The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-12-20
REQUESTS TO SANTA
CHILDREN HOPE FOR HIM,
DESPITE FEARS.
superintendent Kimball, of the Chill
dren's Aid Society, Having Hard
Work Acting as Kris Kringle.

Jared w. Kimball, superintendent Of the
children's Aid Society. is In a peek of
trouble. IT isn't the kline OF trouble that
car be d~issipated by a nights sleep either,
and Mr.. Kimball is racking his brain for
a solution,
Several days ago Mr.. Kimball read in
THE EVENING STAR that several
dozen Santa Claus letters We're held at
the postoflee awaiting the advent of some-
one with the badge Of a charity organiiza-
ton who would play the part of a real 1--we
Santa Claus and answer the appeals from
the tots. which had heretofore been sent
to the dead letter Office in Washington.
Mr.. Kimball called at the office and OBJ
tanned the letters. He also requested that
all mail addressed to Santa Claus be de-
livered to the Children's Aid Society at 2D
Mulberry street.
During the few days that have elapsed
since then scores of letters addressed to
Santa Claus have been received by the
society. Each of the little petitions was
scanned and placed aside In a convenient
place for Investigation.
Now MIR. Kimball discovers that the good
Samaritans upon whose help he had
counted in the work of bringing a touch
OF Christmas into many desolate homes
have not come forward. The children's
letters are piled high on his desk, and he
fears that they are doomed TO remain
thero. to tho disappointment of many little
tots whom Santa Claus will not visit this
year, unless someone comes forward and
aids financially In securing the presents he
longs to place In the homes of those who
deserve them.
Over 100 letters have poured into the
office of the society. Nearly all OF them
are written in badly scrawled characters.
misspelled and often dirty. a large per-
centage arc written with a pencil, and
every one contains some request Of Santa
Claus
One little boy writes:
Dear Old Santa-My mamna says you
will not come to our house this year, but
1 hope you will come. Please bring me a
train that runs on a track. an engine and
a ship and a drum and tools and a pair Of
slippers with fuzz on them
A little girl says:
my Dear Santa Claus-I am writing you
a few lines to let you know that we are
poor and mother cannot buy us nothing.
but 1 hope, dear Santa Claus. that you will
send us something, because mother cannot
buy nothing. From Lucy and her little
sister Fridea and my little brother Charlie.
We are satisfied with anything, but my
little sister said she would like a Teddy
bear, and you can send me and my
brother anything what we can play with
Teddy bea.s and fur slippers are among
the most modest of the requests. Several
letters have been received from little boys
who want such tribes as automobiles,
ponies, typewriters, houses and lots on
Charlton street, and bicycles. Many want
skates, wagons, trains, sleds. dolls, rub
Der boots, doll carriages and toys Of every
conceivable description. One little fellow
wrote in for a small automobile, suitable
for a boy five years old."\
To send each child what 1t asks for
would probably break a railroad presi-
dent, but to bring a little of the Christ
mas spirit into the homes of the poor, Mr.,
Kimball thinks, would be accomplished
at slight cost.
Many of the letters, Mr.. kimball thinks
are written at the dictation or the sug
g%estion of older persons, who have reat
of the desire of the society TO answer al
worthy requests. To such, after investiga.
ton, no attention will be paid. Neither
will presents be sent TO the homes Of
children whose parents can provide them
But the little children of the streets
who play in the cutters and grow uT
like weeds-the children whose lives arr
seldom frightened BY 4 kind word, rarely
by a kind act-the children whose parents
are too hard pressed in their battle will
tho world to hearlSen to the plea of child
ish trebles, theae are the one into whose
lives the society is striving To send a ray
of light on Christmas Day and for whom
the secretary requests donations.