The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-12-25
FOUND NOT GUILTY
SANTA CLAUS ARRAIGNBD ON A
PBssIMIsTIO CHARGE.

FbSSlM 10 llO UdhhOO
He Visits Several Churches in Wichita But
Is Arrested at the First Presbyterian
Church and Undersoes a Long Trial But
is Found Not Guilty-Gets Out on the
Stree, After the Tree is Stripped ut the
EmporIa Avenue Church and Romps
with the Little Children - Only One
Christmas Tree.
In all its rounds Of wondrous seasons,
OF days nlinted for the work of ant-like
mar. OF nights mantled for peaceful,
nerve-restoring sleep, for eighteen nun
dred and ninety-seven years, Nature
never more nearly duplicated than sac
did last night the star-lit glories of that
calm eye Of Bethlehem, when the skies
were vocal TO the marveling shepherds
and the voice which has ruled the world
through centuries broke the domestic
mum OF the rock-walIed cave, with it's
initial breath-cry.
The Kansas sky, as that of Palestine
was amber with the rays of the setting
sun, flashed back from a thousand west
ern windows with electrical whiteness
Twilight came as a thin veil through
which the stars, nakedly crystalline,
in twinkling purity peeped until
the whole canopy shore with violet
spangled splendor, which only one great
star, lustrous beyond all the rest, mys-
ioaT oil ~ ID
more splendid.
Traffiicking humanity, for one day in
the year mixing softer sentiment with
the hardness Of higgliEg, tarried long at
the counters Of the busy stores, and it
was not until long after midnight that
the last front door was closed and shut
upon the counters and aisles and apart
ments. where innumerable hands OF
nervous anxiety, fretful indecision and
feverish eagerness had lefe at last a
scene among trionkets and toys, frillg
scene among trinkets and toys, friIls
and furbelows. laces and silks. a drunk
But long before that the streets had
been thinning. as each man or woman
loaded out Of all human shape, and
punching every pedestrian he met, slid
for home and anticipated happiness.
Earlier in the evening the children
We're coming to town to the church
Christmas entertainments, noisy, rolick-
some out Of all measure, and injecting
every body with whom they came in
touch with their childish fun.
1t was Christmas eve. Santa Claus
after the usual years preparation, was
due 20 arrive. There was no snow nor
jingle OF bells, but Santa Claus, the
great unselfish childrens friend. is al
ways expected. He came to Wichita
last night. He was arraigned before
Judge Commonserse at the First Pres
byterian church and the children sat in
silent sympathy while accusation and
evidence went on. He was charged with
undermining the serious side of life by
his annual tour of frivolity He was ia
ken TO task in the cantata, "a Trial of
Santa Claus on pessimistic COM
plant that should have come from the
hither end of the next century. that
time spent by the children in talking of
him and the triffes he would bring was
time lost, ard the wakeful hours OF
thought they gave him and his sleigh
bells and the toys he distributed was
diverting energy from better things. 1t
was a we'll planned conspiracy but the
sympathy Of the children in the audi
ence with subtle power moulded the
sympa thy of the jury and Santa Claus
was not only acquitted, but given, an
ovation in open court when the verdict
of mot guilty" was read. Then the
great, good Santa climbed right over the
court bar and dived around among the
children, VINO caught up the presents
of candy and all the significant en-
wrapped nothings that fall into Juvenile |
life like pictures out OF a dream. 1t is |
to be regretted that Santa Claus has |
commenced 10 abandon the Christmas /
tree. He set up only one in the city |
last night at the Emporia avenue Bap- /
tist church in the north part Of town. |
II Is said that after the tree was |
stripped that Santa, contrary to mis- US
ual custom, got out on the streets and |
romped with the children. He visited |
one Of the Christian churches, the Ma
sonic home and a careful computation
shows that all the stockings he filed in
Wichita would load two big freight cars.
Today the children will enjoy the results
Of his visit. The older ores will have no
more pleasant hour than the momentary
recollection OF the brief time that Santa
Claus was TO them a real friend. To the
young heart the day and its toys will be
its own delight, sight Of which, with
Its memories, will gladden. all those
others who in a bitter moment have
learned tsat Santa Claus was only a con-
dition.
Here is. a merry Christmas 10 thar1n ALI |