches in a practical manner thai
scientifically gathered food elements
can be selected from the neld grains
which nature will use for rebuilding
the nerve centers and brain in a wa,
, that is unmistakabIe 70 users Of Grape
| Nuts.
There's 4 reason"
J Postum Cereal Co.. Ltd. Bath csoda, NJ