Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1915-12-18
SANTA CLAUS TALKS TO
NEWARK CHILDREN; WRITES
TO THEM AND GIVES PRESENTS
Old ST Nick Very Busy Man Hereabous These Days, Yet
He Has Time Pay Aent to All Requests and Tries to
Supply All the Wants of Eager Youngsters.
BY VIRGINIA BRUNSWICK SMITH.

commerce Christianized,s was the
truth born into me, when at the close
of busy afternoon among three OF
Newark's leading department stores,
the meaning of the pretty sights
which I had witnessed there began
to take shape In my thoughts.
Each of these three stores was ad
vertising the presence of "a real
live Santa Claus who not only shook
hands with the endless procession of
little folks thronging rapturously to
greet him, but, in consistency with his
traditional role, presented to each
Christmas gift as we'll To observe
this small army Of youngsters, as one
by one they confronted the genial
saint in tho flesh, and to owerhear the
childish conversation and comments
had been the original purpose OF the
assignment, but as the scope of the
enterprise assumed its true proper
tions and the magnitude and gener-
osity and widening influence of
the impulse that prompted 1t were re-
vealed, the single manifestation of
Santa's visible presence became only
a comparatively insignificant incident
in a great. glorious Santa Claus spirit,
permeating and animating every part
of the mammoth spectacle. Sales
people and shoppers, telephone opera
tors and delivery men all lent them
selves with as touching simplicity and
fervor as the childish believers them
selves 10 the work of creating a gem
uine atmosphere of Kris Kringle and
his love OF little children.
Can l open my present now, Santa
Claus?" piped an eager little treble, as
a sturdy youngster, standing in front
of mo. II North Pole avenue" in
- -. 1.aA
package from the genial old gentle-
man within. "Most certainly, my
dear" was Santa's hearty assent, and
the little fellow with joyous exclama-
tions proceeded to tear the wrapper
from his gift, while score of adult
eyes, looking on with interest at the
pretty scene, reflected the happiness
that shone in the chubby face.
1--WE been a good girl, Santa, honest
and truly" sweet, serious little
voice assured, as a diminutive red
mitten was extended to grasp the big,
kind hand reaching down from the
open window.
That's fine," was Santa's ringing
congratulation. I'm glad to know 1t
from your own lips, and here's some-
thing to remember me by"
OF Coudse Santa Eats.
"Do you eat dinner, just like regu-
lar folks?" bright-faced lad of seven
wanted to know. Would you care to
have a bite of my candy caneY and
a red and white stick of peppermint,
not greatly the worse for wear, was
generously proffered through the open
window.
One wee little lady of possibly two
summers gave vent to her feelings In
walls of woe when she found that she
couldn't take the beloved saint home
with her, as she had fondly desired.
On the floor below. in Bunnie land.
rows of wide-eyed little ones, too
wonderstruck for speech, stood rooted
to the spot as the miniature sleigh,
propelled by two mild-mannered rab-
bits, almost as large as they, ap-
preached on its noiseless track, and
the gift ii contained was handed to
the lucky addresse.
IF / feed my little wabbits envy
fwee or four minutes. just as long as
1 live, will they grow up as big as
that?" asked a little golden-haired
darling in awed tones of her mother.
Does bunnies like that live up at
the North Pole, with Santa Claus?'
another inquired, logically including
this previously unknown species OF
rabbit in the category of delights
hitherto regarded as special privileges
of ChristmaStide.
At the bee Hive" arrangements
have been made by the Plaut Com
pany for Santa Claus to hold office
hours every night this week from
6 to 8. and by means of the same
magic which enables the portly saint
to squeeze through twelve-inch chin
news and compete with steam radia-
tors, hot air furnaces and other mod
ern nuisances that would have dis
couraged a less optimistic person
years ago, it is possible for him to
make answer through four different
voices, all speaking at the same time
While one of his young lady assist
ants at the switchboard made the
connections between the childish
wants and the source Of their fulfill
ment, was permitted to listen in"
"S-S-S- Santa - Claus? Is that
YOU, ,-Santa?" a baby voice, tremulous
with excitement and awe would in
quire.
Yes" a rich, deep voice would an
swer, in tones kind enough to reassure
much less credulous questioner
''This is Santa Claus, what can | dc
for you, my little MANI"
"Oh, Santa" the little suppliant
would entreat.
DO you 'spose you could bring me
q real fire engine-a great big one
like they put out real fires with-witf
q real fire-alarm, and real horseys tC
pull it, and make a real ding-donl
and clatter?"
There is moment of breathles'
suspense before Santa is heard to in
quire, in a voice strangely muftied;
"Is that all you want, sonny
Wants Are Plentiful.
"Oh, no. confldes sonny, in a bursi
of confidence. IF you've got any
left, l would like to have submarine
u boat, and an air rifle, and real
rife, and a disappearing gun, and a
battleship, and a flying machine, and
Christmas tree with red and green
lights on it, and thirty-seven pounds
of lolly-pops, and a bulldog, and q
real horsey. and tent, and an Indian
suit, and
"You must have been very, very
good boy to want me to bring you all
those things" interrupts Santa Claus
rs that so? Have you been a good
boy?"
An embarrassing silence ensues
and then a somewhat ehoked reply
comes back:
"Oh, Santa, dwo-dwo-dwowndet
sisters Kewpie doll In the bathtut
last week, and the face all washed OF
of her" S&N
why. how did you come to do sucf
a naughty thing as that?" asked
Santa in concern.
Il didn't --mean-teri l was-I wal