The San Francisco call., 1909-12-24
MERCHANTS JOIN
IN CHRISTMAS FUN
Business Cares Thrown to the
Winds for jolly Afternoon
at the Exchange
Santa Claus Sends Word Ask
ing Orphans to Meet Him
There Next Monday

Commercialism and dull business
care fed yesterday afternoon from the
vast floor of the Merchants exchange
before joyous Christmas spirit that
pervaded the chamber and held crowd
of half a thousand bound for more than
two hours in the spell of holiday jollity
How could trading go on when a tow
ering Christmas tree, brilliant with
many cofored electric lights and gaudy
the grain pit? How could sedate mem
bers keep their minds on the common
places of business while toy balloons
f1oated over their heads to lodge
against the lofty dome of the hall?
How could cabalistic figures be posted
on the blackboards when the latter
were hidden from sight by the throng
that filled the room sand sought out
every vantage place?
BUSINESS YIELDS FLOOR
Business was thrown to the winds
for the afternoon, and fun, music and
speech making took its place. The
chamber in which the commercial heart
of San Francisco throbs on ordinary
T.. IT
of greenery hung from the arches and
high ceiling, evergreens were massed
in profusion before the huge American
flag draped at the rear of the speakers
stand, wreaths of holly broke the
monotony of bare mural panels, and at
one side stood the Christmas tree itself,
reaching to the roof. .
The crash of band music signaled the
gathering of members of the Mer-
oh mt PhnY1 F-;1
2:30 o'clock, and for the next two hours
the room was filled. Many women were
among the guests of the afternoon, and
although no one was spared in the fun
making there was no element of rough
ness or horseplay.
ALL JOIN IN THE FUN
Punch was served in the main hall,
exposition boosters buttons were sold
at the door, and the band played mer-
rily during every lull in the speech
making. Larry" Harris presided as
ruler of the jinks and his fun was in
fectious. Many members felt his
thrusts and answered in kind, but the
badinage only served to keep things
moving. From the president of the
chamber to the policemen at the door
the imperious commands of the ruler
of the day were obeyed without ques-
ton.
James Rolph Jr.. president of the
Merchants exchange, presided when
the unofficial ruler of the day permitted
him to, and made the first speech He
spoke of Christmas and the Christmas
spirit, and the same theme was dwelt
upon by Mayor Taylor, George A.
Knight and General Jim" Smith, the
other orators of the afternoon The
Knickerbocker quartet sang several Sc
lections, while Frank w. Thompson
was called on for Gypsy John" and
"A Bowl of Roses" and AL Larson for
My Own United States
AEROGRAM FROM SANTA CLAUS
Santa Claus was there in spirit. |
though not in person. Snowbound he
sent the following aerogram from the
north pole, and it was read by RoIph
just prior to the breaking up of the
meeting:
To the members of the Merchants exchange |
Merchants exchange building. San Francisco |
Cal; l have arranged to visit your beautiful !
christmas tree Monday afternoon at 2:3O |
1'clock with choice lot of small toys and ii !
Is my wish that you invite through the press |
II San Francisco all the orphan children of San !
francisco TO be present that occasion with |
proper credentials to meet me, and I will /
present them with a small token of my Christ |
mas cheer. i not come sooner because |
stormy weather has prevented my earlier ar |
'lval SANTA CLAUS.