Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-10-18
INTERESTING CONTEST.



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-O-Grape-Nuts
The contest was started in February,
1906, and it was arranged to have the
prizes awarded on 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, combination of amusement
and education.
After awhile the lists began to come
in to the Postum Office and before losg
the volume grew until it required wag-
ons to carry the mail. Mary of the
contestants were thoughtless enough
to send their lists with insufficient
postage and for a period it cost the
Company from twenty-five to fifty
eight 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. Webster's
Dictionary was the standard and each
list was very carefully corrected eX-
cept those which fell below 5000, for
it soon became clear that nothing be-
low that could win. Some of the lists
RET, uired the work of a young lady for
solid week on each il dividual 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 i'll 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
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
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 be eliminated "Pegger" would
count "PegSers" 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, 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 will be sent
to any contestant enquiring on 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. 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 practical manner that
scientifically gathered food elements
can be selected from the field grains.
which nature will use for rebuilding
the nerve centers and brain in way
that is unmistakahle to users of Grape
Nu+~
There's a reason"
Postum Cereal Co. It'd Battle Greek, Mich.