The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-19
SANTA CLAUS LETTERS
THOUSANDS OF MISSIvEs IN THE
MAIL ADDRESSED TO .IxRIs.v
Some Are Sad, Some Amusing and
Some Only Commonplace, but All
Have an Interesting story.
New York Press.


Christmas Every little boy and every little
girl knows his face. For one night in the
year. when his office work is done he be-
gins to make his annual record as the great
est globe trotter that ever was, getting
clear around the world in twenty-four
hourN Disillusioned parents have no call
whatever to try to shake the faith of their
little ones in Santa, for they themselves
sent their letters to this same identical
Santa years ago. And they are a good deal
better for having cherished an idol when
all the world was young" The name by
which Santa Claus is known among men is
w. w. Stone. His headquarters are in the
big postoffice, whore he is the chief 'blind
reader" of the inquiry division. He orig
mated and organized this bureau forty
years ago, and every one of those years he
has received scores and hundreds of letters
addressed to Santa Claus. They begin com
ing early in November, and not only from
the children of Greater New York, but from
the country as far west as Lake Erie. as
far south as Delaware bay and as far east
as Massachusetts bay. All the letters mailed
in this territory for which the persons to
whom they are addressed cannot be found
are sent to him to be examined that is.
to the address, for he does not open
long they are sent by him to the dead letter
office in Washington
And so it comes that Mr.. Stone, the gen.
TEST and mildest old gentleman imaginable,
has been the real Santa Claus to hundreds
and thousands of children for going on two
generations. Perhaps this yearly expert
ence for SO long a time has softened his
heart-if softening, indeed, it ever needed.
While these childish fantasies add to his
labor at an especially busy time, he does
not compiain-in fact, even welcomes the
little messengers that keep him young in
spirit. To his own grandchildren also he
is Santa Claus, but his field is far wider
than his own family.
Into Mr.. Stones Office the other day came
a prosperous business man to ask about a
letter his little daughter had mailed to
had slipped out to the letter box before he
could have a chance to see the letter. He
was extremely anxious to know just what
she wanted Santa Claus to bring her. Mr..
Stone told him the only way he could get
the letter was to write to the dead letter
office in Washington, describing the
Velope as nearly as he could, and telling
where it was mailed, so it could be traced
and identified from the postmarks. The
father went away saying that he would
write.
SANTA'S HEADQUARTERS.
Because, even among the children, New
York is recognized all over the country as
being the headquarters of Santa Claus, the
young folks of far-off cities address their
letters to Santa Claus at New York. From
way off in the South, Atlanta and New Or
leans, and from the distant West, st. Louis,
come letters with ITO Mr.. Santa Claus,
New York City, on the envelope.
Most touching of all the superscriptions
are those which are written in German.
One of them reads-to get the German let
ters into English-"Sankt Nigolaus in Him.
mel" which, being interpreted, means, of
course, Saint Nicholas in Heaven" One
of the addresses which reached Mr.. Stone
last year read, ''Zum Christkindchen in
Himmel." So that it would be sure to go
right, some clerk had written underneath,
ITO the Christ Child in Heaven. Com
pared with these simple and sincere ad-
Snow street, Heaven, is trivial Somehow
little interest attaches to the letters adj
or which show the influence of their sug-
gestion. One sent to Santa Claus Town,
Toy County New Jersey" does not please
Old people. some of them, like to try to be
facetious and must have their little joke,
even if it is at the expense of childish cred
ulity. So, too when one sees the address,
Santa Claus, rs Chimney Street, Stocking,
Miss" it shows the contact of an older
Some of the children associate the saint
with the north pole, and others think his
Il
doubt a freak of childhood that to the
words north pole on one envelope was
added Brooklyn Surely sufficiently COM
prehensive was this address, which is re-
produced, ITO the Santa Claus, all around
the world"
Two of the letters received so far in the
season have been on mourning envelopes.
showing that the elders, at least, would not
have joy unalloyed this year. One OF these
lot of characters that looked more like the
letter W than anything else: This. child
though too young to write, evid VIC, had its
wants and knew who would till them.
One letter was not sealed and it read:
Dear Santa Claus-I want a nice Xmas
tree like on this paper, pair of boots,
nice boat, suit of clothes, nice wagon, a
bank and anything you want TO give me.
From LITTLE EUGENE"
LITTLE EUGENES DIAGRAM.
This, too was comprehensive, but to make
sure that Santa would know just what was
meant the diagrams Little Eugene referred
to were drawn on the inside of the sheet.
They were fine representation of a Christ
mas tree with things hanging from the
branches; a boat with smoke coming from
the stack, indicating that no old-fashioned
sailboat would do; character that might
have stood for a letter "w'' or pair of
knickerbockers and pair of well-stuffed
stockings for the anything else you want
u give me-"
New Orleans child addressed. his letter
70 Wine santa Claus, new 1Ourks Lid.
There are no return requests" placed in
the upper left-hand corner of the envelopes,
which goes to show the sublime faith the
children have that the letter simply cannot
fail to reach Santa One envelope, however,
bore way off in the corner street and num-
Der, which indicated that the writer's house
was close to that part of the city called
Hells Kitchen. No name was attached: and
as at each number on the street there are
from ten to twenty families. and as the child
probably wrote and mailed the letter in Sc
cret. it would be impossible for any except
the Saint to find the little one.
Some of the letters bear stamps and some
not. On all of them the clerks Solemnly
mark the reason why they cannot be deiiv-
ered-'no stamp" party not found, and
on In one case two English stamps cut
from an envelope from the old country
were pasted on the letter to Santa Claus,
and they were just as effective as the Amer
lean stamp. Here is another letter, which
had not been sealed, or else the little tongue
was not moist enough.
Dear Santa Ciaus-My ma told me TO rite
to you. Please bring me a gun and pair
of ruber boots. If you can't spare them
both plese III take the gun. l don. mind
ef do get nv feet wet JOHN.
"Plese, | want a real gun, to shoot rab-
bits for our dinner.
You mite bring ma a red dress, she
looks tired in black.
This letter was postmarked Altoona, ia.
Nothing is needed to add to the picture.
For the Sunday Press the Washington
authorities relented. and gave out num-
Der of Santa Claus letters which had been