The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 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
oner 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 Febru-
airy, 1906, and it was arranged to
have the prizes awarded on Apr. 80,
1906.
When the public announcement
appeared many persons began to
form the words from these letters,
sometimes the whole family being
occupied evenings, a combination of
amusement and education.
After. a while the lists began to
come in to the Postum Office, and be-
fore long the volume grew until it
required wagons to carry the mail.
Many 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 ffty-eight and sixty
dollars a day to pay the unpaid post
age.
Young ladies, generally those who
had graduated from the high school,
were employed to examine these lists
and count the correct words. Web
ster's Dictionary "a 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 on each
individual list. The work was done
very carefully and accurately, put
the Company had nc idea, at the time
the OFFER was made. that the people
woul respond so generally, and they
were compelled to fill every available
space in the Offices with these young
lad examiners, and Notwithstanding
they worked steadily, it was impossi-
DE TO complete h examination until
sept. 29,~oVer six months after, the
prizes should have been awarded.
This delay caused a great many |
inquiries and naturally created some
dissatisfaction. 1t has been thought
best TO maxi this report in practi-
callF all OF the newspapers in the
United States and many of the maya |
zines In order to make clear to the |
people The conditions of the contest.
Many lists contained
numbers of words which, under the |
rules, had to be eliminated. Peg
ger would count, "Peggers" would |
not. Some lists contained over So
900 words, the great majority of
winch were cut out. The largest |
l1stS were checked over two and in
some cases three times to insure &C
cuTacy
Inc $4,000 gold prize was won by
L" ID. Reese. 1227-15th ST., Denver,
Colo, with 3941 correct words. The
highest $1,000 gold prize went to S.
K. Fraser, Lincoln, Pa, with 1921
correct words.
A complete list of the 331 winners
with their home addresses will be
to any contestant enquiring on
a postal card.
BE sure and give name and address
This contest has cost the Co. many
thousand dollars, and probably has
nut Oeen a profitable advertisement.
nevertheless, perhaps some who had
never before tried Crape-Nuts food
Deen Interested in the contest.
ana from trial of the food have been
SIo"n It's wonderful rebuilding pow
ers. {
IL teaches in a practical manner :
scientifically gathered food eIe-
ieh5S can be selected from the field G
srStns whi2l nature will use for re- t
'HIiains tie nerve centres and h"a:n a
4 a way thai is unmiSaakaa!e 10 I
isefs q: G"are-Euts. 7
There's { reason" :