The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1912-12-13

Avalanche of ChiIdren's Letters
Adds to Annual Burden of the
Postoffice Department - How
st. Nicholas Obtained a Per-
manent Place In the Worlds
Calendar.

~ANTA CLAUS, the most popular
person in the whole wide world,
is just about ready now to start
out on his annual pilgrimage to
gladden. the hearts Of many millions OF
children. He announces that he has
carcfully inspected the toys that have
been made in his factories at the north
l,ole and that he is sure there will be
.lough to go around. This year has
becn Il trying ono for the merry old
ielIow. for he has had to have IA Whole
lot OF things made that had never
lcen thought of before. But with all
tie new toys Santa ~Stcadfastly re
fuses 10 60 back on such old
tayoriteS as sieaS. dolls. drums and
attles for baby's stockings. He is m
70 date. but has an old fashioned
streak in him toe.
christmas but once Il year,
ana when il it brings good
cheer" That is the motto of Santa
claus. and they say that if ii should
happen that by any chance a boy or
girl has been left off his list it almost
spoils his joy over the happiness that
Inc has distributed when he finally gets
back to the frozen north with his
empty sleigh.
Children didn't use to write letters to
Santa Claus. They just depended upon
it that he wouldn't forget them. and he
hardly eve did. If he did it was really
not his, fault any more than it Is today.
LETTERS TO SANTA
But since boys and girls have been
writing him letters the pOstoffice de-
partments In this country and abroad
have had their burdens greatly increas-
ed. In fact. to be quite candid about 1t.
they would prefer that the children OF
and Santa Claus himself has assured us
that IL they will do so he will remember
them just the same. even though he is
denied the pleasure Of reading and
answering such dear little notes as
these:
Dear Santa Claus-Don't come down the
chimney; come In the door. ! will leave 1t
unlocked. The room is nice and warm
and bright, and bring me a bracelet and
4 piano. I will learn to play on 1t. Please
write and let me know your number.
Have you any children? Love to Mrs.
Santa.
NY Dear Santa Claus-I am a little girl.
Ny name is Ethel. / obey my dear NAM
ma and papa and always try to be a good
g,rl. and now, dear Santa. please bring me
q cupboard for my nice dishes you brought
me last Christmas; also a little candy and
nuts n q Christmas tree. So don't for
ret to come down the chimney.
When children began writing letters
70 Santa Claus their communications
were objects Of great interest. An in
teresting story is told Of the first Santa
Claus letter Sent through the st. Louis
and everybody in the Office had to look
1t It. Being addressed to Santa Claus
one Of his representatives. who hap
poned Il be working in the st. Louis
p0stof1lce during the Christmas rush,
opened the letter. The writer was a
little girl who wanted a doll.
While convinced that Santa Claus
would grant her wish. the postoftice
employees were SO interested in her
communication that somebody suggest
"a taking up a collection. restricting
each donation to 10 cents. About $40
was collected. and the propOser of the
scheme appointed a committee to see
that the doll and a lot Of other pres
onts were duly delivered.
The newspapers heard of the story
ana made much of it. The following
Christmas Santa Claus mail at the st.
Louis postotfice attained formidable
proportions.
olFTo THAT GO AsTRAY
An evil which causes endless trouble
- the postOfice authorities is the ne
elect OF the majority Of persons send
~ matter through the mails to put