The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-25
WROTE TO SANTA CLAUS
Letters Intercepted by q Hard
Hearted Postmaster.
HE WANTED AN ELEPHANT
Youngsters Give Santa Claus Tips on
What They Desire-Afraid He Is
P~oor-Johnnie Wants q Gun.
And All Want Something.

versally supposed to possess only attri-
butes of goodness in the elements of his
character. ever discovers how grossly
his confidence and the confidence Of
others have been abused during the
past few days by persons connected
with the Butte postofice, serious trou-
bic Is likely to follow for the guilty
parties. 1t has leaked out that mail ad-
dressed to the old gentleman referred to
has been intercepted regularly for days
past and IL the authors of the intercept
ed letters and the old gentleman who
should have received them ever earn
tn facts and bring the matter to the
attention of the postal authorities, 1t
viii cause a sensation in Butte. for the
guilty ones are no less ~personages than
Postmaster George w. Irwin himself
and Assistant Postmaster Thomas j.
FIavin. III the truth reaches the ears
OF those whose letters have been inter-
cepted the high standing Of these two
gentlemen in the community will not
save them, no matter IL the good-na-
tured old man whose letters never
reached him should be willing to ex-
cuse them. for the persons who wrote
the letters are a class Of people who
won't stand a great deal Of monkey
business"
A knowledge Of the fact that letters
were being intercepted i'm the Butte
postofice came to the Standard several
'oy = dIu a qultt lNtEtlkdtiOh was
egun. Facts were soon unearthed
which cast a strong suspicion upon
Postmaster Irwin and Assistant Flavin.
1t was further learned that each OF the
intercepted letters contained at least
n request and generally more which
the authors confidently believed woul
be granted by the person addressed. As
the inerception of the letters may pre-
vent these requests being gratified. the
postoffice officials will doubtless be held
responsible. Each one of the intercept
ed letters was addressed i'm "A rather
scraggly hand, indicating the writer
had not been in the writing business
very long. 1t was always legible, how
ever. SO hat cannot be offered as an
excuse for the failure to deliver. In
fact the only earthly excuse Postmaster
Irwin and Assistant Flavin had to offer
for their when accused point
blank was that the person had no box
and they did not know his present ad-
dress. which is no excuse. or worse than
no excuse at all. and they must there
fore expect to pay the penalty. which
ought to be removal from office, for no
man is fit to be postmaster or assistant
postmaster who don't know the address
of Santa Claus. II was Santa Claus to
whom all the intercepted letters were
written.
Although Postmaster Irwin could not
forward the letters to Santa Claus. the
sldliddlu a III ~ Way vi dklD
them each him. AS Santa Claus takes
the Standard the letters are going to be
reproduced so he will Vet to see them
after all, and although he won't see
the funny little handwritings and be
able to appreciate the effort ii evidently
cost to pen some of them, perhaps the
lines will appeal to him just as strong
ly. so here they are:
sandy Claws.
Dec. Is, 1898.
Dear Sandy Claws:
Please bring Harold a bank. a horse
and buggie and % and rake and
how, a elephant and a COW
HAROLD.
In a postscript Irene asks: please
Sandy bring Irene a doll. a rabbit, a
dog and a cup and saucer"
Afraid Santa Is Poor.
Butte. Mont, Dec. Is, 1898.
Dear Santa CT:
I thought i would wright you a few
lines to tell you what l would like for
Christmas. / would like a doll. a pair
of skates, a double slate, a storie book,
a ring and some Deeds. Mamma says
she thinks you are to poor to come this
year but j hope you will come so good
by Santa Claus, from your little friend.
BLANCHE.
731 S. Dakota st.
Esther Wants the Same.
II was quite evident from the hand
writing that Blanche wrote her sisters
letter also. Perhaps Esther isn't big
enough to write yet, but she wants
much the same things as Blanche. for
she says, or Blanche says for her:
Butte, Mont, Dec. l3, 1898.
Dear Santa:
I thought I would wright you a few
lines and tell you what I would like for
storie book, a black board. a pair of
skates and a doubble slate. Mamma
says she thinks you are TO poor to come
this year but I hope you will so good by
Santa Claus. ESTHER.
731 So. Dakota st.
1t Is to be hoped Santa will see these
two letters in particular. for from
desires of two little people won't be
gratified IL he doesn't.
From Cope's lido.
Butte. Mont, Dec. 81, 1898.
Dear Santa Claus:
I want a baby doll and a dolls high
chair and a table and some dishes. if
you please.
Jshnn Wants His Gun.
400 ". Granite ST.
MY Dear Santa Clause:
1 would like o to bring me a red
gun. JOHNNIE.
Inc, Doesn't Want Much.
Butte. Mont, Dec. 10th, 1893.
want a doll and a trunk. dolls bed.
dolls cradle. dolls rocking chair. dolls
high chair. picture book. Noah's ark.
pocket book, stove. paper doll set. tab
let, box of candy. That's all I want for
this Christmas. Yours, very respect
lively. INEZ BRAY.
Don't Depend Entirely On Santa
Butte, Mont, Dec. s. 1895.
My Dear Santa Claus:
I would like a pair of skates and one
of thos boxes with a brush n toilets
in IL like thos in mama's for my dolls.
j would like n or two games n /
suppose you will think that Is enough
from you. Maby my mamma and papa
and brother will give me a present. ]