Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-20

HERE'S no doubt about IT.
~ the hardest worked OF all my
servants are the fellows who
collect and deliver the Christ
mas express packages
looked up. startled, from the box tina.
I was preparing for expressage to the good
olo state OF Illinois. There, before me,
stood-old Santa himself. I saw that at a
glance. And yet there was something not
quite right with the old gentleman's APP
pearance; / realized that at once too. Then,
all suddenly. located the discrepancy-on
his hoary head. instead of the round fur
cap had expected to see, was a f1at-viz-
ored one, and the brass plate in front bore
the legend: st. Nick's Consolidated Ex-
press Companies
tried not to show my wonder-to be
SO impolite-but my unexpected visitor. who
reads every year the minds of countless
boys and girls and never makes mistake
as to what they want, way deep down in
their hearts, for Christmas, found it an
easy task to fathom mine.
Yes, he smiled, an ample dimple COM
ing into each bronzed cheek I'm ST. Nick,
the Express Trust now. had to discard
my sleigh when Uncle Sam got to having
So many good boys and girls that try as
hard they could, it became utterly i'm
possible for Dunder and Blixen and all the
rest of my feet-footed little friends to
carry me and my pack around to all the
chimney places on Christmas eve. Dear.
tiny twinkling feet-I shall never forget
the first and last time they failed me.
Thousands of good boys and girls looked
In vain for me that year-failed to catch
even the slightest suggestion of the sound
of pattering deer hoofs on the roofs over
head. All, those little faithful creatures
felt as badly about 1t as the boys and
girls themselves. spent days trying to
comfort Vixen, soft-hearted little creature
that she is and today tears still come into
her eyes when she chances to hear any
of her companions recalling the Distress
ing Christmas of '93.''
Right at this point l could have sworn
there came a break in Santa's voice. and
I'm sure there was a mist before his eyes,
but l affected not to notice his deep emo
ton, and pretty soon--doGbtless as re-
ward for my discretion-his CHEEKY voice
began:
II was determined not to dsappoint any
body the next year. so months before Christ
mas was due I went to Mr.. United States
and Mr.. Adams and Mr.. Wells Fargo and
Mr.. American and Mr.. National and Mr.
Southern and Mr.. Pacifc-theyre the men
who have given their names to the big ex-
press companies of the country, you know
and told them what had happened to my
fsh sorrow that had resulted. AS they are
fellow-carriers of mine, they were keenly
interested in my Transportation troubles. of
course, and were solicftous to know how I
proposed remedying matters.
IT was right here that I sprung my con-
solidation plan on them.
Gentlemen / said, assuming, as much
as my proverbial good nature would let me,
the domineering voice of a great captain of
Observation-Disclosures I propose to merge
your respective businesses into ST. Nick's
Consolidated Express Companies for the
Christmas season exclusively and from the
time the first Christmas package, too large
Tor me to send through the mails, IS ready
for delivery, until the: last is sen. out. I
propose to assume full authority over The
combined businesses. My terms are a
Merry Christmas to each and every one of
you and yours. Do you accept?.'
Santa smiled q self complacent little smile.
Mine was the most quickly formed trust
on record There was no dickering no on
position. With one accord, all voted my
solution of the Christmas transportation
problem the only correct one, and my price
for trust control for the season more than
munif1cent. I have hattered myself ever
Since that I must have initiated beta than
I knew the tone of voice of Mr. Nor OF a
great captain of industry But whatever
the cause OF the ready acceptance Of my
merger scheme. from that day 10 this the
hardest worked of all my servants have
been those that employ to carry on the
highly important work of St. Ni:k's Con-
solidated Express Companies.
~.
Just let me give You an idea or two OF
how hard these loyal fellows really work
for me.
There are my men in the Post Office De-
partment. just by way of comparison you
must surely have heard that Uncle Sam and
I regularly enter into Christmas season
partnership. he to look after the customary
commercial business and / to give my at
tention to the Christmas end. Well, there's
a regulation in the department. that I
haven't had the moral courage to resciffd
as yet-its awful to get those ci1d service
fellows buzzing like hornets around your.
head-which says that a postman can't work
longer than SO many hours, no mater how
many good boys and girls may be depending
upon them for their hearts desires The
result is I've simply got to give caall post
man from one to six substitutes, in order
to get the Merry Christmases / send
through the mails delivered right side up
with care.
"of course. the post office fellows work
much harder than usual. while they work,
and so do all the men and women in my
big department stores, and the army / keep
busy right UP to the last minute tarnlng cut
millions of dolls and tin soldiers and drums
and all the other fine things for Christmas
stockings. But, what I'm getting at is this
mot one of all these many, many willing
and hard workers in my cause labor with
out rest, without ceasing. for the three and
four days right before Christmas as do my
Consolidated Express boys.
Its an actual fact that in the big CEN
ters-New York. Chicago and the like
these men. during this period. do not get
the proverbial forty wfnks. even know
1t sounds cruel" the speaker FASTENED to
say, while shade of anxiety came over
his rotund face. but leave 1t to you:
wouldn't 1t be far. far more cruel to dis
appoint again a lot OF good boys and girls
as ! did In 93?''
nodded vigorously, the Jolly twinkle
sprang back instantly into santass eyes and
he went on
aof course. do all can to tighten the
burden. In the New York city division, for
example. when my Express Trust Is not
operative. Mr.. United States employs abou.