Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1906-10-24
INTERESTING CONTEST.
Heavy Cost of Unpaid Postage.


One of the most curious contests
eTer before the public was conducted
by many thousand persons under the
sffer OF the Postum Cereal Co., Ltd,
of Battle Creek, Mich, for prizes of
81 boxes of gold and 900 greenbacks
to those making the most words out
of the letters YI-O-Grape-Nuts.
The contest was started in Febru-
ery, 1906, and it was arranged to have
he 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, combination of amuse-
nent and education.
After while the lists began to
come in to the Postum Office and be-
ore long the volume grew until it re-
luired wagons to carry the mail.
Many of the contestants were thought
less enough to send their lists with
insufficient postage and for a period
It cost the Company from twenty-five
o fifty-eight and sixty dollars day
10 pay the unpaid postage.
Young ladies, generally those who
lad 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
nothing below that could win. Some
of the lists required the work of a
young lady for a solid week en- each
Individual list. The work was done
!ery 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 fill every available space
in the Offices with these young lady
Examiners, and Notwithstanding they
Iorked steadily, it was impossible
to complete the examination until
Sept. 20, over six months after the
prizes should have been awarded.
This delay caused a great many in
quiFies 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, 1227-15th ST., Denver
Colo. with 9941 correct words. The
highest $1,000 gold prize went to s
K. Fraser. Lincoln, Pa, with 1921 cor
rect words.
A complete list of the 331 winner:
with their home addresses win BIZ
sent to any contestant enquiring on &
postal card.
| Be sure and give name and address:
4 clearly.
4 This contest has cost the Co. man,
thousand dollars, and probably ha.
tnot been a profitable advertisement
nevertheless perhaps some who hat
never before tried Grape-Nuts foot
have been interested in the contest
and from trial of the food have beel
shown its wonderful rebuilding pow
ers.
1t teaches in practicable name
that scientifically gathered food ele
ments can be selected from the feel
grains, which nature viii use for re
building the nerve centres and brai
in way that is unmistakable t
users of Grape-Nuts-
/ There's reason"