davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-15
MRS. SANTA CLAUS TOTHE FORE
TAKING HER HUSBANDS PLACE
AT CHRISTMAS PARTIES.

santa Claus Also Appears I'm New FERNS
-substltutes for Christmas rrees-A
Nautical Party for n DOy-NOvei HOIl-
day Entertainments for Dld and Young.
New ideas for Christmas?" repeated the
man whose business Il is 10 provide new
ideas for all sorts Of occasions and enter
tainments. @Of course we h~ave-bushels OF
them.
-In thei first place / want to say that Ibsen
and h and all the rest Of that literary
gang don't seem to have made any differ
ence In the number OF orders that come for
Santa ClRusss-is that plural of Claus? The
kids believe In him just as much IS they ever
liz and there isn't a mail that goes out that
doesn't carry with il some wigs and boards
Cor local SAINT Clauses out on the plains or
in some part OF the Union.
W have a new fireplace for Santa Claus
this year that il taking pretty well. Each
brick In it is really a candy box. and when
SAINT Claus has stepped out Of the fireplace
and distributed his gifts then the children
are allowed to pull II TO pieces and each one
finds Il brick filed with goodies and his OF
her name written on the bottom of il.
We have a SNOWFALL heap made the same
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-15

like that. Ibid not see any resemblance. but
/ did not tell him 80.
Il had meantime made no secret of the
fact that l had written a book. No, | had
discussed it with my friends. | even got
some Of them to read it.. I heard once
hat a man sold a book INT the publisher
swOre afterwaTd that he did not write il.
I took no chances.
But my open methods were nothing to
those Of the man who was to put my book
ON the market. Shortly read notices among
the literary news about myself.
Il was "a talented young author /
learned that the publishers had secured
IN option on my future work was
interviewed Once or twice. At least I read
that I had been.
They decided to make il a $3.50 book
and have IL Illustrated. I considered my
fortune made, I lOnged to see in painted
efigy the form Of my heroine. l saw il.
In the f~rOntispiece she was about min
heads tall, with aristocratic features. and
wore q riding habit. In other pictures she
ranged from a short plump blonde to a Ian
guorous Oriental person who smoked ciga-
rettes. The book said she was a Quaker
maiden.
II called the firms attention to this and
they said they knsw il, but what the public
wanted WAS pretty pictures. Besides, her
being a Quaker was the weakest point in
the book. Quakers, I learned, had been
done 10 death.
Il resolved my next story should be
based on twins. Three artists got 500
apiece for illustrating the book. The cost
Of illustration was charged to my profits.
Everything went along pleasantly until
I got my contract. Somehow I began to
have f~Orebodings the minute l read that
paper.
-Dd you ever read a literary contract?
II usually covers four pages Of fOolscap and
Is a work Of art and science. l read along
about the parties Of the first part and parties
OF the second part and heirs and assigns
in a mad mental revel Of delight. l had
never been anything OF these things before.
1 did not understand now which one | was.
but I was In the swim anyhow.
then / got down to the talk about the
! royalties. That was the cream. Pretty
word, royalties. Only this pessimistic con-
tract had sucha grewsOme way OF spelling
everything. IL would 60 along like this:
And the royalties lf any shall be paid
10 the party Of the second part. One-half
ceedinG the date Of publication and the other
half In six months succeeding the payment
OF tho irst royalties III anyI.
Il don't know IL they do IL TO be mean. but
that II any jammed in after every mention
of royalties is no good way. No use dis
| couraging a man before he begins. The
| contract was full Of those two cold blanket
words.
There was provision made for the "a
| ment Of 500 TO another man who was better
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-15

like TO feel when they give that they are
getting something in return.
-Our hat trade alone is enormous, and
We send hats. caps and comets for mas
querades. ~carvinals. cOtillons and especially
for church fairs. To-day we shipped two
dozen Chinese skulls with queues to a COM
mittee in Maine. and We rave on file an order
from the giver Of a Cotillon ON Long Island
for three dozen Rough Rider hats and some
Salvation Army bOnnets.
For this same cotillOn we sent some
gift flowers. hat is. large flowers Of our
own manufacture whose petals conceal the
favOrs until they are ready for distribution.
We have a number OF orders for Japanese
parties during the holiday week. one Of them
coming from a big establishment which in-
tends TO have the Christmas eve jollifica-
ton take this form. The presents for the
guests will be distributed from the jinriksha.
The city children who are deprived of
h delight OF seeing n playing with the
open wood fires have burning outfits which
make a very satisfactory understudy. The
logs look very natural and the burning
effect 10 produced by fire gilt tinscl.
The amateur makeup boxes we get orders
for from all over the world and especially
from New England, where it seems that
the amateur play is more prevalent than
anywhere else. These boxes contain grease
paints. lining cOlors for shading wrinkles.
burnt cork. eyebrow pencils. email noir, to
stop out teeth in character work; skin
mustache masks. for covering over the
mustache when it il not desired to sacrifice
it. and half a hundred more articles.
Certainly the child of to-day has great
advantages in this respect over the children
Of a generation ago who had to be content
With burning their own cOrks and making
raids on the -four barrel when the histrionic
fever reached the point of expression. You
would be surprised. too. at the number of
these that are given to children for Christ
mas presents
just at this moment the telephone rings
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-15

places. Little canoes are to be fastened
to these ropes, and across the bow OF each
Of the tiny craft a paddle will bear the
guests name. Shells are to do duty as
salt and bonbon dishes.
Over the door Of the drawing room two
big oars crossed will bear the words "Come
Aboard. : and after the dinner the old game
Of donkey in a different guise Ia to be played.
a ship at anchor with mast and no eails
taking the place Of the beast of burden.
The little guests will try to pin sails to the
masts In the places where they ought to be.
the Rize for the best placed sail to be a
silver rOwboat pin.
There is no doubt about IT," says the
mar OF ideas as he oranges for half a dozen
other entertainments in the course Of half
an hour, among which are a lemon party,
q rummage sale, a corn social, a lullaby
concert and a Mother Goose carnival,
that people do like to be amused when they
90 to a party with something besides tea
and talk. Anything that takes US out Of
ourselves a little BIT, no matter how silly,
answers the purpose. We are but children
Of a larger growth, you know
And TO prove this he told the following:
The other day we were asked TO get
up something in a hurry for a stag dinner
at the Aldine Club. We sent them a pie
with a papier mache crust, all decorated
with sprigs of green and holly.
when he pie was opened instead Of the
four and twenty blackbirds a number Of
balloons few out, on a OF which was
painted in big white letters h name Of
one OF the party. They had been care
fully inflated beforehand, and as the pie
appeared when everybody was feeling
pretty mellow, why it raised a big laugh.
Every man got up chased his particular
balloon around, and having captured it
tied II to his b~uttonhole and was as pleased
as a peacock.
we had an order a while ago from a
man who ives in a big studio uptown for
an autumnal party, aort of golden sheaf
and hHnter'smOon affair, for he a Rad a jug
Of maple syrup sent him from the country
and that had started his mind on a sort Of
merry-go-round of harvest homes.
We'll, We wen into his place and covered
it with yellow bunting and put some big
pumpkins around and some sheaves of
corn and wheat. We had some ears Of corn
in papier mache and they had a regular
corn husking. and perhaps the girl that got
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-15

An she needs to play her part IL a big
fur lined cloak turned fur side outside. n
nc poke bonDet and nun We Pend. made OF
white cotton wool with black worsted tails.
Mrs. Santa Claus should bs stout. even fat,
and when she is first disclosed to the eyea
of the admiring children she lie standing by
the side Of an enormous pumpkin. out OF
which in due time steps n little girl dressed
like a fairy with wand and wings. who sings
a little ballad and then takes gifts from the
inside NJ the puurpkin. which she distrb-
utes TO the children. Poor old SANTA Claus
stands by az useless as the husband OF a
boarding house keeper. and as much over
looked rs the bridegroom at a june we'd
ding.
MANY Of the societies that we hear from
tell us that they have decided for various
reasons. some because they do not believe
in cutting down the beautiful trees FOR tenn
porary purposes. to have some substitute
for the tree and ask for suggestions In re-
gard to this.
while there is nothing 80 beautiful as a
Christmas tree and nothing that appeals
30 directly to the children. these c0nsidera-
ions are potent. as we'll as the ever present
danger from fire in a crowded room with two
or three hundred children present, sc we
have many substitutes. One is the Capt.
Kidd treasure chest.
I'VE send directions to the home or to the
committee in regard to its building and
furnish the covering and the big brass
headed nails IL required. The presents
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-15

which are taken into account when. packing
a big box, which is delivered to each family
the day before Christmas and is certain to
contain two pairs Of stockings for each
child, warm clothing IL clothing is needed. a
months supply Of groceries and canned
goods, a box 81 candy and several toys.
In the wagon which delivers the boxes
is a supply of chickens. one OF two Of which,
according TO the size OF the family, go
with every box. In addition rent money is
sometimes furnished OF fuel, II the need is
imminent.
Between eighty and ninety OF these boxes
will go to New York families. and as many
more will be packed to go to other cities,
whose convicts also look to Mrs. Booth for
aid.
About 1000 baskets, providing for 10000
persons. are handled in the department
which looks after general cases. A large
part Of the money sDent here is collected in
dimes.
In this department the workers will pack
baskets all night long in order to be ready
for the distribution Christmas morning
This takes place at three different head
quarters whore holders Of tickets assemble.
n ticket representing a home which has
previously been visited by o representative
Of the Volunteers. Attached to zach ticket
n ~ NOukNOh WLlNn NAllN LOT "a UhHh6L COnLNlns
ing n dinner for five or six or eight persons,
IA the case may be.
We cannot pack the baskets sooner than
Christmas eve" said the adiutant in charge,
for the reason that donations Of fruit and
vegetables from Wholesale dealers who turn
over to us a good deal OF their surplus stock
after closing hours, dO not come ia till
Christmas eve, and also because the day
before Christmas is the largest in the nickel
and dime collection. the size Of which has
anuaaNkaUn Al - IL Nth Nka aanAn - eha Aa.lFna. y
The Adjutant added that for the past
three weeks from one 10 twenty-five persons
had applied daily at the headquartersfOr rent
money. clothes or food. All had been helped
TO some extent. About SIS O he thought
would he expended by the Volunteers on
their Christmas boxes and baskets, provided
The public responded with its usual gener-
osity To Mrs. Booths appeal for donations Of
money.
The Society for Improving the Condition
OF the Poor conducts its Christmas giving
on a different plan. The extent to which
the society plays Santa Claus depends
entirely on the size OF the cheoks and Of
other donations, none Of the regular funds
being diverted to this USE.
Toys and books and clothing, including
many knitted mittens and caps and
mufters. are received at h s0ciety's
rooms before Christmas and together
with articles bought with money given for
the purpose are distributed by the twenty
five district visitors In tho employ Of the
Last year, = said Mrs. Graham. "a gentle
man sent q check for SIS. with the request
that IL be spent solely for things which
money. Naturally that check was ex-
pended for toys.
with another check came the request 20
spend u al for toys which make : noise.
for drums and trumpets too and this re-
quest also was strictly carried out much TO
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-15

way Of candy boxes. When it is built it
looks just like a pyramid of snowballs ana
the little ones grow crazy over it when they
find out that instead of a cold handful Of
wet snow they are really getting a nice
warm box Of bOnbons.
"The big SNOWFALL boxes with sprigs Of
holly stuck in them are very popular for
holiday luncheons and dinners. The snow
sparkles ike the real thing and the holly
berries hook all the redder in contrast.
-One Of the most popular innovations for
the country is the addition of Mrs. Santa
Claus. The idea of Mother Santa Claus is
Just TO add a little fun to the evening.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-15

known than l to write a preface and intro
duction. l was to pay for this. One
thousand copies of the book we're exempted
from royalties and the firm did its own
bookkeeping.
Well, how are you going TO beat il? Any
how. | was to get double royalties on the
second thousand 30 make up for what l did
not get on the first. That's fair enough.
They all do it.
Well. sir. when that book came out l was
tickled 10 death. l read il all through to
my family and could hardly wait for the
next weeks papers TO see what they said
about il.
After all. what they said wasn't 80 bad.
They liked the pictures and hoped | would
do better next time. Queer how everybody
was so much interested in my next book. y
My friends stood by me in great shape.
Every one OF them wanted a Cop Of that
book. or course they were right when they
said hat IL wouldn't be correct for me TO
present the books With Authors Compli-
ments' unless | bought them.
That was fair enough. l bought about
a hundred copies and gave them away. all
autographed. It's splendid to have friends
h appreciate your work.
They gave me q dinner. too. l made a
speech and tried to be very modest. Nearly
everybody else made a speech, including n
lot of those l had given the books 10.
They said they had not read il yet,
but il was a pleasure they held in store
for themselves. Pretty nice, Ell? Oh, I tell
you 1 felt rather satisfied with myself.
Il wondered how the book was selling.
but + hated to seem too anxious for the
money. My friends spoke of the honor
Of IL 80 much hat | disliked 10 show nv
base material side.
You can imagine it was with some
delight that l received my first statement
at the end of the year. The statement
said that the firm stil had 800 copies of the
boob on hand but hoped to do better dur
ing the next quarter.
II hoped so too. That would bring il
about July. just the thing for II trip to
Europe.
II read the papers carefully during the
next months. l learned that the book
was one Of the wonders OF the year. II
sold like hot cakes. the papers said. II
had been sent to press four times.
Il figured hi / could not make less
than S7,5iS.87. or maybe S7,54S.06; I'm not
good at figures. Iordered some books l had
beef wanting a long time for my library
and began TO dress q bit better. After all
one must live up to the pace.
"ln the early summer came the letter
again. They then had sold the first thou
sand out completely and a great many in
the second thousand. for which l received
a double royalty. They had paid the
man who wrote the introduction and also
one OF the artists out Of what my royalties
amounted to.
They would pay the other artist as soon
az they sold some more books. Without
doubt authors are profitable investments
for artists and writer's Of ~prefaces.
well. that In about all. l never did get
anything out OF the book and the publishers
claim 10 be 500 or 80 out themselves.
Il hope some day to get a job working
for an advertising house. Meanwhile I am
IN s~uthor-cross my heart. hope | may
die author. | have q pretty little gold and
white covered book 70 prove IL, That is
all l have.'
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-15

History OT \ Volume An Gold and white
Outside and Black and white within.

DutStOe ana bhack anu WnhJe WltnhW.
He didn't. look like an author. Few OF
them do. But there was a burden on his
soul and a literary publication in his pocket.
which ought to prove something. Besides.
he claimed title more in sadness than in
pride.
He opened the subject himself and saw il
through to the finish without any prompt
ing, and he made suitable gestures when
occasion demanded.
AS | was saying" he began, consider
the case Of the poor authOr-the man who
writes a book.
Il hate to talk about myself. but take
me for example. I am an author. A
publisher Onoe made some Of my writings
into a book.
1T was a lovely little book. all gold and
white outside and all black and white in.
l was much pleased with it.
Elm the first place l wrote it. Then I
rewrote it. Then 1 submitted it to a pub
Usher.
-He liked il. He said so plainly. IL
was one of the best things he had read
He said that too. But IL did not ht in
exactly with his seasons plans and he was
Obliged to refuse il.
"You may imagine l was pleased TO have
him consider it so ~favorably. 1 asked him
il n had any fault to find with the plot.
He had nom at all.
I'm fact he did not seem TO remember
much about the plot. He asked me IL the
book had n l assured him that it did.
He had no fault to find even then.
"And,hOping 10 see the very next thing
l did, and being honored by my visit, he
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-15

-One OF the popular substitutes we made
for a tree wa in q little Western church.
where In the veatry was built a bower OF
Christmas greens powdered with glistening
snOw-repressDted by cotton s~priRlSled with
coarse salt-the walls festoOned with the
usual garlands OF Christmas greens. APP
preaching the bower was a long chute down
which Santa Claus came sliding ON a large
red sled with his pack on his back.
AT another place Santa Claus also APP
pearsd on a sled drawn by six children
dressed in white. who stood and sang their
little carols before he alighted and began to
distribute his goods.
@The amount OF supplies sent out over
the country to help to gather money
Eorchsritable urpOsesissimpl tremendous.
New York people are not the only ones who
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-15

and a request over che wire for a
new deviOo FOR Christmas presents. Tho
man OF ideas replies that he n working out
an idea that In not quite complete and ex-
plains, after quoting the -queatiOnsr With
promises 70 let her see IL the hex day, that
he has originated a Ferris wheel made by
placing two ordinary carriage wheels to-
gether. painting and covering them with
mock snow and fastening Christmas boxes
to tho spokes. The idea to be worked out
consists OF turning the whesl 30 that when
it stops the child gets the box nearest him.
Hardly Ia this described before suburban
woman comes in and asks for help in
arranging som kind Of butterfly party,
while she keeps the star busy locking up
butterfly favOrs for II. These favOrS con-
sist OF velvet winged pins for the hair,
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-15

ave 10 be dug out Of the box. where they
are imbedded. either in sane or bran. and a
pirate stands guard with the most piratical
costume ever imagined. There ara some
skulls and crOssbones thrown in with other
properties Of that kind.
-The grab bag and bran pie never lose
their charm. and for a few dollars we send
the pie and bag all filed with presents,
enough for twenty-five children. These
may be made more expensive il desired, and
a twelve dollar outfit really furnishes some
charming gifts. even including the popular
Teddy bears and their accompanying lady
dolls.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-15

Five THOUSAND Basket Dinners In sight
Toys for Children and Rent Money.
Fuel and Clothing for Those VINO Need
Them -COnNICts' families Remembered.
IL doesn't seem probable that any ever Of
New York's poorest families will have TO
20 hungry or get along without a present
Of some sort on Christmas Day, judging
from information obtained from four of
the largest charitable agencies in the city.
These are the Charity Organization Society,
the Society for Improving the Condition
OF the Poor, the Volunteers Of America and
the Salvation Army.
Bv their efforts at least 10000 persons
representing more than 1000 homes will
receive Christmas cheer in one form or
another. Besides there are dozens Of other
public and private agencies that specialize
more or less in their giving. 1t is evident
therefore that New York deserves its repu-
tation for taking better care of its poor
than any other city in the world.
Until recently. though. such generosity
in holiday cheer was not possible. Only a
few years ago Christmas giving To the
very poor was conducted mainly in a hap
hazard and necessarily restricted fashion
by individuals. To study how To do the
greatest good TO the greatest number sell
dom entered the mind OF the most generous
Of these givers. Public charitable agencies
we're entrusted with very few checks TO
spend for Christmas gifts for the poor.
It is different now. Because Of the COM
prehensive system they employ such agen-
cies are much better able than individuals
to reach those needing help. This il recog-
nized and people who formerly did their
own giving now send checks to some or
g&nization.
The managers and the force Of workers
in zach organization are working overtime
now 70 plan their gifts so az to reach homes
which otherwise would get no Christmas
presents at all. To reach a. many Of them
as possible no two OF the organizations are
following exactly the same methods.
For example, the Volunteers Of America is
tackling the double task Of looking after the
families Of convicts and also after a long list
Of poor families not in this class who at
Christmas apply for relief. The two sets
Of oases are handled by different depart
ments.
Men In Dannemora, in Auburn and in
Sing Sing prisons write 10 Mrs. Booth In be-
half OF families left behind. and invariably
in answer 10 these appeals a visitor is de-
s2atched from headquarters TO investigate
Inc family's needs and find out the number
u children and how old they are. facts
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-15
DEGREES SOME TINE AFTER.
Pennsylvania Awards Them "a Men Unable
90 Finish Course.

The University OF Pennsylvania recentl~
conferred on twenty-three men academic
degrees that they failed to get because OF
interruption in their college work. All
the men were students at the university
but were deprived of the privilege OF being
graduated with their classes although not
for reasons OF scholarship. Some OF the
men VINO received the degrees dated back
10 the '7Os, while others were very recent
indeed.
This custom has been tried at Harvard
and other universities. although not on so
large "A scale. At Columbia not long 4
there WA the case Of a student whose name
was plnced on the list Of his class "a having
received n degree although he had died
some time before. a ".
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-15
XMAS CHEER FOR The POOR
FOTR AGENCIES WILL LOON
AFTER 10000 HOMES.

Five THOUSAND Basket Dinners In sight
Toys for children and 2 Money.
Fuel and Clothing for These who Need
Them -COnNICts' Families Remembered.