The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1906-10-18
INTERESTING CONTEST.
Heavy Cost of Unpa,a 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 Greek. Mich. for prizes of 81
boxes OF gold and zoo greenbacss 10
those making the most words out OF
the letters Y-i-O-Grape-Nuis.
The contest was started In February,
1906. and IL was arranged 60 have tue
prizes awarded on April 80. l9Od.
When the public announcement ap-
pcared many persons began TO form
the words from these letters. some
times the whole family ocins occupied
evenings. n combination OF amusement
and education.
After while the lists hogan 10 come
In TO the Postum Office and before long
the volume grew until IL required wng-,
ons TO carry the mail. Many OF the
contestants were thoughtless enough
10 send their lists with insufficient
postnge and for n period IL cost the
Company from twenty-five TO nifty.
eight and sixty dollars a day 10 pay
the unpaid postage.
Young ladies. generally those who
had graduated from the high school.
we're employed 10 examine these lists
and count the correct words. Wehsicts
Dictionary was the standard aud each
list was very carefully corrected eS.
ccp, those which fell below s.Ooo, for
II sooa became clear that nothing bc-
low that could win. Some or the lists
required the work OF n young lady for
n solid week ON each individual list.
The work was done very carefully aud.
accurately. hut the Company had no
idea. Mt the time the offer was made.
that the people would respond 80 gen,
orally and they were compelled tn OIL
every available space In the offices
with these young lady examiners. ana
notwithstanding they worked steadily.
n was ilnpossihlc Ia complete the ex.
animation until Sept. -. over six
months after the prizes should have
been awarded.
This delay caused great many In.
1uirics and naturally created some dis
satisfaction. II has been thought best
Co make this report in practically MI
OF the newspapers In the United states
and many of the magazines Ia order 10
make clear 10 the people the conGi.
lions OF the contest
MANI lists contained enormous num-
bers Of words which. under the rules.
had Ia be eliminated ''Pcgger" would
count "Pcg.crs" would not. Some lists
contained over 5000 words. the great
majority OF which were cut out. The
largest lists were checked over two and
An some cases three times Ia Insure
accuracy.
The $4,000 gold prize was won 10y
T.. u. Reese. i22I 18th St. Denver.
Colo. with 9Jii correct words. Tha
highest $1,000 gold prize went to :. X.
Fraser. Lincoln. Pa. with HF2i correct
words.
A complete iisi of the :Eil winners
with their home addresses will bc sent
90 any contestant cnquiring ou a postal
card.
he sure and give name and address
clearly.
This contest has cost the Co. many
thousand collars. and probably has not
been n profitable advertisement. never
theiess perhaps some who had never
before tried .GrapeNuts food have
been interested In the contest. and
from trial OF the food have been shown
Its wonderful rebuilding powers.
II teaches In n practical manner that
scientifically gathered food elements
can he selected from the field grains,
which nature will use for rebuilding
the nerve crnters and brain In way
that is unmistaknble TO users OF Grape
Nuts.
'sTherc's n reason"
Pos,nm Cereal Co. Ltd. Bath Greek. Mich