Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-12-07
WINTRY BLASTS
SERVE AS AN AID
TO SANTA CLAUS
Gold Weather Is Successful
Reminder of Approaching
Christmas Season.
GoODFELLOWS GET BUSY
Fund for Relief Of city's Poor Children
Begins Growing Rapidly
Need Is Great.

With a few days Of cold weather to
remind them that Christmas is not
far on the good fellows Of Rock Is
land are beginning 70 take hold and
boost The Argus Santa Claus plan. To-
day brought several cash donations and
requests for the names Of children TO
whom some charitably inclined person
can play Santa Claus. The warm
weather Of the past few weeks has
made Christmas seem a long way of
ald the result has been a slow re-
Spouse 10 the appeal Of The Argus
Santa Claus. That the people of the
city will do as nObly as they have in
the past goes without saying. but the
committee in charge OF the fund would
like 20 see the cash come in early so
that all doubt as 10 the ability Of
Santa Claus TO reach all the poor chill
dreu OF the city will be removed
WOMEN FIRST TO RESPOND.
The fact that the heart Of woman is
more lender than that Of man is evi-
for names that have thus far been re.
ceivcd by the committee. A majority Of
those who want 10 play Santa Claus
themselves are Of the fairer sex while
the women are about equal wi n the
men in the giving Of cash.
Most notable Of the requests for
names is that from one well known
lady who desires 10 make 10 children
happy. She took care of that number
last wear also and counts it as part Of
her Christmas joy. Another lady who
desires two names, requests that she
be given II possible the same two she
had last year However" she saws.
IF they cannot be given to me al least
give me two other worthy and needy
children to whom Santa Claus would
herwise be stranger"
NEED FOR FUND.
The writer only wishes that all the
GoCdfellows of Rock Island could
have been with him on Second avenue
This morning to witness a little incl
dent which occurred about 10 O'Clock
I'm front of a department store where
considerable number of TOYS iha. are
dear 10 the heart OF a boy are on dis
play a ragged little "ncwsie" stood
with his face pressed against the glass.
gazing In rapture al the things inside.
one could just see how he would like
10 be turned loose among them or Civ
On possession of any one of the lot
His appearance didn't augur well for
his receiving any of them through the
medium of Santa Claus however.
Another newsie approached a vel,
dressed little hustler who wasn't sell
Ing papers for a living but merely to
give vent to his excess energy and am
hition. Joyfully he apprised the ragged
Wchin Of the many toys he was TO get
NJ Christmas and even pointed out
some Of the choicer ones as being on
the list. The smaller lad listened at
t"uuvely as one would TO distant mu-
sic and finally HIS little heart could
stand 10 no longer and he began cry.
ing. Between sobs he confessed that
he did not expect n single present this
Christmas because his mother Cappar.
entity she was widow was sick and
unable to work so that the family was
ON charity as IL was.
The writer took the poor little chaps
ramc and needless to say the boy S
fear that Santa Claus will miss him
Christmas will not be realized.
STORY TOO GENERAL
Were this the only lad in the city
who expected 10 be missed or who was
due 10 be passed by when Santa Claus
1Ifa
need tor Rock Island Goodfellows Civ
ing of their money or time, or BOTH a.
the request of The Argus Santa Clau.
Fund committee. Unfortunately ther,
are about 500 other youngsters L
whom Christmas will have no joy un
lees The GOudfcllows get busy.
The argus knows that there ar
countless citizens in Rock Island WHIT
VIII 20 the limit" TO aid in makinl
Christmas have a real meaning to thes,
children provided these people can b,
impressed with the need. They hav,
only 20 get in touch with the charita
Tie societies to find that what is salt
here is true. that there are 500 children
who stand an eXcelleu' chance of hay
ing a santa Clausless J-ristmas.
Organized effort has taken care @
every one OF them in the past an
doubtless Will again this year. The a,
gus Santa Clause Fund committee wi
receive donations in cash with whic
toys. candies. nuts and the like will b
bought and distributed. or will sen
names OF children TO whom any VIII
so desires can play santa Claus then