Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 December 1876 — Centennial Prizes. [ARTICLE]

Centennial Prizes.

The present system of awards has been planned with the view’ of giving every one the highest prize. The variations of degrees of merit are expressed in the written report -concerning vonr exhibit, which accompanies the medal. It works thus: You, Mr. Acorn, have an exhibit of pumpkin-seeds. You receive a medal as an award of merit for your pumpkin seeds. Mr. Butternut has also pumpkin seeds on exhibition. He receives a medal. Peanut has pumpkin seeds. Another medal is granted Peanut. Acorn, Butternut and Peanut walk home with medals hanging about their respective necks, all awards of merit for victorious pumpkin seeds at the American Congressof Nations. But whose are the best pumpkin seeds? Read the written reports accompanying the medals. Acorn’s reads thus: “The distinguishing and glorifying characteristic of Mr. Acorn’s pumpkin seeds lies in their symmetrical roundness at the larger end. Their artistic finish at this extrem

ity is unparalleled.” Butternut’• report reads: “The meritorious feature of Mr. Butternut’s pumpkin seeds lies in their symmetrical finish and artistic curve at the smaller end. as well as a peculiar fullness in the middle, indicative of a certain richness and fine flavor. The pies made from Mr. Butternut’s pumpkins, raised from these seeds, will doubtless possess a fruitiness and bouquet de pumpkin unattainable by pies made from pumpkins raised from any other seed. “ Dubbs, “ RuBBB, “ Bckubbs.” And when we come to Peanut’s report we find his pumpkin-seed commended “ for an average of symmetry at both the large and small ends* which, while neither the If rge end taken singly may have attained as regards shape, the peculiar excellence of Acorn’s pumpkin seed, nor the small end regarded as an end, taken all by itself, may equal in artistic finish the merits of Butternut’s pumpkin-seed, still the average Peanut’s pumpkin-seed, regarded As an average, may doubtless be considered a superior average than that attained by the product of either Acorn or Butternut, although in special points of merit Peanut’s pumpkin-seeds will rank one or-two degrees in the scale lower than the above-mentioned Acorn’s or Butternut’s pumpkin seeds “ Dubbs, “Rubbs, “fiCRUBBS.” You will see by this ingenious method of award everybody is guaranteed a superior article; eveiybodv gets a medal; everybody gains the highest possible prize, and everybody, especially in the piano, patent-churn, reaper, mower and sewing-machine line, has the opportunity of starting in the commendation of his wares just where he commenced before the Centennial, and fighting his battles all over again.— Prentice Mulford, in San Francisco Bulletin.