Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-25

Santa Claus visited Washington last night
II Q great hurry, but while he was passing he
managed to leave several thousand dollars
worth Of resents for the children He had SO
much to do that he asked The STAR to help
him, and 80 he turned over to the paper lot
of those 'fblus letters" that he mentioned in
his own epistle to The STAR last Saturday.
with the request that the children who wrote
thsm be cared for He couldn't do much, but
he wanted TO lift the burden Of a presentiess
Christmas from them q little. Santa Claus
drew quite literally on the funds of THE STAR
Office. and to the amount thus received added
ths contributions made by q number Of good
people who believe Santa Claus ought to be
helped in good works. So altogether there was
enough to proviee about fifty packages.
So TIE STAR sent out two of its reporters,
each in one Of those bobbing carts that are used
each evening to distribute the papers TO tine
readers, and Santa Claus was represented In
this way He wanted all to understand that he
would have come himself. but he found such
wretehed weather here in Washington. so hard
on the reindeer that he had horrible time
getting around on his own original route.
The carts went into all parts of the town.
They rolled over smooth asphalt, and they
ratified over Belgia- blocks, and they rumbled
over cobb!es and they ioundered through mud.
They did more founderlng than anything else
The mud that they struck was something terri
flying. The reindeer that santa Claus used
himself would have been foundered had they
not possessed that peculiar power that only
Zeroland animals have Of travelling through the
air.
From Buzzardrs Point to the end of North
Capitol street and from Georgetown to Lincoln
Park were the limits of the space covered by
the two emissaries- They began their work
soon after 2 o'clock and worked until but lit
tie short of midnight It is safe to say that
they carried some gladness to few homes.
There we're some pitiful scenes encountered
by the two reporters Some OF the homes were
wretched beyond expression and the little gifts
were received with all the more joy on account
of the contrast. Hovels and buts, narrow
brick houses where the dampness never lifts,
alleys that can be reached only through narrow
passages and in some cases almost isolated from
the streets In many instances IL was only
through enormous efforts that these places were
reached at all
Then there were houses where there was o
little Christmas gladness, with little trees and
some promise of happy holiday. There were
not many like this. however. The pinched
faces that appeared at the doors in response to
the knocking had little enough hope, and the
light that came into them when the magic
name Of the Saint of Giving was mentioned was
worth all the trouble that had been eneoun-
tered.
WANTED TO SEE KRIS KRISGLE.
"rm q special messenger from Santa Claus"
said reporter for The STAR as he was ushered
in the hall Of a house in a poorer quarter Of
the city and deposited in the hands of desti-
tute woman a large package of toys and wear
ing apparel that Santa Claus. in response to q
request of her little girl had left with the re-
porter to be distributed. The poor woman
was profuse in her thanks and said that the
Lord bad indeed been kind.
lis dat 90. Iris Tringle?' came q plaintive
voice from the top of the stairs. moment
later q tiny form made its appearance, all
dressed in white, and toddled down the steps.
Boldly approaching the scribe she looked up
into his face and repeated the question.
''So, little one this is not Kris But I'm his
special messenger and left him only little
while ago"
''Why didn't he tum?' she inquired, with q
touch Of disappointment in her voice.
We'll the fact is the weather has been so
warm that all the snow melted up in the clouds
and he was unable to use his reindeer and
sleigh in Washington, so he engaged a couple
Of STAR reporters to help him out"
Den he won't tum to see me dis Christ
mas" she said between her tears.
The reporter, however. assured her that he
would call later in the night and for her to be
sure and keep one eye open. She promised to
do this and toddled off to bed.
FoUR LITTLE ONES MADE HAPPY
The next visit was in an alley. and it was well