Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-12-20
SOUTH FIRST AVENUE SEA, OF
PEOPLE WHEN MUcA-HER.
Aided OLD MAN ARRIVES.
FESTIVAL STUNT PROVES
AN UNQUALIFIED SUCCESS
santa's Gnonnes Distribute Bags of
Candy to Children From Car in Front,
Of MarshaIItown ciub-Bis Folks
Enjoy Fun as Well as kids-Another
Trip Tonight.

Marshalltowns giant Santa Claus,
much heralded for the Christmas fes-
tival, became a reality this afternoon,
when the big old man, almost touching
the trolley wire seated on his flat car,
paraded Main street with his gnomes,
and later sat in front of the Marshall
town Club, where the manikins dished
out candy to the many "kiddies" who
were in waiting.
First avenue, from Main to Church
street, was a living sea Of people.
Grownups enjoyed the fun as much
as the little folks, and fathers and
mothers, carrying some and leading
other children, awaited the arrival of
Santa and his gnomes. This stunt Of
the third annual Marshalltown Christ
mas festival was an unqualified sue
critics generally. |
Mankins Give Candy Away.
Old Santa appeared on schedule
slime, leaving the Iowa Railway and
Light Company's car harms at 1870.
and parading the business district of
Main street ten minutes later. Santa
pSA@SN
trolley car. In his spacious lap were
hundreds of bags Of candy, while piled
all about him We're big boxes bullying
over with colored mosquito bar bags
filed with candy and nuts.
After going west as far as Third
street the car returned to First ave-
nue., where the car was taken by the
Abbott G. Son motor truck and pulled
in front OF the club rooms. Here the
manikins distributed the candy to the
children, who passed in front Of the
car. So large was the crowd that there
was some doubt expressed early in the
afternoon whether the big supply Of
candy would be sufficient to meet the
demands and this prediction proved
true. Probably fifty or more children
last to come were disappointed.
Santa's gnomes were impersonated
very cleverly by Lew Tate, Dudley
Gregory, and W. q. Rogerson. the lat
ter employed to do the Santa street
advertising stunt by the Levin Dry
Goods Company. Santa had advised
Chairman e. r. Lay, Of the entertain
ment committee which had charge OF
this important part Of festival week.
that he was to have four assistants
but at the last minute one of the
gnomes took sick from eating too
much candy and could not take part.
BY 2:35 the manikins finished de-
livering candy to the children.
Three Trips Daily Al Week.
Santa Claus Is to make another trip
down Main street at o'clock tonight.
During the rest of the week, up to and
including Friday, he Will make three
trips up and down Main street daily
Tho first one viii be ut 1870 in the
morning; the SECOND at 1880 p. M, and
the third at 7 p.rsm.a ,- d.
Santa Of Heroic" Stature.
The giant Santa Claus has caused a
great deal Of talk in Marshalltown
homes ever since his coming was an
nounced. Much curiosity has been
manifested not only by the children but
their elders as we'll. The public has
been kept in ignorance Of the details,
ana the effect was very gratifying.
Old Santa was built in tho plant OF
the Ewing planning mills and car barns
Of the street railway company. August
Seberg modelled the head Of wood, and
Frank Hopkins painted the face. Santa
was modelled along the heroic" lines
Of statuary, and is fourteen feet high
seated. He Is q very austerc looking
man, little more serious than Santa
is pictured in story books, bu: he is a
fine old fellow for all that.