The Forrest City times., 1906-10-19
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 31 boxes of gold and 300 greenbacks to those making the most words out of the letters YI-O-Grape-Nuts.
 The contest was started in Febru- ary, 1906, and it was arranged to have the prizes awarded on Apr 90, 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, a combination of amuse- ment and education.
 After while the lists began to come in to the Postum Office and be- fore long the volume grew until 1t re- quired wagons to carry the mail Many of the contestants were thought less 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. 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 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 generally 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 examination until Sept. 29, over six months after the prizes should have been awarded.
 This delay caused a great many in- quiries and naturally created some dissatisfaction. It has been thought best to make this report in practically all of the newspapers in the United States and many of the magazines iE 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 50,O00 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 Sl0000 gold prize was won by l.. D. Reese. 1227-15th St. Denver. Colo, with 9941 correct words. The highest 5000 gold prize went to S. k. Fraser Lincoln, Pa, with 992I cor. rect words.
 A complete list of the 331 winners with their home addresses will be sent to any contestant enquiring on a 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, nevertheless 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 pow CTS.
 It teaches in practicable manner that scientifically gathered food ele- ments can be selected from the field grains, which nature will use for re- building the nerve centres and brain in way that Is unmistakable to users of Grape.Nu
 There's a reason"
 RoStuH Cereal CO, Ltd, Battle Creek Mich