Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-10-20
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 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-GrapeNuts.
The contest was started in February,
1896 and it was arranged to have the
prizes awarded on April 30, 1906.
When the public announcement ap-
neared many persons began to form
she words from these letters, some
tiIes the whole family being occupied
evenings, q combination of amusement
and education.
After while the lists began to come
IN to the Postum Office and before long
the volume grew until 1t required wag-
ons 10 carry the mail. Many of the
contestants were thoughtess enough
TO send their lists with insufficient
postage and for period it cost the
Company from twenty-five to fifty
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. WebSter's
Dictionary was the standard and each
list was very carefully corrected eX-
cept 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,
II was impossible to complete the cX
animation until Sept 20, over six
months after the prizes should have
been awarded.
This delay caused A great many in
Qures 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-
bcrs of words which. under the rules,
had to be eliminated "Pegger" would
count "Peggcrs" would not Some lists
contained over 10000 words, the great
majority Of which were cut out. The
largest lists were checked over two and
in some eases three times to insure
accuracy
The $4,000 gold prize was won by
L. H. Reese, 1907 18th St. Denver
Colo. with 9941 correct words. The
highest $1,000 gold prize went to S. X
Fraser. Lincoln Pa, with 1921 correc
words
\ complete list of the 331 winner
with their home addresses will be~ser
to any contestant enquiring on q posti
card
BE sure and give name and addre:
clearly.
This contest has cost the Co mar
thousand dollars. and probably has n
been profitable advertisement. nev'
theIess perhaps some who had new
before tried Grape-Nuts food ha
been interested in the contest. a
FROM trial Of the food have been sho'
its wonderful rebuilding powers
1t teaches in practical manner Il
scientifically gathered food elem9
can I've selected from the he'o graz
which nature will use for rehui'd
the nerve centers and brain III q
that is unm'stakahlc to users Oh Gra
Nuts.
"Therc'S Il reason.
!'n<,n;a cereal Co, Ltd. Battle CrecS, NJ