Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 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 300 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. 30, 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 fifty-eight and sixty dollars 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. 20, over six months after the
prizes should have been awarded.
This delay caused great many In
quiries and naturally created some
dissatisfaction. 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
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 $4,000
words, the great majority of which
we're 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. D. Reese, 1227-15th St., Denver,
Colo, with 9941 correct words. The
highest $1,000 gold prize went to S.
X. Fraser, Lincoln, Pa, with 1921 cor
rect words.
A complete list of the 331 winners
with their home addresses will be
sent to any contestant enquiring on
postal card.
Be sure and give name and address
clearly.
This contest has cost the Co. many
thouaand 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 it's wonderful rebuilding pow
ers.
It. teaches in a practicable manner
that scientifically gathered food ele.
ments can be selected from the held
grains. which nature will use for re-
building the nerve centres and brain
in a way that is unmistakaDle 10
users Of Grape-Nuts.
There's a reason."
sstum Cereal Co.. Ltd. Battle Creek. Men,