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Story
May 17, 1896
The Roanoke Daily Times
Roanoke, Virginia
What is this article about?
The Times newspaper reports on their ongoing piano contest, highlighting participant interest, clarifying envelope labeling rules to prevent errors, suggesting weekly coupon submissions, and detailing safeguards for fairness by destroying unsold papers.
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Full Text
THE PIANO CONTEST.
Coupons Coming in at a Steady Rate Day by Day.
The piano contest inaugurated by The Times has caught the popular fancy of our readers. They have begun to realize what a splendid opportunity is presented to them for winning an elegant prize. At the very beginning The Times thought it best to be very explicit as to the conditions of the contest, and deemed it best to print, first, a sample ballot, and, second, a sample of how envelopes containing the coupons should be addressed. But we did not expect the participants to copy this sample envelope literally. For instance, the first day or two we printed on sample envelope "35 coupons" in the corner. Then what did one guesser do but turn in an envelope with one coupon in it and "35 coupons" written on his envelope. The next day we changed the envelope to read thus: ... coupons. We thought this would be readily understood as meaning that on the dotted line should be written the number of coupons turned in. We certainly thought this would put the guessers on the right road to accuracy. Not at all. Many envelopes were turned in this way, ... coupons "9 Finding our efforts were futile in this direction, this little explanation of what we wished done in the matter is written with the hope that the participants will co-operate with us in making the contest an accurate one, and therefore easy for all parties concerned. Another point it would be well for the participants to remember. It is not necessary to turn in your coupons every day. Save them and turn them in every week. This will save envelopes if nothing else. Every safeguard has been thrown around all the details of the contest. We will protect all the guessers in their efforts, as no one will be allowed to guess who has not bought the paper containing coupon. All old papers left over from day to day are destroyed and none are sold at a nominal rate, as has been the custom before this contest was inaugurated. Of course we are prepared to take orders for any quantity of papers day by day, which orders must necessarily be given us the day before the papers are desired.
Coupons Coming in at a Steady Rate Day by Day.
The piano contest inaugurated by The Times has caught the popular fancy of our readers. They have begun to realize what a splendid opportunity is presented to them for winning an elegant prize. At the very beginning The Times thought it best to be very explicit as to the conditions of the contest, and deemed it best to print, first, a sample ballot, and, second, a sample of how envelopes containing the coupons should be addressed. But we did not expect the participants to copy this sample envelope literally. For instance, the first day or two we printed on sample envelope "35 coupons" in the corner. Then what did one guesser do but turn in an envelope with one coupon in it and "35 coupons" written on his envelope. The next day we changed the envelope to read thus: ... coupons. We thought this would be readily understood as meaning that on the dotted line should be written the number of coupons turned in. We certainly thought this would put the guessers on the right road to accuracy. Not at all. Many envelopes were turned in this way, ... coupons "9 Finding our efforts were futile in this direction, this little explanation of what we wished done in the matter is written with the hope that the participants will co-operate with us in making the contest an accurate one, and therefore easy for all parties concerned. Another point it would be well for the participants to remember. It is not necessary to turn in your coupons every day. Save them and turn them in every week. This will save envelopes if nothing else. Every safeguard has been thrown around all the details of the contest. We will protect all the guessers in their efforts, as no one will be allowed to guess who has not bought the paper containing coupon. All old papers left over from day to day are destroyed and none are sold at a nominal rate, as has been the custom before this contest was inaugurated. Of course we are prepared to take orders for any quantity of papers day by day, which orders must necessarily be given us the day before the papers are desired.
What sub-type of article is it?
Contest Announcement
Promotional Update
What keywords are associated?
Piano Contest
Coupons
Envelope Addressing
Newspaper Promotion
Submission Rules
Story Details
Story Details
The Times newspaper describes their piano contest, noting steady coupon submissions, explains proper envelope addressing to avoid errors, advises saving coupons for weekly submission, and assures safeguards like destroying old papers to ensure fair play.