Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-09

BreatheS there man Win soul SO
dead, who never to himself hath said
at some time In his life. Il do believe
In Santa Claus"
II there be doubt IN the mind OF any
boy or girl In Rock Island who has
been striving to do his best or her
best in order to win the favor, either
in larger or smaller quantity, OF the
mysterious little elf, let his or her |
doubts be forever dispelled.
People OF various avocations in Rock |
Island, grown people, too, have written |
The Argus letters expressing their
faith both in Santa Claus and the
spirit that makes his visitations such
a gladstone occasion for childhood.
So that any boy or girl in Rock Is
land who fears that Santa Claus will
fail to visit every deserving child in
this city may put anxiety on that score
aside Santa Claus win be on the job
as usual.
A POPULAR MOVEMENT.
For three years The Argus has con-
Quoted, with most gratifying results, a
Santa Claus movement for poor chill
dren, accompanied by what is known
as the Good Fellowship opportunity for
all who may desire TO play Santa Claus
| themselves. The conditions of this
enterprise are familiar to most people,
and in order to bring the Santa Claus
sentiment in all that It means to child
hood. home to those good-hearted PEG
pie who have aided The Argus Santa
Claus movement in the past and are
aiding It this season, as well as to
show to the little people that their
elders have the same affectionate fer
vor for the little fat man that they
have, The Argus recently addressed a
brief note TO a number Of people, TAX
en- indiscriminately from the various
walks Of life in Rock Island, to this
effect:
THE INVITATION.
"The Argus will be pleased to have
you write for It a story of about 100
words on why Believe In Santa
Claus, to be published with similar
communications as feature of The
Argus Annual Santa Claus Fund for
Poor Children"
With rare exception the note was
promptly answered. Fully 80 per cent
Of the people addressed responded,
Just as the mood happened to take
them at the time. Some wrote that
they we're preparing replies to send in
later, others 'phoned that they would
be glad to write II they had the time.
while today's mail brought several
answers, too late for use in this con-
nection.
THE CHRIsTMAs SPIRIT.
What In most significant in all the
letters that appear In this connection,
is the manner In which all catch the
spirit of Christmas. All that pertains
to It in myth or legend or tradition
seems to arouse q feeling belonging
peculiarly to this time Of year. 1t is q
feeling Of affection and of universal
good viii and good cheer. But, read
for yourself, why the older people o.
Rock Island believe in Santa Claus, a.
indicated by the letters that have been
sent to The Argus:
A REAL SANTA CLAUS STORY.
"Auntie. do you believe in Santa
CLAUSE" why. yes, dear, to be sure
do. Let me tell you a story and ther
you win know why believe in him
Last year, Just before Christmas. some
good-hearted men, fearing that the
task Of looking up all the children wal
too much for Santa Claus who is grow
ing old You know, decided to help hin
out. They started . Santa Claus funt
and everybody who wished could tax,
a part in this good work The peopl,
responded SO well to their appeals
that a generous sum was soon realized
and this was placed IN the hands of
committee who Immediately got Il
touch with Santa, and on Christina
eve many homes were visited an
scores of children we're made happy
I haven't the time to tell you OF al
the places that we're visited, bu
viii tell you Of one family where Sar
Ia Claus visit was especially apprt
ciated.
Little Dorothy, six years Of age, wa
the eldest OF family Of four chi
dren, who had lately moved into tn