davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-22

my dolls hair, and little round table
with lamp on it. and chairs for my dolls
house and everything else that goes in
a dolls house, beside l want a jumpin
rope and a doll hammick. 1 hope you
wont forget none of them.
Your affecsunate
Rosie c.
And again a little girl WHO is rather
mixed in her geography and believes that
Santa Claus lives in Toxic. Iceland.
First snow house from the gate writes:
Dear Santa Claus, Christmas will be
here soon, but I can hardly wait. l do
hope you will bring me a gold locket, a
diamond ring, pair of roller skates, a
pair of white kid gloves, and Christmas
tree as usual; and a peck of candy, nuts,
etc. 1 have read lot about you in The
Evening Star and have been very much
interested with 1t. You are sEch a good
fellow, 1 know you will bring me every
thing I ask for.
Your friend
Madeleine B."
The cynic who said that gratitude is a
lively anticipation of favors to come
would find confederation in such letters
as this, written on the back of circular
by an embryo diplomatist down in
Georgia:
Dear Mister Santa Claus, the presants
you bringed me last year was fine you
sure do no how to pic out fine presants
for Teller. o mister Santa Claus. l do
hop you'll bring me railroad train like the
one you brought Quentin Rosevilt once.
even If I amt the presidents son. Mi
but Id be proud Of railroad train like
that and 1 reckon you have another like
it in your shop. 1 no you have the best
shop in the wurld. You are such a good
Santa Claus and make folks so happy.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-22

maintains that men are more vain thah
women.
There is a fad, not bad one. for hav-
ing the photograph taken IN the nome.
And one of the features of the Chrlstmas
rush orders with some photographers Is
to get one woman at her piano, another In
her favorite armchair. another In an
evening gown posed like Lady Rose
daughter by a glowing fireside.' And
one quick-witted woman VINO wanted
background of ferns and orchids mas nao
a Christmas order made W. by showing
herself in what appears to be million
aires conservatory. but is In reality
corner in a plain. honest greenhouse. A
chair like a Monte Cristo cafe affair has
been used by another; her velvet opera
cloak (any costumer can supply one)
thrown over it negligently; her hand rest
ing quietly above 1t and she stands as II
Lord Craven's whispered words" to
some lady back of the mimosa trees mad
Just reached her ear. This displays her
three-quarters profile to mucn adVan-
tage. and 1t is undeniably beautiful
photograph.
The greatest tax upon photographer
comes between Thanksgiving and Christ
mas-'family reunion pictures, taken
at home in most cases, and to be finished
up in a hurry, so that the family enter
tainer can get out of 1t easily at Christ
mas by sending "all those present" pic
ture in which they can see themselves
as the turkey saw them. Johnny Is be-
ing reminded that If he doesn't learn to
eat properly he can't be in the group
now making up her mind to get the tooth
pick out of "Johnny's fathers" mouth
when the photographer. mounted on a
stepladder with a flash" stick in his
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-22

Of crop failures, of sickness sometimes.
One from little girl runs:
Deere Mr.. Zanty in Heven, we've moved
so far from our home that i'm most afraid
you wont come to US this year But hoap
you will for my mamma is sick, and
wont you plees bring her some medsun
to make her well. And plese Mr.. Zanty
johnny and 1 are awful loansom and If you
would bring us some candy we would be
very glad. Your true friend
''Hilma - !
And brave little lad out in Missouri
writes:
Dear Mr.. Santa Claus. You needn't
bring me a sled nor pare of skates this
year, and 1 don't want the pony I asked
for last year either. My hip got worse
and 1 cant walk and run any more. and l
guess l cant ride either. But l hope you
can send me ship SO that I can sail it
in a tub Of water near my bed, and lot
of soldiers and sailors so l can play army
and navy, and a knife that will be sharp
so that l can wittel with it while 1 have
to lie on my back and not be loansome
when the boys are playing out of doors
So don't forget Your boy
Tom c.
Again homesick young one afraid of
being forgotten because he no longer lives
under the stars and stripes writes:
We've moved since last Christmas, and
we live up in Canada now. 1t is not so
nice like it was in Wisconsin, but I hoap
you wont forget to come on that account.
You know it is not so far from your
home at the North Pole as where we ust
to live. Yours faithful.
Laurence M
X x
that Is
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-22

care Of the North Pole and put in a
wholesale requisition
My Dear Saint Nicholas: Please bring
me whole heap of. guns, and drums, AMI
war vessel with serch light, and a
Bring Ethel a horn and bugel. Ethel IS
my sister and she coud be bugelr when
we play soldier, and oblige
your friend
Tracy Johnson
To which the sister adds: II don't want
a bugel, dere Santa Claus, I want a doll.
and oh plese make it a big dolly with
real hair and eyes that shut and every
thing. And please I want some candy
and some oranges and things. and then
1 will be good until next year.
X X
The request for a doll rarely fails in
the girls letters. On the whole, the little
girls are more modest than the boys in
their demands. But a doll is nearly al
ways the first thing asked for-abways a
dolly-no matter what else they may want.
bearing apparent testimony to the mother
instinct Unborn in all daughters of Eve
A little girl who lives away down in
Louisiana is just about as grasping as
Master Tracy Johnson. Her letter Is d.
rected to
''Mr. Kris Kingel,
Snow Town, Mountain Top,
THE Moon.
Deer mr.. Kris Kingel, l thought
would write you a letter to tell you that
l am good girl and I hope you are COM
ing this Crismass. May be you might not
know me but 1 live just the same place
and 1 want a doll. saddel tor my pony,
buggy for my dolly, craddel. nice big
set of dishes, and bed and dresser, and
a looking glass and a komb and brush for
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-22

All of these little waits of the mails, these
piteous little appeals that Uncle Sam cam
not possibly deliver or answer, have been
sent in years past to the dead letter Of
fee to be read with a smile and a sigh
by the clerks and then consigned to the
postal graveyard.
Situated on the south side of the spa
cious giass-roofed court, on the third
floor of the national post Office. the dead
letter office is at all times peculiar in It's
appeal TO the imagination. To 1t come
all the letters and packages that for any
reason whatsoever cannot be delivered,
and one cannot visit it without think
ing of the hopes deferred, the ro-
mances blighted. the riddles unsolved.
Thousands and thousands of letters
have always come from children at
this time of year addressed to Santa
Claus. There seems to be difference OF
opinion as to where Santa Claus lives.
the most frequent addresses being the
North Pole" Greenland" Iceland"
"Snowland' and Heaven"
Occasionally, in years gone by. one has
seen an item describing some one as the
official Santa Claus of this, that, or the
other post oftice-a philanthropic individ-
ual to whom the postmaster turned over
the Santa Claus letters passing through
his hands. But that was a mistake, or. IL
it was true, the postmaster exceeded his
authority Formerly that was done, but
a few years ago a wealthy Philadelphia
woman applied formally to the post Office
for permission to take charge of some of
the Santa Claus mail. and the department.
made a formal ruling that 1t had no right
to deliver mail addressed to one person
to any one else. This year, however. the
Postmaster General, who seems to have
a soft SPOT in his heart for the children.
has decided to have that mail delivered
where it will do most good.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-22

The instinct to get plenty while
you're gettin' is very much in evidence.
One yohngster. who one of these days
should be candidate for the Nobel peace
prize. addressed his letter to Mr.. Saint
Nicholas. Chimney Street, Icicle Land,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-22

Matched the most wonderful surprise.
The elevator boy in one building
whose top floor is given over to photog-
raphers says he intends to write book
on the Beasts That 1 Have Travelled
With. Bull terriers, Newfoundlands.
dainty Pomeranians, and even little
i Marmosets arrive. some of them COM
ing with dear mistress" in a carriage.
others trotting downtown. as they
think to market or the candy shop.
One great fat black dog, something be-
| tween a cocker spaniel and an elephant,
was duly posed beside a woman in a
smart street dress the other day, when he
| insisted on going to sleep. Now. photo
graphers have what they call the
chicken" a little toy they perch on the
top OF the camera. 1t looks like bad
dream of the dodo bird, and Is squawks
when rubber bulb connected with tube
| is pressed. 1t Is used to make dogs. cats
and babies look this way" and appear
almost human.
But the aged "Jip' refused to be guyed.
! and started to chew up the sable drapery
under which the artist retires.
I You see, we let him chew an old
blanket on the clothesline at home,'' his
mistress explained, allowing that she
hadn't seen him SO much in earnest for
| years.
There is much borrowed finery in photo
graphs. One woman in this city, whose
almost life-siza platinum prints will prob
ably be copied in the society papers when
she succeeds in arriving" has the pleas
ure of seeing the pretty face of her
| Swedish cook, an Olga or a Lena, who
looks an opera queen, exhibited in the
| street show case Of not very stylish but
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-22

Now let me tell you. You never in the
world can get those out there In time
Send them for New Year
The dressing rooms ready" and the
confused woman whose husbands aunt
was d theosophist, vanished into the en-
brace of a glowing >lady's maid, who
looked as If she had just left the chorus
My lands, seems to me this Christ
mas will be the death of me-" was the
photographers wife's remark as she, too
was swept OF to another apartment
where she could work at touching. up"
and listen for the sharp ring of the bell
when patrons rushed into the recep-
ton room.
Christmas. indeed, is an old story in
the photographers domains long before
the autumn days come
DO you know they begin talking that
way on Labor day? You'll be sure to
have them out by Christmas Why, it's
the stalest old question by Thanksgiving
and the worst of it all is that the longer
they wait the crosser they get about it,"
1t would seem that the photograph is
coming to be regarded as the most ac-
ceptable of Christmas gifts, although
the following remark heard the other
day in an elevator shows what a pleas
ant sentiment underlies much of the
giving.
81 tell you. Annie, If 1 looked like
Jessie @. does in that picture. I'd be
careful where l gave IL away. Mostly to
my blind relatives. / guess" Fine. isn't
1t.
One photographer in town tells of how
he is finishing up grandpa. grandma.
their son George and his wife and the
boy and each one of the family sup
having a picture taken. and that he has
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-22

now these letters, written on all sorts
of paper from mothers best monogramed
stationery to pieces of crumpled and not
over clean wrapping paper. from fathers
business letterheads to the youngsters
own tiny pictured sheets. One is on 4
piece of foolscap folded and folded and
folded into little card envelope; the next
mere scrap lost in a big official
looking mailing envelope BY far the
greater ma jority are written and ad-
dressed in childish handwriting big and
round sometimes, cramped and crooked
at others. Sometimes there is no doubt
that grown-up was pressed into service
as amanuenss. One in cramped, child
ish hand, every letter formed with toll
some effort, is addressed to Mr.. Canty
Klaws, who keeps everything in his store
and reads:
North Pole:
''Dere Canty Klaws: Pies brin me a big
doll and doll karage and a set of dishes
and little stow and oh dere Canty do
pleze brin me blu silk dres and a pink
parasol. ] wud be so glade caus mamie
johnsons got blu silk dress and pink
parasol and she puts on airs over me
caus l amt got any and my mama says
l mustn't mind and must be happy witout
them caus my papas pore and cant by me
them. But dere Canty l cant be happy
wen mamie johnsons got them and l amt
so Piles brin them to
Your luvin little girl
''Virgie -"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-22

about this time of year have
you Atcled tiny tot in your own home
STfd's toiling over letter to Santa
Claus. pShaps been asked to pass judg-
meny SUPPLIED al stamp. or held the box
opeh-for' come child who. on tiptoe, was
strainHg to reach it with the precious
missive? How often have you smiled and
tsighed at th9 faith and the hope. and,
perhaps.- tbH the little one might not be
ehiireiy disappointed. played Santa on
aFsnar scale yourself? Have you ever
stoTped to think how many thousands of
theeeAletters thepostal clerks handle dur
ing December of each year? Have you
ever considered what became of them?
Every day in the year nearly 2J,OOo
pieces of misdirected mail are sent to the
dead letter Office. During the weeks i'm
mediatelf preceding Christmas this num-
Der issincreased- by thousands. An extra
force 81 clerks is put to work in the dead
letter oUce from the first of December
until after the first of the year to handle
the surplus
Faith is strong in the breast of chill
hood. and hope in It's heart and in it's
head limitless imagination. From in
fancy Kriss Kringle. in his big. fur-lined
sleigh piled high with enhancing pres
ents and drawn by prancing RENDERS.
has been a living reality in the mind of
the average child. And many boy has
wondered why the good old saint has not
answered the letters sent to him. 1t is
because they were not properly addressed,
and never reached him. But this year
some OF the mat least may reach a deputy
even though they do not find Saint Nick
himself.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-22
LETTERS TO SANTA CLAUS
MIsSIvEs SENT BY HIS FAITH
Full CHILD-FoLLoWERS.
Appeals From the Simple and Poor
for the Help of the joy
Bringing Saint.

- ANITA CLAUS letters are no longer
necessarily dead letters The
Postmaster General has decreed
it. They may be delivered-as
many of them as are desired-to
vhomsover has the time, and the money,
and the loving Christmas spirit to play
Kriss Kringle's part for some of the thou
sands of children who each year con1de
TO Uncle Sans care their letters to the
dear Christmas saint.
For several years past the Post Office
Department has received numerous re-
quests from philanthropic societies and
individuals just before the holiday season
that such missives be turned over to
them Until this year the department
has always denied such requests on the
ground that Correspondence of import
ance might be classed with the Santa
Claus letters through error; that it would
-be exposing to private parties secret cor
respondence; that the letters might contain
valuable Enclosures. and that such prac-
tice violates the principle of the sanctity
of the mails
But the Postmaster General has cut tho
red tape for the benefit of the children.
even as he did while ago, when he or
dered the picture postal cards that could
not be delivered to be sent to the or
phan asylums, that the youngsters there
might get some fun out of them. He
has sent to all the postmasters the fol-
lowing lorder:
Hereafter, and until January 1908,
postmasters are directed to deliver al!
letters arriving at their respective post
offices addressed plainly and unmistak-
ably to Santa Claus without any other
terms or expressions identifying the per-
son or persons for whom such letters are
intended, to any regularly organized char
liable society in the city or town of adj
dress, to. be used exclusively for philan-
thropic purposes In the event that claim
should be made \by more than one such
society for lettersN so addressed, such let
tiers will be equally divided according to
number between Or among the societies
making such claim,''
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-22

Many of the letters attest the childish
faith in the belief that Santa Claus only
comes to good children. They contain as
surances of good behavior during the year
that is past or promises of entirely incor-
ruptible virtue for the year to come. Ere
quently there is a note of real pathos,
glimpse of larger trouble than that of
child begging for a toy. They tell pitt
full little tales of fathers out of work,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-22
TO ANSWER REQUESTS
CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS
MAY TAKE CHRISTMAS MAIL.
Happy Little Ones Throughout the
Land May Have a Reply to
Their Petitions.

gin of whose letter is adorned with woh-
bly, circles, obviously intended for kisses.
after telling Santa what deer nice
Santa he is. and how she 'luvs him
the bestest of all the saints" goes on:
"Dere good Santa, pese bring me a
little SISTER. Id ruvver have little
SISTER than any other pressunt. for I'm
a very lonely little girl. Dere nice Santa.
Gud bye
There have been in the neighborhood OF
million of these letters received at the
dead letter Office in past years. forwarded
from the various post offices during the
weeks Immediately preceding Christmas
For eleven months in the year Santa
Claus has absolutely no correspondents.
Then for one busy month more letters
are addressed to him than to any individ-
ual or firm in the United States-fat let
tiers and lean letters, big letters and
small The addresses on most of them
are perfectly legible. and the postage has
been paid on a large majority. though the
stamp is likely to be anywhere but in the
usual place. Sometimes there are HERO
glyphics in the stamp corner, which un-
doubtedly stand for kisses, and which
Uncle Sam ought to accept under the cir
cumstances.
Heretofore ali these letters have been
regarded as dead letters. When letter
reaches the dead letter office. II the au-
thorities have been unable to find the adj
dressee. and If there is nothing on the
outside of the envelope to indicate where
it comes from, the communication is
opened and a search is made for the
sender. This course has been followed in
the case of Santa Claus letters. In not
one case in thousand is there anything
on the outside to indicate the source OF
these letters, and frequently there is
very little inside. They are usually
dated. and sometimes a street number
is given. but rarely town Often the
signatures are merely the Christian names.
sometimes merely childish pet names, Of
the little writer's.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-22

They are pouring into the post offices
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-22
You'll fetch it to me wont you plese?
Respectfully
Jimmie wilkins

Or this:
Dear old friend Sanity Claus. 1 liked
all your presunts last year, and I tahnk
you for them, and 1 hope you will come
agen this year. Please bring me do,
with curly hair and blue eyes, and Kris
mas tree. Pies bring mamma and papa
something and don't forget old aunt Betty
and her chillens who live in our alley.
Pleas have the dolly in white clothes and
bring my brother george something and
the baby. If you do 1 will give you
kiss and a great big hug. If 1 can only
catch you before you get back up the
chimbly. Always your friend
Mamie c.
And this:
Dear Mr.. Santa Claws. May you have
a happy Christmas. We are all looking
for you Wednesday. When you come plese
bring me wheel bycicel. cause when
| tried to ride Johnnie Wurtz to wheel
bicycel fell oft. And don't forget the
good thinds orangs, banans and candy ?
And 1 need a new sled dear Mr.. Sanity,
you better bring it If you can spare one
When you cum down the chimbley you
can ask mamma have been a good boy
Your little friend
''Sammie Robbins"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-22

Els, Mrs. Pickem, they will
be ready by the 10Th of
December; two dozen sepias
Of yourself"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-22

Occasionally there comes one that Is
rather a poser. A wee maiden, the mar
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-22

- ANITA CLAUS letters are no longer
y necessarily dead letters. The
Postmaster General has decreed
It, They may be delivered-as
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-05-19
che,tnt nm ana Il,ghlapd purk.

Mrs. c. w. wingnold has returned to
her home on Highland Park after
spending few days with relatives
near Ashland. Va.
Mrs. Percy Williams. OF Jacksonvill,
Fla. is the guest of her slster. Mrs. S.
w. Marshall or Fourth Avenue.
Last Tuesday afternoon and eve
ming from 4 to o'clock and from S
to 10 o'clock In the studio of Mrs. Hud-
son In her hdme on Highland Park
was quite mn elaborate disply Of art
which was done the past sea son by her
class. Quite a number of friends called
during the afternoon and evening to
view the different pieces OF art.
| Miss Bessie Wingfield. of Highland
Park Is the guest of her friend, Miss
Lottie Harrison. OF Ashland, Va.
| Mrs. CottrelI and children left last
week to spend some time with her
mother In Ohio.
Mrs Small and Miss Rosa Small, of
| Fifth Avenue. left last week to visit
| relatives near Buckroe Beach.
| Miss Conald Eho has been spending
| the winter with relatives OH Chestnut
Hill. left Friday FOR her home in New
| York.
Mrs Cormody and children, OF Third
| Avenue. left last week for New York
| to spend several months.
Mr.. Fontatne. of North Carolina. is
the guest Of his daughter. Mrs Smith,
OF Fifth Avenue.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-05-19
Fine Musical ProErnn.

The choir Of the Church of the Holy
Comforter will render the following
program in Christ Church parrish
house, corner Twenty-second and Ven
able Streets. on o-morrow at f. M.
There will BIO silver Offering at the
door, proceeds of which will go to
the Woman's Auxiliary OF that
church:
Chorus. Gloria" from Twelfth
Mass, Mozart.
Trio, Praise Ye," from "Attilla."
Verdi-Mrs. Lynch, Messrs. f. Thomas
and Il. Cobne.
Solo, GLORY to Thee. Ny God, This
Night" Gounod, In C--Miss Grace
Chorus, "Magnificat." Marks. in G.
Chorus (u9accompancd God So
Loved the World, "CrucifiAion,"
Stainer.
Duet, over the Stars There is Rest"
| by Franz Abt-Nliss Viola Diacont and
Miss Gladys Mallonee
Chorus, by Babylon's Wave"
Gounod.
Double Quartet. abide With Me-"
from 'Wonan OF Samaria" Bennett
Mrs, Lynch, Miss Viola Dlacont. Mrs.
+, Murray, Miss Gladys Mallonce:
Messrs. Lynch. Sales, Creek, ana
Cobine.
Chorus. From the Throne OF His
Cross "CrucifiXion." Stainer,
Chorus ,.naccompanieH) God IL a
Spirit" from THE Woman OF Samaria.
Bennett
Chorus. "Te Deum," March, in G.
Duet. Elected"
Final chorus. UNFOLD, Ye Portals
Everlasting" from Redemption
Gounod.