The Washington times., 1906-10-18
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 Bat
lie Creek. Mich. for prizes of 81 boxes
of gold and 300 grcnbacks to those max
ing the most words out OF the letters
/ G-I-O-Grape-Nu
The contest was started In February.
1905, and il was arranged to have the
prizes awarded on Apr 80, 1895.
When the public announcement APP
peared many persons began to form the
words from these letters. sometimes the
whole family being occupied evenings,
q combination of amusement and edu-
cation.
After q while the lists began to come
i'm TO the Postum Office and before long
The volume grew until il required Wag-
ems to carry the mail. Many Of the
contestants were thoughtless enough to
Sena their lists with lusuinclenL post
age and for a period IL cost the Com
Vduy from twenty-five TO nTty-elght
and sixty dollars a day TO pay the
Young ladies. generally those who had
graduated from the high school. We're
employed 10 examine these lists and
count the correct words. Webster
Dictionary was the standard and each
list was very carefully corrected eN-
soon became clear that nothing below
that could win. Some of the lists re-
UulTcd the work of a young lady for
solid week o. each individual list. The
work was done very carefully and aC-
Curately, but the Company had no
idea. az the time the offer was made,
that the people would respond so gener-
ally and they were compelled to fiIl
every available space in tho offices with
these young lady examiners, and not
WiJhsJuuding they worked steadily, il
was impossible 20 complete the exam
inatiou until sept. -, over six months
after the prizes should have been
awarded.
This delay caused a great many in
uuirie~ and naturally created some dis
satisfaction. II has been thought best
10 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 cOndi-
ti0ns of the contest
Many lists contained enormous num-
bers OF words which, under the rules,
had to be eliminated. 'Fesger would
count. "Peggers" would not. Some lists
contained over 80, 600 words. the great
majority of which were cut out The
largest lists were checked over two,
and in some cases, three, times to in
sure accuracy.
The $4,000 gold prize was won by
L. ID. Reese. 1927 18th St, Denver
Col, with S,941 correct words The
highest S10.e0 gold prize went TO S. X.
Fraser, Lincoln. Pa, with 1921 correct
words,
4 complete list of the 3SI winners
/ with their home addresses viii be sent
20 any contestant inquiring on postal
card.
BE sure and give name and address,
clearly.
This contest has cost the Co. many
/ thousand dollars, and probably has not
been profitable advertisement. never
4 theless perhaps some who had never be-
fore tried Grape Nuts food have beoD
interested In the contest, and from trial
of the food have been shown its won
derful rebuilding powers.
il teaches in practical manner that
scientifically gathered FOOD elements can
be selected from the field grains. which
nature viii use for rebuilding the nerve
centres and brain IN way that IS un-
mistakable to users Of Grape-Nuts.
There's reason.
Postum Cereal Co.. Ltd, Battle Creek Mich.