First Thought Was The Best

First Thought was the Best

How Miss Lois Smith Missed a Thousand Dollars

Besides Her $2,500

Which She Won - Change of the Figure "6" to "7" Cost Her Just $995

The first prize for the guess nearest the official returns on the population of Canada, given by the Press Publishing association, was divided between Miss Lois S. Smith, of Ann Arbor, and W. T. Smith, Ludlow road, Bellefontaine, Ohio. Stranger things have happened, but neither of the first prize winners new of each other until they were told of their good fortune and thereupon each congratulated the other, separated as they are by several hundred miles.

Miss Smith is a school teacher lives at 326 E. Liberty street, in this city. She is a daughter of Edward L.J. Smith, had several guesses in on the contest, and with Mr. Smith, of Bellefontaine, Ohio, came within two of the correct number. The $5,000 prize is divided, each receiving $2,500.

Miss Smith has lived in Ann Arbor for a number of years, being a graduate of the high school, and spent two years in the literary department of the University. For the past three years she has been a teacher in the Third ward school, is very popular among her friends and a pronounced favorite among her pupils. She was at her school when told of her good fortune.

Did you expect to get a big prize after the census figures were announced?" she was asked.

"Well," she replied with a smile that showed her satisfaction, "I can only say that I hoped for one. Of course, there were two numbers that would have been better than my guess and I did not know but that out of so many who entered the contest some might have chosen them. I do not think I am selfish in being delighted that they did not happen to do so."

"Have you made up your mind what you are going to do with the money?"

"No, there is plenty of time for that, yet."

In one of her other guesses Miss Smith at first wrote 5,369,660 and then changed her mind and, marking out one of the "6's" made it read 5,369,760. Had she not altered the guess she would have reaped in another $500.

How did you happen to change it?" she was asked.

"I thought 5,369,660 was too close to 5,369,664, and that I would stand a better chance of getting some prize scattering the guesses a little, so I made it '760 instead of '660,'" was her reply.

The change of the "6" to the "7" knocker her out of $495. As it was, she got a $5 prize on this second guess.