The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1906-10-19
INTERESTING CONTEST.
Heavy Cost Of Unpaid Postage.

O0O OF JnO most curious contests
over before the public was conducted
by many thousand persons under the
offer Of the Postum Cereal Co., Ltd.
Of Battle Greek, Mich, for prizes Of
81 boxes Of gold and 800 greenbacks
% those making the most words out
q the letters O-Grape-N Nuts.
The contest was started in Tebru-
ary. 1906, and It was arranged to have
~ prizes awarded on Apr. 80, 1906.
When the public announcement ap-
poared many persons began to form
the words from these letters, some
times the whole family being occupied
Gven1ngs, q combination Of amuse-
mont and education.
After while the lists began to
come In to the Postum Once and be-
fore long the volume grew until 1t re-
Quired wagons to carry the mail.
Many Of the contestants were thought
leas enough to send their lists with
lnsufncient postage and for . period
Il cost the Company from twenty-five
70 fiftyleight and sixty dollars q day
70 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
eter's Dictionary was the standard
and each List was very carefully cor
roctod except those which fell below
1000 for Il soon became clear that
nothing below that could win. Some
Of the lists required the work Of .
young lady for solid week on each
1ndivtdual list The work was done
vory carefully and accurately but the
Company had no idea, at the time the
oller was made, that the people would
respond q generally and they were
compelled 70 All every available space
q the oflces with these young lady
examiners, and Notwithstanding they
worked steadily, It Wa impossible
% complete the examination until
Sept. -. over six months after the
priseo should have been awarded.
This delay caused = great many In
Quiries and naturally created some
Dissatisfaction. It has been thought
best to make this report IN practically
al 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 'Peeger'
would count "Peggers'' would not.
Some lists contained over $4,000 i
words. the great majority OF which
More cut out The largest lists were
ehecked over two and in some cases
y fhroo times to insure accuracy.
The $4,000 gold prize was won by
p Reese. 1227-15th St., Denver.
\ Co1o, With 0941 correct words. The
hlgheGt $1,000 gold prize went to q
IL FRASER. Lincoln. Pa. with 1921 cor.
toct words.
u complste nst Of the 331 winners
ith th01y home addresses win be
Doat q ~ oontestant enQuiring on
Doatal card.
~ sure ana sive name ana address
I'D conteGt has cost the Co. many
ound dollars. ana probably has
n6f ooW = profitable advertisement.
leos perhaps some who had
/, SSf hocoro trlpd 0rape-Nuts food
\ ~ toon infereated a the contest.
6lI1 ltcn tyfal of the food have been
pMn - We 1efful rebuilding pow
8, Qshoo - : practicable manner
n 0 n1ly eathered food ele-
a S. 1 0 o1eetcd lnpm the Aeld
1II1 n1ltnre1 Wtll - Tor -
& nv 4e 0entro1 end brain
kable 81