The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-12-07
ONE FRAu LITTLE WOMAN IS
SANTA CLAUS FOR GREAT CITY
BY DOROTHY DALE.

The walls and ceilings will be
gay with candles. 1t will cheer with
the chime Of hanging BELLS. 1t will
be a maze of golden haired dolls
and gayly dressed soldiers against
. background of warm shoes and
mfttens and caps.
It will be open day and evening.
From there gala draped automo-
biles will race as express wagons.
Every one will be piled high with
packages stamped with golden
seal new being prepared.
Doesn't 1t sound as grand as II
fairies had come to earth again?
But this is the best of all:
Every pair of big, solemn eyes
that look in wistfully will go away
singing.
Every little pale face that presses
against the pane will be invited in
and come out glowing.
All this because Santa Claus anu
Miss Phillips wish 1t.
Miss Phillips lives in an attic
room. The headquarters of tho
Santa Claus association that has
set a nation thinking right are in
that attic room.
81 haven't a penny in the world"
said this wonderful, frail. girl fig
ured woman, as she led me up
flight after flight of stairs to her
work under the caves at the top of
q boarding house at 1921 Walnut
street $50 don't be surprised at
what you see when you get there"
"You see. even when was teach.
ing at 1913 a month. and did 1t for
10 years, never had a cent in the
bank" she explained. Il never
could get 1t there.
Somehow ! looked at the poor
children in my foreign district ana
they looked back at me out of their
dumb, confiding eyes, and how
could do anything else but get
what they needed?
"You see, the children taught in
the foreign district were the poor
est of the poor" she said. They
had nothing in their little lives, so
I gave them whatever | thought
would help them.
zone day asked the principal II
! might take them to the zoo. She
gave her consent. but the other
teachers tried to dissuade me. They
feared they might have to do the
same.
"And they have" she smiled
cheerfully. every school in the
city has to do It now. I've sold the
rings from my fingers and the laces
from my neck to buy things for the
children"
Over the old dining room tab.e
were scattered writing materials
and some of her invitations to the
lonely old one room dwellers or
Philadelphia, 1900 of whom she in
vited to a Thanksgiving dinner.
81 don't know where the money
will come from, but 1t will come,
she said confidently. at always has
since l first had my Kris Kringle
vision. Four years ago ] was In
the hospital weak from severe
operation. Oh, yes. I'm full of cuts,
mentally and physically. Well, one
night l was very low. | seemed to
drop away. The room grew light
with soft, golden effulgence. The
air filled with rain of yellow
haired dolls and In the center stood
Kris Krirgle.
II told the nurse. She sent for
my father and he soothed me to
sleep.
81 got better and went to Atlantic
City, when | came home in July
pronounced well.
1.-THE last right of the month
was sitting in the window gazing as
the stars. Again the lovely KRIS
Kringle vision grew in the sky.
"'Oh, ho.a ! said, Kris Kringle
has to be-going down the poor chill
dren's chimneys this time. And
then 1t was as II were hidden to
make him go down the chimneys.
'And l have" she exclaimed ex.
ultingly.
IL started out at the business
offices Of this city, pushed open the
door and asked for two cents for
the poor little ones. 1t took good
many trips to make a dollar. But |
raised $40. That was the beginning.
NOW the Santa Claus store is
not only possibility for Christmas,
but Easter days and summer out
ings and dinners to the poor, and
Thanksgiving for those who have
no reason to give thaaks, have
grown up with 1t.
"And some time here in the heart
of Philadelphia there will be a
great Santa Claus building. Outside
will stand statue Of the dear old
saint to show all the way. There
toys will be manufactured. There
Santa shall reign, a living person
atty. with agents to represent him,
who shall deal out gifts. but above