The age-herald., 1900-12-11
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An interview With Sania Claus

In one of the great shops in Birmingham Santa Claus is receiving hundreds of orders. He has a desk and office hours. It is his busy season. From now until Christmas Eve he will make numerous entries in book that he has arranged alphabetically. He was showing me yesterday an appalling list of wants" which would put all the want columns in the newspapers to shame. The paper that had Santa Claus on its staff would do land office business.
 There are so many go-carts wanted" said Santa Claus yesterday that I am afraid the supply will not satisfy the de- mand. The latest thing in go-carts are the adjustable carts, and I know of at least hundred children who have expressed a wish for a cart. Then there are the hobby horses that are as popular this season as ever. only that now they come in real skin. The result of the Spanish-American war is seen in the miniature warships,. and yet there is@nothing that will ever supplant the steam trains. Another result of the war is in the toy cannons and guns. And speaking of shooting apparatus, know Of several boys who will find a shooting gal lery in their stocking on Christmas morn- ing.
 'Then the newest and most entertaining thing is the mechanical railroad with It's complete equipment of signal stations. Here Is a 'sulky' for one of the brightest little boys in Birmingham who is very fond of goats and dogs. He wanted new goat wagon, and as the sulky' is the novelty of the season I was sure he would be de- oh fn DOVS under ten years will have the usual supply of tin horns and drums I generally throw in a horn or two for good measure, very much as I do a package of fire crackers. In the mechanical toys I have something that is quite fashionable among the smart set The automobile will have great run, and have more orders than l can possi- bly, fill, for understand that there will be a miniature automobile race in the spring. Besides the toys, games and everything that will amuse little chil- dren, I have a separate book where I am keeping a list of wants from older children Their wants include more useful articles, and knowing this, have dozens and dozens of little library cases and desks chiffoniers, toilet tables, and numberless little girls are going to be made quite hap py OH ODTlSImdS morning, when they Opel their eyes, on these beautiful little book cases and desks that are exactly like their 'mama's'. This furniture comes in oak and In white enamel.
 For the Christmas trees," and here Santa Claus looked radiant and more in his element Che seemed to forget he was going to be quoted in the paper), "there were never so many beautiful ornaments" and he opened box after box of magnificent gew-gums, in all the colors of the rainbow, and more besides.
 Dear me-" l said in bewilderment, but he continued to reveal quantities of marvel ous little trinkets and to comment upon there beauty, and even went so far as to describe the way certain trees would be decorated and lighted.
 Santa Claus is a born decorator. He has an eye for the beautiful, too.
 'Tell me of the dolls.'
 This was too much for the kind old gen tleman. l saw my mistake.
 Like the majority of men, he would not be led into a discussion of the fashions. He pointed to a stack of letters that had come by the morning mail. Each letter bore a feminine hand writing.
 Will they never cease wanting dolls?" 0ne said, and began discussion of the new woman. But on the whole l think that he is rather glad there are no new little girls"