The San Francisco call., 1909-12-28
ST. NICK MAKES
HUNDREDS GLAD
Distributes Gifts to Fatherless
and MOtherIesS Little Ones
in Merchants Exchange

Santa claus. the best old saint that
eve. Eept the promise he made
las W aerogram from the north
pole to the members of the Merchants
exchange, and yesterday afternoon at
2.S0 o'clock TO the minute he appeared
in the great hail of the exchange to
greet nearly 1000 orphans gathered
there at his invitation
Saint Nick explained last week just
why he would be a little late in get
ting around, but apologies yesterday
were wholly unnecessary. How he
ever managed to supply the Christmas
dav demand and still bob UP serenely
Yesterday with an inexhaustible sup
ply Of toys in that miraculous pack
was a thing he wouldn't tell Neither
would the members of the Merchants
exchange who were the sponsors OF
the celebration and were supposed TO
be in the secret. They just winked at
each other and smiled happily when
the hundreds of joyous children were
invited to form in line and step up
again for a third or fourth helping of
presents.
Nobody could count the actual num-
Der Of children who visited the Mer-
chants exchange, but not an orphan
age In the CITY was lOI EOllSH III liit
invitation issued by its members and
there were between 1900 and 1000
recipients of the Christmas bounty,
For two hours, beginning at 2:30
o'clock. the children thronged the room
and We're made to understand that the
place was theirs. The great Christ
mas tree. towering TO the lofty ceiling,
was a blaze of light with Santa Claus
beam ming with smiles and waiting to
4la ho1 on nd
boxes of candy, toys and games that
he had brought. Santa Claus wore
gold rimmed glasses, and it was whis-
pered that at other seasons of the
year he is known by the alias of Her
man Stindt.
COMPETITION FOR BAND
A band had things its own way for
little while, so far a music was con-
cerned, but only for little while. The
arrival of an active drum corps and
detail of buglers from the Boys and
Girls Aid society led to the first out
break of competition. The band held
its own for few minutes, but Santa
Claus was handing out drums, trum-
pets and noise making machines Of
every description with both hands, and
gradually the band was forced to give
place.
Three times the tots were marshaled
in line and marched past Santa Claus to
receive fresh gifts, and some of the
youngest even fourth.
There was a momentary touch of pa
thos in the midst of the celebration
when some sharp eyed exchange mem
bers found huddled alone on a half
hidden bench in an alcove a wee lad
clad in messengers uniform. He was
watching the joyous crowd below
through a rain of tears. and his sobs
were redoubled when kind hands were
laid on his shoulders. He was am or
phan, too, he explained, but he lived
with sister and worked as a messen-
ger. so he had not received the invi-
tation sent TO the orphanages and could
not become one of the happy throng.
His had been Christmas without a
single toy or single gift
SENT BACK HAPPY
The boy was hurried to Santa Claus
and in two minutes had both arms full
of toys and candy in every pocket
Moreover, another little orphan mes
senger was found in the building, and
the two were finally sent back to their
Offices with a substantial sum in cash
divided between them.
Before leaving the chamber the hap
py children Joined in rousng cheer
for James Rolph Jr, president of the
exchange, who was the one that sug-
gested to Santa Claus that he make
this particular visit. Among the or
phanages from which delegations at
tended the celebration were the Boys
and Girls Aid society, the Protestant
orphan asylum, the Ladies' Protection
and Relief society. the Roman Catholic
orphanage, the Maud Booth Home of
the Volunteers of America, and the
Youths Directory.