The Nevada County picayune. (Prescott, Ark.) 190?-current, 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
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 Febru-
airy, 1906, and it was arranged to have
the prizes awarded on Apr. 80, 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, combination of amuse-
ment and education.
After a while the lists began to
come in to the Postum Office and be-
fore long the volume grew until it 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 ffty-eight and sixty dollars day
to pay the unpaid postage.
Young ladies, generally those who
had graduated from the high school,
We're 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 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 fill every available space
in the Offices with these young lady
examiners, and Notwithstanding they
worked steadily. it was Impossible
to complete the examination unui
Sept. 30, over six months after the
prizes should have been awarded.
This delay caused great many III
quires and naturally created some
dissatisfaction. 1t has been thought
best to make this report in practically
all of the newspapers in the Uhileu
States and many of the magazines III
order to make clear to the people lhe
conditions of the contest.
Many lists contained enormous
numbers of words which, under the
D1t of cd
would count "Peggers' would not,
Some lists contained over 5o'ooV
words, the great majority OF winch
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 y!
/. D. Reese, 1227.15th St, Denver
Colo, with 9941 correct words. Inc
highest $1,000 gold prize went 10 D.
X. Fraser, Lincoln, Pa, with 1921 co''
rect words.
A complete list of the 33l winners
with their home addresses WIN 10
sent to any contestant ENDURING Oh
postal card.
Be sure and give name and address
clearly.
This contest has cost the Co man,
thousand dollars, and proDaoy H''
not been a profitable advertlseihenss
nevertheless perhaps some VINO naS
never before tried Grape-Nuts loou
have been interested in the con'eo.'
and from trial of the food nave oeeH
shown its wonderful rebuilding pow
ers.
1t teaches in a practicable manner
that scientifically gathered looo IA
ments can be selected from inc no, 80.
grains, which nature will use ioi
building the nerve centres ana Ui -
in way that is unmistaKao'o
users of Grape. Nuts.
There's a reason"