Ye CONTEST GOSSIP
THE MORE WE THINK about the Friend's Ballot
THE BETTER PLEASED we are with ourselves
FOR ORIGINATING THE IDEA; as they look like
THE BEST WAY YET INVENTED to assist our contestants
WHILE ACCOMPLISHING what we are after.
Ito GIVE THE MERCHANTS of Moscow
A GREATER NUMBER OF READERS of their advertisements.
WE BELIEVE that our purpose will be accomplished,
MAINLY through the instrumentality
OF THE FRIEND'S BALLOT, if our contestants
ARE AS BRIGHT as we firmly believe them to be.
IF WE ONLY SECURE a lot of new subscribers
BECAUSE OF IT—and they are coming in pretty fast—
THE PUBLIC will be well repaid
BY OUR GENEROSITY to our contestants.
THAT IS WHAT we put this contest on for,
AND WHAT we have been leading up to these many days.
WE WANT MORE READERS, and in order to get them,
WE ARE OFFERING the greatest array of prizes
TO THOSE WHO WILL WORK, that were ever conceived
IN THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY. At this time
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE for us to guess
JUST WHAT the net results will be.
BUT THERE IS ONE THING that is very certain.
BUT THERE IS ONE THAT is very certain.
 AND THAT IS, The Friend's Ballot
WHICH IS GOOD FOR 5,000 votes, and which,
IS GOOD UP TO AND INCLUDING Saturday, Oct. 13th. 