davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-20

speak to each immigrant in his own
tongue. Though seemingly the tower of
Ba bel will be rivaled not one of the
hundreds of men and women gathered
from every race of Europe will fail to
hear words of greeting in the mother
tongue. Some singers from the Metro
politan Opera House have volunteered
their services to gladden. few hours of
Christmas for the immigrants. and in
addition to these a program has been ar
ranged by the New York Mannerchor.
The speakers will be Robert Watchorn.
who is commissioner at the island, and
the Revs. Laud. Meretti. Peterson. Nag
leisen. Doring and Lugsheiter. all of
whom are closely associated with phi
lanthropic work on the island
The hearts of all good people are apt
to soften toward hapless little folks
in memory of THE Holy Child whose
memory consecrates the day, but the
benefactors of the waits at the immi-
grafton bureau have a peculiar sig
nificance. According to the testimony of
Mrs Stucklen, men and women who
passed through the station years ago and
now are prosperous citizens and happy
wives and mothers furnish the bones and
sineWs for the celebration. From De-
cember Is packages begin to arrive for
MIS- StuCkIcH, SOIuc SoHldIIIlS
little offerings Of cheap toys and cheaper
candies and ornaments and packages of
fruit. She is asked to keep them for
the Christmas eve celebration. and most
loyalty does she fill her mission. From
the ghetto. from little Italy, from the
crowded alleys and the sitting tenements.
come the gifts. Occasionally from a dis
lance will come a check from man. once
pilgrim at the gate, to whom fortune
has been benevolent Often he wishes all
the money spent in toys and candies.
Others tell Mrs. Stucklen to get warm
clothing for such infants as may be under
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-20

Those who visit the handsome struc-
lures that rise as majestically from
Ellis Island as the minarets OF Con-
stantinople or the great solid-looking
houses of Stockholm will find the spirit
of the poem splendidly exemplified. The
door of Ellis Island is not open In the
same sense as the doors of Castle Garden
in the old days: but at Christmastide
stern officials relax some of the discipline.
and If the hapless emigrant must be
turned from the gate. at least he will be
given abundant good cheer during the
days which must elapse before the re-
turn Journey. For the little ones who
are to be the wards of Ellis Island during
the days adjacent to the great feast of
childhood there are even now great prep
arations afoot.
Christmas of 1908 will not be simply a
celebration associated with a fine dinner
and the bestowing of gifts. In the main
hall. which has a seating capacity of
400 a stage will be erected from which
various prominent speakers will address
the immigrants These speakers have
been selected that they may be able to
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-20
SPEECHES.
e>2@E-T TIE FlOIFL CLEKK5
There are appropriate

of the old home. There are appropriate
toasts. such as:
Historic Kansas-From the Bender
Family to Carrie Nation; or possibly, Old
Northumberland of Fair Wome, and Fas.
Night Riders At parting, many tears OK
homesickness for the old state are shed
by such as have remained awake. But
you couldn't take any OF them back 10
the old state with anything short OF
re1uisition. There's often great suffering
during d dinner, Larry, and frequently
afterward suffered greatly myself
once
How was that" asked the House De-
tectiye.
Il was asked TO make a toast" said tho
Hotel Clerk. NO one knows what | en-
dured as the evening passed. I couldn {
eat anything because my throat was o.
cupied by my heart and other vital or
gans that had moved UP there. ] drank.
but the drink turned cold on my stomach.
My tongue thickened so that IL II had
ever escaped from my mouth you wouldn't
have been able to put II in a hat. ] de-
veloped many goose pimples. which turned
to hard Jumps and settled in my chest.
When the POSTMASTER called on me arose
gracefully. turning over my neighbor .
demi tasse into his lap. and forgot my
opening remarks. The scene swan before
me. and l might have swan. too. but
had the cramps in both legs. I found my
voice where ] had nlislaid 1t somewhs, .
in the remote recesses of myself and be
gan. ! told eight jokes, all Of them verS
humorous. and the ice didn't even crack
around the edges. Then ] told the ninth
one. and as I sat down in my other neigh
bors lap l saw fat man at the middle
table suddenly double up and gurgle loud
and long
You oughter been satisfied. You made
one man laugh said the House De.
tective.
He wasn't laughing said the HotA
Clerk He choked on chicken leg
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-20

and no child over year Will resist IT.
We find these little dainties big help in
making the poor little children happy.
Last year there were almost 100000
children under fourteen years received
into this country. and of these at least
100000 came in through Ellis Island
Last year the home had a half hundred
children on Christmas, but they were com
ing and going all through the week. We
had a big dinner and tree Christmas
eve and so far as we could we tried TO
get uD the celebration according to the
old ways which the children knew. But
] know that many of the little ones
never had so many good things and so
much attention in their lives. They en-
JOY it as a rule. Sometimes the children
key and cranberry sauce. which they
taste for the first time. Often little fell
lows of five and six and upward come
here tagged their passage paid by rea
tives at the other end. expecting their
parents to meet them They wait and
wait in vain, and it is a hard task to
comfort those who are old enough to
realize the misery of being sent back
"Then again we have children who come
In and mus. be detained because they
hive disease and must be treated in the
hospital before being permitted to land.
A little girl of eight was here last Christ
mas She came from the Rhine provinces
and her father a clean looking man. was
on hand to get her. But her eyes showed
Inflammation and she was held for treat
ment. All through the day the father
waited outside the bars and the little
girl sobbed and held out her arms to
him and would not be comforted. Little
ones whose parents had not come Of
fered their share Of the good things to
her. but she wanted nothing but her
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-20

ping district. The mail carrier gloats over
the express wagon hand, thereby getting
even with the express wagon hand for
laughing at him last St. Valentines day.
The souvenir post card gives way tenn
porarly to frosted card showing a
church graveyard during heavy snow
storm with the words Compliments of the
Season across the top. There is smell
in the air of holly berries and green spruce
and hot whisky toddies. and every toy
shop window is poor childs idea Of what
heaven must be like.
X
Sure signs of Christmas, all of them,
but one Of the surest Is the distressful
sight which We witnessed here just a
minute ago. There are some men that
60 to a dinner every chance they get.
They're the hopeless incurables. who are
divided into two classes-speakers who
want to let something out Of their sys-
TENS. but can't afford to hire hall, and
eaters, who want to put something in.
Then there are those chronic sufferers
who belong to several Greek letter So
cieties and state clubs and college fra
ternities and associations of Wholesale
paint dealers and the likes of that. and
only go to dinners twelve or fifteen times
a winter. And finally there are the large
and growing class that are only over
taken with the disease in its most serious
form around Christmas time and spend
the festal season sitting up awake at
nights when they ought to he asleep and
sitting up asleep in the daytime when
they ought to he awake
why do they do it. Larry? You can
search me. I haven't a clue concealed
about me anywhere. Some day some
body that's wiser than l am will arise
and explain why a grown man will pay
s. for a siXty-cent table d'hote feed, with
the added privilege of sticking around un-
til 3:45 am. and hearing eight or ten
discourses by "a lot of detached fossils and
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-20

her charge on Christmas day. Others
have penchant for presenting story
books. mostly pictorial histories of the
land which is about to give them shelter.
But one way or another Robert Watchorn,
the commissioner. and Mrs. Stucklen. his
able coadjutor, manage TO get together
enough good things and toys and
pretty, useful gifts to make the children
who spend their first Christmas in the
land of the free remember 1t all their
days.
woman of buoyant spirit is Mrs.
Stucklen. For almost sixteen years she
has been at her present post. Kindness
and business are the pre-eminent qualities
for those who stand at the gate. They
are the qualities which President Roose-
Welt makes imperative for the officials
men and women who receive the crowded
out of other lands, and in all his COM
munications to the immigration bureau
the President. with much personal ex-
pertence on the subject, places kindness
even before justice.
christmas is kept according to the
best traditions in Ellis Island,' she said
explaining some of her work. "but, of
course. We rarely know just how many
children will be here on the day itself.
Those who contribute most to the Christ
mas fund. and they are in addition to the
poor OF New York and other cities who
were once immigrants themselves. scores
of good-hearted people and religious
benevolent societies. take broad view
of what old-world people call the Yule-
tide. Good things for children come
in from the middle Of December until the
feast of Circumcision. January 6. and
they are distributed impartially until the
supply Is exhausted. Then we keep
little supply for children throughout the
year. Some one has said that candy is
the volapuk language of childhood. Take
out a piece of candy from your pocket
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-20

peep. which is something of a sacrifice
in itself. He says:
Dear Santa Claus. ] am good little
boy and I go to ST Joseph's School. I
want pair of skates. Buster Brown suit,
engine runs on track. doll baby, auto
mobile express wagon. l will be asleep.
e.
Here is boy who wrote his letter on
wrapping paper crudely ruled with lead
pencil, but he was a hearty boy and as
unselfish as the patron saint to whom he
was writing:
dear Santa. Theses are the things that
] want for Christmas. I pistol with a tar
get and pair of taned gauntlets with a
star on them and soma books and a
burning set with a sharp pont (sharp
points, on the end and somtime to burn
and some candy and whole lots of ami
mails crackers and a quarter i'm my stok-
ing and dollar in mothers stocking and
make the other children happy to so
they may have other things themselves
and make the poor children hapyer then
they ever were before, your little friend.
Jack
Every letter is gem i'm itself for it is
the embodiment of sincerity and shows
the very heart of the individual child
telling to a bosom confident the things
that are dearest to it. 1t is the earnest
ness and guilelessness of the child in It's
instructive honesty.
Dear Santa Claus" another writes, II
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-20

escaped human stalagmites from the Cave
of the Winds.
Anyway, the things that We call amuse-
ments are mainly painful in the extreme.
Take picnics, for example. Did you ever
see anybody over the age of nine that
really enjoyed picnic? You did not and
neither didsany one else. Take an excur-
sion. especially in midsummer when there
hasn't been any rain in weeks and the
landscape pours into the car windows in
molecular FORM accompanied by hay
fever germs and sand flies. On second
thought. don't take an excursion. I
wouldn't have you punished so. The
greatest amusement I could conceive of
would be taking the rest cure, but if I took
that I'd call 1t a privation, and if I wanted
pleasure I'd so to musical comedy and
be intensely miserable. It's the same way
with a dinner.
"a man starts home of a night and
drops into Joe's place o. Mixes place or
some other of those places and has a cock
tail, with or without a Glove. depending on
whether he has that kind of wife. and
then gets home and shuckS his coat and
his shoes and sits down to a nutritious
repast Of corned beef and cabbage and
similar delcacies of the season: and after
dinner he unreefs his suspenders and
smokes a cigar and reads a book for a
couple of hours and goes to bed and sleeps
like a. baby-not like baby. either. Babies
don't Sleep at night, except at rare in
tervals. SO I've been told by married
friends.
But, anyway he puts in his eight good
hours in the hay and wakes up next
morning feeling as fit as a fit. But ii
you'd ask him what kind of time he had
last night he'd say bum
But let him go to a dinner and eat
nine or ten courses of hardly anything
at all garnished with parsley. and then
listen to Mr.. 0. Ukiddo, the japanese con-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-20
Special Correspondence of The Star.
NEW YORK, December

HEN James Russell
Lowell visited Cas-
tie Garden in the
early sixties he
wrote one Of the
most p a t h e t I C
poems In the lam
guage, beginning
she of the open
soul and open
door.
With room about
her hearth for
all mankind "
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-20
And again:

father. One of, the members of q So
ciety for enigrantS gave her a pretty
doll but she scarcely looked at it, until
a week later when she was pronounced
well and jumped joyfully into her fathers
arms
There was another sad case here last
Christmas, a handsome shepherd boy
from the Roumanian district. half Slav
and half Latin and dressed in shepherd
fashion, sheep wool coat and trousers.
lad been turned back. and during the
days he was waiting for his ship it was a
hard thing to comfort him. Indeed there
some cases when there seems no
earthly comfort and the missionaries
must lead one to think of the reward
which will come when the sorrows of this
world have been patiently borne. This
boy in question was a tine-talking boy,
with big black flashing eyes and the
most dramatic way of telling his story, I
tended my flock the high mountains. :
he told us. and it was surely a good
Christmas story, and one night tine
wolves came. The snow was deep and the
beasts were famished. They came nearer
and nearer to my sheep and in vain i
tried to get help from neighboring shep-
herds. They tore some of my sheep
from me, but they tore me first, and he
showed his poor SCARED breast all full of
running sores. The sores never healed
and for this reason he could not come in.
He sobbed piteously that he could still
tend sheep If he was only given chance.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-20

T the approach Of
Christmas G a C II
year there are tens
of thousands Of
children within the
bounds of the
United States who
laboriously indict
letters to the patron
saint of the holiday
season, asking for
things that are
dearest to their
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-20

sui, break the English language up into
animal crackers for an hour and quar-
ter while responding to hve-minute
toast followed by Judge Dope, who has
for subject The Ladies-Ciod Bless En-.
and SO talks about the tariff, and by Col
Iaffan Gass the noted wit who pulls a
few that cause Joe Miller to turn over
in the marble mausoleum and utter low
moaning sounds. and by Prof. Chloro-
form. the eminent geologist. who dis
courses learnedly and at great length on
the mineral formations Of Pinola county.
Ariz. and by DR. Ether, who explains how
to treat shingles without the use of a
hammer and by Congressman Coma and
Maj Morphine and Gen. Stupor and other
distinguished speakers too numerous 10
mention.
Let him do all that. as | say. and
smoke one of those blasting fuses with a
gilt band around it that they furnish as
cigars. and drink a quantity of the cook
ing sherry that goes with such function,
and come hor'n in a sem-conscious state
about a quarter of 4. and next day catch
him as he sits propping one eye open with
his forefinger so he can see to do his
work. and ask him what sort of a time
he had. and he will say Grand He'll
think he means IL, too, which is worse"
THAT bunch we seen going up tonight
was some state society or other WASH t
it," asked the House Detective.
x
Il Judged so from their badges said
the Hotel Clerk You know about state
societies, I suppose. The main objects Of
state society are paid secretary. a
stock of engraved stationery and a dinner
once year.
It's brilliant scene that is presented
when the dinner takes place. The fit OF
the dinner coats beggars description. The
POSTMASTER releasing his strange hold
OH an expensive entree done in French.
arises to praise the simple. homely fare
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-20
Tastes Of the. Rich.

From the st. Louis Post-Dispatch.
BallooninE. says Lieut.. Lahm, is no
more costly than automobiling and the
danger involved is less. Then there Is
no hope for it as a diversion of the rich.
What is really wanted is a sport that
will cost as much and be as hazardous as
war and yet be INDUCED in only wher. one
feels like it.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-20

The plan worked with only partial sue.
cess. In the first place the country as
whole is not covered by organized char
ity and the cities were the only sections
affected. Rivalry and contentious sprung
Up among different societies that wanted
an opportunity to play the role of Santa
Claus The mass of the letters from the
children were without return addresses
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-20

is another that tells CT the trial of the
long wait from Christmas to Christmas:
Dear Santa: Would you send ME
desk, and blackboard, and a Teddy
bear. and a doll, and a bed. and some
games, and some dishes, and don't forget
me, and | been waiting for YOU all year.
IL B.
Here is more urSelfishneSS:
Dear Santa Claus: Papa would like YOU
to bring him new cap and new rubbers.
Papa did not have time to write So l
wrote fer him. Please send me a doll for
myself. MAYBELLE."
well written in the childish letters from
these:
Santa Claus: Jack said he wants a
horn and a drum. nuts candy. He wants
a nice coat. Please send him drum and
coat Jacks father ant tafntb working
much and he cannot get much. Dear old
Santa. l heard that YOU was fat a
butter ball and I want some apples and
Ruth wants teaSet and mama said she
would like to have a nice present. [ will
tell you what il is II is A coat Mr..
Santa Claus. Jack will never forget YOU.
Goodbye from JACK"
And again:
''Mr. Santa Claus. Workshop. North
Pole: Mr. Letter Carrier bring this to
Santa Claus for I can't pay to pay for
a stamp for it. (This on the envelope:)
Dear Santa Claus. will YOU bring me a
squirrel fur and sewing machine and
big doll about four feet high and white
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-20

am little boy and I want you TO bring
me Irish mail, train that runs on a
track, Il horn. harp, a pair of rubbe- s..
a pair Of stockings. "a suit of clothes and
Christmas tree. I think dear Santa Will
bring me these things. Your friend.
P M"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-20

in
a
article Prudenc in
a a
thwnha
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-20

And another:
Dear Santa Claus: Will you pleas
bring me- few presents? | want Teddy
bear. a piano. a box of paints, a box of
tools. sister, chair. pair of mittens.
Merry Christmas to you from c. B.
We'll. Santa. l am going to write you a
letter | want YOU to bring me a pair OF
roller skates. I want n drinking cup. too.
l want iron cars: 7 want some candles;
I want a ring of gold: | want a lot OF
candy and nuts-I want good nuts.
Dear Mr. Santa Claus: I thought l
would write you few lines to let YOU
know how I am getting along and what
I want for Christmas. | want a very
good sled and high pair of boots and
lots of candy and cakes and oranges.
With much love. 3. G..
This little rascal started out well
enough. but in the joy of the contempla-
ton Of his presents he forgot the promise
to tell how he was getting along. Here
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-20

St Reckless moved struggling process
sion of gentlemen in dinner coats. all
headed for the elevators running to the
banquet floor. 1t was easy for the Hotel
Clerks practiced eye to pick out certain
familiar types. There was the toastmas-
ter. burdened with responsibilities and
quantity of typewriter manuscript. There
was one professional after-dinner hnmor-
ist the fat. hubby kind. who smiled
broadly and walked with waddlng steps.
And there was another professional hui
rnorist the thin solemn kind that thinks
his stuff goes better If he looks like an
undertaker's assistant. There was guest
of honor. evidently culled from some for
eign consulate. medaled gentleman so
enshrouded in all impenetrable morass OF
whiskers as to suggest a clothbound copy
of alone in the Jungle" There were
several of those singular gentlemen who
invariably wear an expression of intense
unhappiness when waltZing with lady
or going to dinner. and there were any
number of journeymen silver polishers.
glass cleaners and table finishers. such as
are to be found at any large public din
ner equipped with dress suit. deep
seated appetite and the car fare home.
II can always tell when the gladstone
Euletide is at hand. resumed the Hotel
Clerk. after the elevators had swalowed
up the last of the dnner-coated crew.
The cotton hating whiskers of the as
sstant Bible class teacher who's acting
as Santa Claus at the Sunday school
Christmas tree entert aininent catch fire
from wax candle and are burned to the
roots. The millionaire's child is afraid he
won't get everything for Christmas and
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-20

There has. however. always been a feel
ing that the outpourings of the little ones
and their absolute confidence in the deliv-
cry OF their letters deserve better fate
than this and from time TO time different
methods have been devised for an actual
delivery to Santa Claus or somebody rep
resentIng him in order that the requests
of the children might meet with some
sort of answer.
Last year a plan was hit upon that
seemed 20 promise great results. Miss
Elizabeth Phillips of Philadelphia a
Young woman interested in philanthropic
work conceived the idea of having the
Santa Claus letters turned over 10 the
various Charita Ole organizations in the
communities in which they originated.
She proposed To have the writer's OF the
letters investigated and where poverty
existed and with it inability to provide an
adequate response 10 the holiday demand
for joy that aid should be extended and
Kris kringie' brought into those homes.
Miss Phillips laid her plan before Pres
;dent Roosevelt and he consulted with
Postmaster General Meyer and after due
elaboration il was decid d that the pan
should b. tried. 1t IS even said that the
Santa Claus letters formed topic for
discussion al a cabinet citing that took
Al any rate All official order was sent out
should be III. ned over to each local or
ganization. and that they should be in
vestigated in so far as was possible.