Omaha daily bee., 1915-12-06
KIDDIES TELL OLD
NICK THEIR WANTS
Santa Claus Takes Notes When Boys
and Girls Tell Him Their
Desires.
CROWDS SEE REINDEER MAN

These are busy days for Santa
Claus.
After eleven months spent in the
workshop UP at the North Pole max
ing toys and keeping the reindeers in
good shape, it's quite a change to
come to Omaha and spend your
time in Toyland where the children
are trooping joyously through all
day long.
But Santa Caus likes it. Bless
you, of course he does. And he has
CHEEKY word for every little child
that comes to shake hands with
him. He has more than that. At one
Omaha department store he began
yesterday giving away box of
candy to every youngster who came
to see him.
The way that news spread through
Boy and Girl Land made Paul Revere
look like a crosstown street car. In just
jlffy after the candy-giving had been
discovered by a few early birds It was
all over town.
Came Like "a Flood.
| From all directions the flood of kids
came. The Pied Piper OF Hamlln crowd
was a mere handful compared to this
/ juvenile army.
! They stormed the doors. The railing in
front OF Santa Claus cotton-snow COW
cred house was soon jam of eager
youngsters. They filed past all day, each
/ bainrs xnyffh hou ~
sweets. A couple of policemen had to be
called in the afternoon to help handle
the crowds
The Santas in tho other stores had a
busy days. too. One of them has a house
all his own with doors and windows and
everything. Inside there's a fireplace and
Santa sits on big sofa. All about the
walls and on the floor and mantlepiece
are toys. toys, toys.
| The stream of children goes In the front
door and out the side. My, my, It doesn't
seem there could be SO many children
in Omahal Big and little. Boys in sweat
ers and with holes in their stockings
and boys in fur coats and Eton collars.
Girls, rich and poor. In the hearts of
all beats eagerness and love for good
| old Saint Nick.
And such jolly old soul as he is!
In his red suit bordered with white fur
and his white whiskers and white hair
and with his jolly laugh and kindly
inquiry as to what each youngster wants,
why. he's just grand.
''Ha, ha, ha," laughs Santa as the
kids stream in and he shakes their
eager hands and now and then pats one
on the head. "Ha, ha, ha, am so glad
to see such nice little boys and girls.
Come right in, don't push. This IL my
busy day. Saturdays I'm always busiest.
| You must come sometimes anoder day.
Then we sit down ana have a nice long
talk. Saturdays can't talk so long. It's
my busy day."
little boy is stopping after his hand
shake. His face is serious and determined
He has evidently given long and serious
thought to this occasion.
SANDY Claws. I want either a tricycle.
or bicycle for Christmas" he says.
'All right. my boy. all right" says
Santa, II will remember It," And then
as the boy is nearly out the door Santa
calls after him as though not quite sure,
"A tricycle. or a bicycle?" and the boy
mods his head vigorously.
And so the stream continues. A young
ster Iushcs back. He has forgotten some
thing.
II forgot to tell you. Sanity Claws, my
little brother wants a drum He couldn't
come today. His name is -- /"
Santa keeps book and pencil. for there
are certain practical youths who believe
it is safest II Santa puts down the name
and address so as to be sure he doesn't
forget. It's the next house to the cor
ner," some will say. and Santa writes
down. next house to the corner in
the book. No chance for him to go wrong
on such an order.