The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-26
SANTA CLAUS VISIT
To the Lock-Up Was a Happy Oasis
In Misery's Haunt

The life OF policeman or city de-
tect1ve Is not always what 1t is cracked
up to be. According to the general
conception these functicnaries are sup
posed to never sleep, to tramp about
at all hours and in all kinds of wealth
er, both on their own birthdays and
every ones else and to have no share
In the joyous 5suletfde season. A bald
faiacy! They som etimes snatch a few
minutes Sleeps occasionally stand in a
doorway during a rain storm, some
times even get a day off, and as for
participating in the Christmas festivf-
ties, no one who called at the central
station yesterday would ever deny that
the coppers and fly hobs had indeed a.
merry Christmas If their painstaking
care of the public veal during the year
Is not wholly appreciated by people at
large, old Santa Claus remembered
their good deeds, and saw to 1t that
each attache Of the station, from Chief
SchWeftzer and Chief Goss down to
Louis Liverpool and every one Of the
stack Of black cats which brighten the
wits out Of the 'tjags' who are nightly
locked up, and make them think they
have In truth got EN-"
the action Of jolly Kris Kringle in thus
remembering the 'overworked and under
PAID coppers was only another forcible Illus
tration Of the proyerb that virtue is Its
own reward" He comnliserated with them
in their nightly vigi1s and though all hu-
manity, in selfish unappreciation, forgot the
sturdy bluecoat in the gladdest time of all
the year, Santa Claus generous gifts showed
he had been watching their several courses
and though the occupants Of palaces must
be sighted, such merit could not go unre-
warded.
So it happened that some time during the
still watches OF the night before Christmas
even while the night force was alert and
sleepless-he stole down the chimney Of the
gloomy station, and in the detectives room,
where the reporters for the morning papers
are banished whenever there Is chance
to pick up a good story in the outer apart
ments, arrayed a. real Christmas tree with
choice presents. when Capt. Rouleau dis
covered how kindly the department had been
remembered he was visably affected, and re-
fused to allow the tree, to be disturbed be-
fore the day relief came on.
ish delight, while Liverpool denuded it Of
It's treasures, handing. each his gift the
name appeared on sneat tag ATTACHED to
the parcels by pretty blue string. The first
article taken down was a real policeman,
which the good old Santa Claus had pre-.
scented to Mayor Doran. The mayor not
present and committee was appointed to in
form him of his good fortune today. Then
Chief Schweitzer received a neat box, care
fully wrapped in silver paper. Unrolled it
displayed-a string Of wienerwursts and a
lovely bunch of finely chopped sauerkraut.
The chief was delighted. and his joy knew
no bounds. Chief Goss got the sweetest little
box OF ten pins one ever saw, and immedi-
ately lOCKeQ HIMSELF up III HIS ONCE, whence
issued all day the rumble of the balls and
exultant cries Of spares and Strikes"
Capt. Rouleau was made happy by the
receipt of two fat green frogs, while ''Maceo
Cuba Libre' Davis, the sergeant, was given
a war trumpet which will make Weyler's
heart chill when its blasts echo through Ha-
vana as 'Maceo" leads charge on the Span
ish citadel. Lieut.. Babe got coon baby
because he had not made pinch In the
"Bad Lands for two days. and Kris Kringie
feared he might forget his favorite quarry.
Sergeant Ross received pig. Lieut. Boer-
ner has already worn out two sets of strings
on the twin jumping jacks the Old man left