Omaha daily bee., 1906-10-17
INTERESTING CONTEST
Heavy Cost of Unpaid Postage.

One of the most curious contests ever
before the public was conducted by many
thousands OF persons under the offer 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 sout of the letters Y-I-O Grape
Nuts.
The contest was started in February, 1906,
and II was arranged to have the prizes
awarded on April 30, 1906.
When the public announcement appeared
many persons began to form the words
from these letters. sometimes the whole
family being occupied evenings. a combina-
ton OF amusement and education.
After a while the lists began TO come in
20 the Postum once, and before 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
nfty-eight and sixty dollars a day to pay
the unpaid postage.
Young ladies'. generally those who had
graduated from the high school, were en-
ployed to examine these lists and count
the correct words. Webster's dictionary
was the standard, and each list was very
carefully corrected, except those who 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, 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 NIL every available
space in the offices with these young lady
examiners and, Notwithstanding they
worked steadily, Il was impossible to COM
plete the examination until Sept. %, over
six months after the prizes should have
been awarded.
This delay caused a great many Inquiries
and naturally created some dissa tisfaction.
II has been thought best 10 make this re-
port 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 Peg
gers" would not. Some lists contained
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. ID.
Reese. l221 18th St, Denver. Colo, with
s.sn correct words. The highest 5000 COLA
prize went to g. X. Fraser, Lincoln. Pa
with s.s21 correct words
A complete list Of the Ss1 winners. with
their home addresses, will be sent to anv
contestant inquiring on a postal card.
BE sure and give your name and address
clearly,
This contest has cost the company MANY
thousand dollars and probably has not
been a profitable advertisement; neverthe-
less. 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 a practical manner that
scientifically gathered food elements can be
selected from the field grains which ma.
! ture will use for rebuilding the nerve cen
tiers and brain in way that is unmis-
taxable 10 users Of Grape Nuts.
There's a reason"
Postum Cereal Co. Ltd, Battle Greek.
Mich