davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-12-21
mo SANTA Claus! THANK GOD he
LIVES AND HE'fLlVES FOREVER

and generosity and devotion exist, and
you know that they abound and give
to Your life Its highest beauty and joy.
Alas! how dreary would be the world
II there would be no Santa Claus! 1t
would be as dreary as If there were
20 Yirgini0. There would be no
th;ld-like faith then, no poetry, no
romance to make I Ierable this ex,
istence. We should have no enjoy
mrnt except in senre and sight. The
eternal light with watch childhood
fills she world would be extinguished.
Not believe in Santa Claus! You
migl as well not believe in fairies!
You might get your papa to hire men
to watch in all the chlmneys on Christ.
mas Eve to catch Santa Claus. what
would that pr.ve2 Nobody sees Santa
Claus, but that is 10 sign that there
is no Santa Claus. The most real
things in tie world are those that
neither children nor men can see. Did
you ever see fairies dancing on the
lawn? OF course not, but that's no
proof that they are not here. Nobody
can conceive or im.sine all the won-
lers there are unseen and unseeable
In The world.
You may tear apart the baby's
rattle and sec what makes the noise
inside, but there Is a veil covering the
unseen world which not the stronges.
man, nor even the united strength of
all the strongest men that ever lived.
could tear apart. Only faith, fancy,
poetry, love, roman'e, can push aside
that curtain and view and picture the
supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is
II all real? All, Virginia, in all this
world there is nothing else real and
eolding.
mo. Santa Claus! Thank God he
lives. and ne lives forever A thou.
said years from now, Virginia, nay,
ton times ten Thousand years from
now, he will continue to make glad the
heart of childhood"
The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-12-21
cEtAss a. DANA, THE EDITOR OF
TIE NEW YoR!e SUN, ANSWER.
Ed THE LETTER OF A LITTLE
GIRL WHO ASKED THE SUN If
THERE WAS A SANTA CLAUS.

Willie the late Cras. A. Dana was
lac editor OF the New York Sun he re-
cefyed a letter from little girl who
asked the paper II there was a Santa
Claus and the reply has bsen publish
d and republishe' every G. ristmas
since 1t was written and It Will we'll
bear repeating as some deep thought
and magnificent lessons are to be
:ouna in the beautiful language OF the
great editor. The answer follows:
1--WE take pleasure in answering at
once and thus prorHntatly the com,
nrnicatiep below, expressing at the
sane time our great qualification tat
its faithful author is numbered among
the friends Of the Sun:
sDear Editor: am years old.
nsame Of my little friends say there
iszhc Santa Claus
,tPepa ssys IF you see IT in the Sun
It's SO.
'Rlease tell me the truth; is there
a Santa Claus? Virginia o'Hanlon,
4.1i5 West Ninety.flfth street,
Virginia, your little friends are
wrong. They have beea effected by a
skepiielsm Of sReptical age. They
do not believe excert they see. They
think That nothing can be which is not
comprehensive by tseir little minds
All minds Virginia. whether they be
mems or chifdren's. are little. In this
great universe OF o,,rs man is a mere
insect, an ant, in his intellect, as COM
pared with the boundless world about
him. as measured b. the Intelligence
capable Of graspins the whole of truth
and knowledge.
yes, Virginia, tnere is a Santa
Claus, He exists as certainly as love
The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-12-21

SANTA WOULDN'T CONN IN IF BIZ SHOULD
SPY Us"
him by making believe We we're Moth
er Goose children right out Of the
book?
Dornthy-How could we do that?
Fred We could dress lliq them aud
then stand perfectly still as if we were
made of wax or something, just the
way YOU do in tnbleau, you know.
lie might think 1t was some kind of n
show Of wax figures.
Earl-oh, my! couldn't keep as
still MS that,
Harry-You could II you really want
ed to see Santa Claus.
Earl-oh, will! ] will See mel
FosesJ
Gladys-wln we have to stand SO
very long?
Fred-oh, not very, very long! We
must all be ready before 10 O'Clock.
We must dress like Mother Goose chill.
dren, and III FIX you In -yOur places.
I'll be Boy Blue. We can find some
dress-up clothes in the attic.
Harry-I think I'll be Jack Horner.
i can have aspie.
Dorothy-G want to be Bopeep. A
cane with hook handle WIN do for
crook.
Gladys-May | be Miss Munet9
Earl-Whst can Ruth and I.bes
Fred You might be Jack and JIM
and carry q pail OF water. AN empty
pain WIN do. Now let's be OF and seej
what We can and Thenwe,iI 60 10
bed, and T'llllle az ana after Papa
The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-12-21

Minnie also SHE'D utensils, =
Using them for punctuation;
Hurled a plate with such precision
That it spoiled his face forever;
Slammed a stove lid on his stomach,
Pot Of beans against his bosom;
Hit him with the mashed potatoes
And fricassee of chicken.
ALI the time the guests were lodging
Round the tables in the grill room.
The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-12-21
=arHE -pEvtL" IN WALpcRF.

NEW YORK, Dec. 91.-Th"t hir 81.
tanic Majesty is not wholly lai King in
charitable instincts Will be proven this
evening when "The,Devl" is produced
in the Astor gallery of the Waldorf
Astoria for the benent c, the Ride.a-
Wee Home. George Arllss, who achiev.
ed international fame by his in person.
alton of MephistopHrles in the Hun.
garian comedy, will appear IN he lead.
ing role and will be assisted b. the en-
tire Belasco company.
The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-12-21
HoosIER wooDMEN.
(By s. W. press Association. !

FORT WAYNE, Ind, Dec. 81 Hoo.
sier Woodmen are hr.e in large num-
bers to-day in attendance at the dis
trtct meeting and sci col Of instruction
of tie Modern wo ,i'nen Of America,
Several national. State and district
officials Of the lodge are he e end VIII
addrss the delegates.
The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-12-21

and mamma 90 upstalrs IN cal you.
aud Wen come down very soffiy
ClGxeunt)
II.
Children come fiptoeing n IN COS
tune stockings In hand.
Fred-Now, weill;hang onr stockings
first. IAN hang them Then wen get
into place. Bopecp, yofI stand here.
Hold your crook SO, Miss 1inlfct. yon
must sit on this fo6tstooi aud you
must be eating Put your spoon 10
your lips, so. Jack Hoetier, get into
that corner and hold MP your thumb
with the plum on Il lick and JIM.
stand over here and take the pan be-
tween you. Twill spnd here mud hold
my horn to my mouth 50. Nov. we
mustn't move our eyes ITS getting
late, Now, all ready tskli pose.
Ruth after awhile, oh dearl This
pail Is SO heavy event f II IS empty
All-Shl
Gladys lafter awhtIel How my arm
aches!
All-Sh!
lEarl yawns aloud.l
AH-shl
ing up.
Dorotny-ln-so57 sleepy Sg'sSgnins'.
Al-sn.
laek Aorners mana drops, then his
mead bopeep atops erooks ana leans
against VAL -Jhl 4eLs go q pan and
Slides 70 hooL. JACK soon does lhq
same. Miss ManeEs neaq drops Tor
ward. Boy Blues eyes close ana norm
rams Ihls rouses him f9r g moment
but his eyes soon Close again end be
leans AGAINST the WALL
s sn.er S S,,na eips ~ ,seep cen,
s.,o ' - an a,ia. ~ k, y, ~, l' , 49,
49, s - - ~ KY = ~
~ g' - S TroiIss - .ss, s XXI ~.
., ar ,'s. s., ,vSe' {
stiis,s,, sSS a,Es,,,, 49, 49,.
I'M ei- .NsIy 9 -. s''.''e p
T 1n 90 ,., : "a - .sl'3z s's ~ -.
snes y nai.ius y ~. .''e, ,'tp 'n7t
Iyn Ms.ns iii Z, T. es,s's ,,lem ''e-
susg eau ~, To-, w. - ts,,'n, u1'
as II ne 1,an i sloS ny emo ID ne
2worlu, iEe log 9l1 sslllestn Nsis'hH
lor nle many = ullsl Z y iaeS s,"aSs
Ian asleep ana lilSs. lse. u nn tne
stockings. ana wont Eg tlses le surprised
Wnen tliey Wake up s'sllsls lilsa 'ney'fe
mlSseqtIlne aitef allsss q, US stockings
shen puts 10Y sog.c'llsly i.lse MISS ei..L'
tets DOW ana inle Sask ana 51l9
palll SOW I must re on. But be-
iieyc I'll try tnatshorn q Boy blne's
once. tBiosgs ana ,fasis on dropping
horn near door. iChtldren rouse MP q
little at SOUND itaep y y back INTO Tor
ner position
III.
Morning Fred fousing on / SAW
The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-12-21

Sure, she could have bawled him out then.
And the gazelle would have shared it
But would that have helped to get her
ANY Of the seVen.ffty
Shed invested in his raimeRti
Minnie Harlan pondered deeply,
Made sneak and held her temper.
The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-12-21


TARL Ito Ruth,-oh, just wish
- we could see him.
FreGaSee whom?
Ruth Why. Santa Claus.
Earl and have just been talking
about him, ana ne were wishing we
could get a peep at him once.
Gladys-oh, l wouldn't like to-!
Dorothy-H Harry and 1 tried It last
yenr. We came down and hid in the
front ball, hut papa found us and sent
us TO bed.
Fred after thinking awhre)-I'vo
thought of something. Santa Claus
wouldn't come in it be should spy us,
but If he thought we were not real
children he might, Couldn't we fool
The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-12-21

And smile that put him bughouse.
She was working in a chop joint
Farther down toward the river,
And his footsteps turned he often
Joyfully in that direction.
Just as soon as work was over
With the gazelle he would wander.
They were fairly glued together
As they walked and chinned each other,
All unknown to Minnie Harlan,
The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-12-21

One day Minnie Harhar saw them
sauntering along together
And the air was fairly reekine
With the sickness of love talk.
Minnie caught on very quickly,
Saw which way the wind was blowing,
But refrained from taking action.
The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-12-21

Pans and plates were flying wildly,
Walls were spattered with their contents,
While the boss had taken refuge
In a corner, with table
gpturned there to shield and hide him.
And the piker, he was hiking
Fast around the room and lodging,
But at every throw was getting
All that could be coming to him.
Everything was thrown By Minnie.
The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-12-21

Thus equipped to make conquest,
He threw gocgoo eyes at Minnie
Threw them hard and threw them often
Until finally she wiIted.
Then he took her, unresisting,
In his arms and Rugged and kissed her.
He was hers and she was his'n
For week or ten days, maybe,
Until he had met another
Out upon the public highway
Met gazelle with light step
The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-12-21

Minnie saw he was not coming
Through with any sum Of none
In the use of the invective
Minnie Harlan was not slOuchy.
Into him she threw it swiftly,
Like the hot soup from the ladle.
In the choicest chophouse language
Minnie then addressed the piker-
sad he was a chump and welsher,
Also cheap screw, phony, moocher;
Jailed him two spot, bloke and wuzzer,
Bald he was a zap from Yapvtlle
And a skate from down the river. r=z7-z-
The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-12-21
Seeing Santa Claus
By LAURA FROST ARMIrAGE.

Copyright, 1905, By American Press Asso-
eiatlon.I
The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-12-21

Saying he must dig up quickly
Or she'd put him out Of business.
Waiting then for half a minute,
The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-12-21

ALI that she cou.A lay her hands on.
Nothing else was there remaining
But pie; 'twal made of custard.
This she seized without a tremor.
With cry she sent it hurting
Through the air, and safe it landed
On the visage Of The piker.
With his face all plastered over,
Surely he was ont Of business
The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-12-21

When he came to work
at evening
Minnie Harlan sprung
1t on him,
Boned him for the sew
entity,
The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-12-21

And they'd take their beer quite often
In the wine room at 0'Kelley's
Christmas days were soon forgotten,
And the loan he'd got from Minnie,
From his memory fast was fading.
The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-12-21

Until he had eaten through it.
Then outside the door he ambled
Exit pie and farewell piker.
In the art of roughhOuse making
Minnie HArhar cleans the platter.
TrtHing some with her affections
Is not now considered healthful.
And the piker who has tried iti
It is best that he be nameIess.
The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-12-21

minnie harnar saw the stranger;
Saw that he was weak and weary;
Took him in and filed him quickly
With the leavingS from the tables.
It was in the time of Christmas
Time Of cheer and time of plenty.
Then she sought the boss and told him
OF the stranger in the kitchen
Told him Of the weary walking
all the way from Kansas City
Where the stranger had been fred from
Just because he had got jagged and
Could not work at biscuit shooting.
The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-12-21

and mamma 90 upstalrs IN call you,
aud Wen come down very scffiy
CExeunt)
La Junta tribune., 1908-08-01

tionless. leaning on the taDIe. his nn.
gers shaslnodica!ly gripping lis edge tiil
the knuckles grew white. Ridlculously
like a cowcd prisoner before the bar Of
Justice. he faced his fiery eyed young
Judge
They sent for me- went on Thomp-
sou brokeniy. jcrkily. scarce intellici-
BILE as the suppressed hatred OF dec
ade battled for expression. They sent
for me. My father had killed himself.
My mother lay dead. struck down by
grief. Our iionored old name was de-
flied. My sister was pauper. Who
had done ali this, You, oh. they
La Junta tribune., 1908-08-01
The Blizzard Of 1888.

81 was living In O'Ncill. Neb., ut the
time of the great blizzard In 1855"
said a Nebraskan. "and had just left
the Office to go home for dinner when
the blizzard struck. started to cross
the street to a drug store. but when 4
reached the other side found myself
halfway down the block from my des-
tinatIOn. The fine wind driven snow
nake filed the air so that ! couldn't
ed my way back to the drug store.
where number OF other men had
taken refuge from the storm. School
had Just been dismissed for the noon
recess. and we knew that nearly 300
children were out in the storm. Sc
curing long ropes. the crowd started
out to rescue them. We found them
huddied In doOrways aud by the sides
of buildings. The children caught hold
Of the ropes and were led to shelter by
their rescuers. whose sense OF lirec
tIon gradually returned to them. Every
one OF the 200 school children In the
town was got home in safety. But
seven schOOlteachers were frozen to
death In the country during the bliz-
zard and thousands Of cattle died. The
thermometer fell from about the freez
ing point at noon to 20 degrees below
zero that night It was the worst bliz.
zard I ever saw. and never want TO
experience another like IT," Des
Moines Register and Leader.
La Junta tribune., 1908-08-01
comp.n...ion For po.eh.r..

A gamekeeper on II northern estate
tells an amusing story OF the latest
thing In the compensation line. When
he was escorting the gentlemen round
the coverts one day the party were
alarmed TO hear loud cry just after
shots had been fired Running to the
spot, a thick bush growth, the keeper
found man lying grooming on the
ground.
''SOme OF them gents ave shot me In
the leg" groaned the man..
Examination proved that the sufferer
had indeed received q bird shot pellet
In his left calf 1t was trivial in
jury. but was handsomely compensat-
ed for by the gentlemen In the party,
who presented the victim with quite
good sum In gold.
That same evening the gamekeeper
came upon two men In quiet lane en-
gagged In hot dispute about the shar-
ing Of some money. One Of the men
had shotgun. and. tapping II signifi-
captly, he said threateningly: "'Alf
shares. or I'll go straight to the p'lice
and split on us both. I'll give the
game away. I'll tell 'em 'ow put that
pill In yer leg to knock money out O
the shooters"
Then the gamekeeper disclosed him
self. and the two conspirators decamp-
ed .ondOn Opinion.
La Junta tribune., 1908-08-01

his face dcathly paie, MS eyes gown:
with strange light as of murder.
stood Cynihias brother.
His presence In IA. city hall was ne
mere chance. but the climax Of a series
of conferences between Benneti. I'he'
Ian aud himself. dating from the night
OF the administration ball. when. de-
spite his own resolve. the secretary's
hand had been forced by the inqsisi
tive alderman aud his identity re-
veaied
Bennett had been let into Sae secret
next day. and the trio had had three
hour talk from which Phclan had
emerged with the gleeful air Of one
who had unexpectedly found $1,000
bill. Thompson. too. had left that con
ference with hook OF catm. Intense
satisfaction that transfigured him.
Other conversations had followed
one OF them In the presence of notary.
stenographer and lawyers. The trap
ut last was ready To be sprung.
The fnancier for the first time in his
nine year close association with the
secretary met the younger mans gaze
without seeing the latter droop in def
erential submission Now he received
back look for look from his former alb
ject slave. and 1t wns his own glance
that wavcred before that concentrated
glare OF hate.
thompson he cried. and his voice
bore world of incredulons reproach.
Before him stood the one man on
earth In whom Wainwright had ever
placed implicit trust; TO whom he had
roDdded his gravest business secrets;
the man whom he had so shrewdly
tested in countless ways aud who had
La Junta tribune., 1908-08-01


fronted him In the role OF traltOr-of
exultant spy.
..Thompsonr' he exclaimed once
more. almost with groan. as the Sec
retary advanced into the room until
only the width OF the table separated
employer and employee.
Then the newcomer spoke for the
nrst time. in an oddly muffied voice. as
though fighting desperately for self re-
straint.
No., he contradicted ""ThompsOn'
no longer. Henceforth am Garrison" !"
Wsinwright.s face grew gray. Breath
less. unbeiieving he peered across at
the pallId features Of his new foe. trac-
Ing In them the likeness to the old
friend whose ruin and death he had
caused. The haunting resemblance that
had often vaguely occurred to him
when watching Thompson at work now
returned In double force. But now. rs
in q fash. II WAS explained. and he
knew that his secretary spoke the
truth.
Yes" went on Thompson in tbs
same choked. struggling intonatioa. X
am Harry Garrison. You wrecked ny
fathers life. You drove hlm-to suicide.
You blasted his memory. You bsg-
cared his children. ! am his SON Hsr.
ry Garrison. Now DO yOu begin to
understand:"
You see, Mr.. VAIN wright" inter-
vened Bennett as the secretsry's pest-
up rage strangied the words In bis
throat. my gnessw0rk has . fairly re-
liable backing
But Wainwright did not hear. He
still stared. as one hypnotized. into the
blazing eyes Of the man he had trusted.
've--you've played me false" he
managed to gasp at length. You
have
Sure be has, cut In HOrrigAn.
.what'd 1 tell you last summer. Vain
wright? ! said then you were foolish
to trust him SO. said bed stand
watching. The minute I set eyes on
that lantern jawed. gium face Of his
played me false" muttered VAIN
wright again. dazed and doubling the
evidence OF his own senses.
.PIayed you fnlse?" jeered Thomp-
son. played you false? Why else
did become your servant? What else
have I been waiting ali these horrible
years for? I've sat at your desk and
listened to your orders. never venturing
to say my soul was my own. Now
you'll listen to me-
why do you bother with the little
traitor, walnwrfght?' sco6ed Horrisan-
Bnf the fnancicr was standing mo
La Junta tribune., 1908-08-01
CHAPTER XVIII.

NDER the maniac fury thai
biazed from Thompson eyes
Wainwright strank back In
La Junta tribune., 1908-08-01

hushcd It up.
bur l found 1t
ont. | found 1t
out! And by my
m ordered Ia
Tiers body l
kncit and swore
Id pay you for
II, I'd pay you
II IL cost me my
life. ! would
ruin you In name
and fortune. as
you ruined my
father. and then
La Junta tribune., 1908-08-01

Y YNDER the maniac fury thai
blazed from Thompson's eyes
Wainwright strank back In
~ panic dread.
'.Hc's-be's mad cried the hnancier.
Don't let him ut ne..'
For Thompson seemed about to huri
himself ON his foe.
go easy. SON." adJured Phelan. lay
ing restraining hand on the secre-
tary's shoulder.
The latter. recalled to himself by the
pressure. relaxed his tense. menacin4
attitude and. with hysterical revuision
OF feeling. sank into q chair. buryinT
his face in his srms on the table befees
him:
keniy. mine awful years OF slavery.
OF debasement! Watching. hating.
longing to crush him. and. oh, the time
has come. thank God! Thank Godv'
You're all IN ladr' muttered Pbe-
Ian. passing an arm about the shaking
youth and lifting him to his feet.
Come with me. Ill send out and get
you a bracer."
Thompson. exhausted by his emo
lions. obeyed mechanically. but at the
farther door paused for moment and
again nxed his wild. bioodshot eyes on
Wainwright's haggard face.
Remember" he threatened, his
voice dead and expressionless. when
you get out OF Jail I'll be waiting for
you. And NJ sure as Gods justice lives
III kill you AZ lid XIII . dog! Nine
La Junta tribune., 1908-08-01
PERT PARAGRAPHS.

Faithful Is the work Of q friend As
long Ms your money holds out.
Good words to be effective generally
need to have the power OF chastisement
behind them.
Strength loves opposition. but hates
humiliation
All the world loves q good loser, but
truth compels US TO add that thew
aren't any.
La Junta tribune., 1908-08-01

The alderman .oed on his mission
leaving Alwyn s.'atrd alone. detected,
miserable. In the deserted committee
room.
Now that the crisis was past. his
heart was strangely heavy. He had
won. But at what cost: AT the loss OF
all he held dear.
Aiwyn Bennett knew. too. that the
real fight was but Just begun-a fight
that had wagcd since the world began
and must last to Judgment day-the
hopeless. uphill battle of dccency
against evil. OF honesty against graft.
Horrisan's sncering words, II don't
see any millionaires going to jail"
stuck disagrccably In the young may
or's memory. Their brutal, bald truth