Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-15
SANTA CLAUS GIRL HAS
10000 CHLDREN'S GIFTS
Olive May Wilson Hammer Re-
ceives Donations From
Presidents Wife
4 photorraph niustratlns thls Article sp.
pears on the pictorial page.

The Santa Claus Girl Is again az work.
Her home Rt bi5t Morris street is now
ehock fun ot toys and things and she s
expecting SO many more that she won't
know where 20 put them They were gath
cred from all over the United states and
came from tho high and the lowly. Mrs
Woodrow Wilson and Charlie Chaplin, the
non-footer across the movie screens An
neite kellermann the diver and swimmer.
and John Philip Souaa the march king .-.
all are numbered among the many who
have contributed glfts and money TO the
santa Claus Girl 10 be distributed by her
through tho mails at Christmas 10 thous-
nnds OF little boys and girls whom santa
Claus himself may forgot
The Santa Claus Girl. who this Christmas
u Mrs, Olive May Wilson Hammer--for she
was married last Easter TO Birchnll Ham.
mcr-eNpects tho work this time to be the
most successful and the hRppiest she has
accomplished since she 1rst became the
Santa Claus Girl at Chrls,nas In 1919,
That first Christmas she gathered $500
Sits and distributed them; in 1914 the
number Of gifts reached 1880 last Christ
mas she distributed SO. 200 She expects TO
Eiyc more than $4,000 Christmas presents
this year.
All tho gifts viii be distributed through
the mail except few gifts that will no
given away at her home Christmas Day.
when she will have n Christmas tree for
children IN the vicinity She believes that
children appreciate their gifts more when
they are received through the mail In
fact, her inspiration 10 become the Santa
Claus Girl came with the discovery that
children like to receive things with their
names and addresses and stamps on them.
she was In the Postonloc to mail some
valentines to friends In lgl3 when she
found little urchu waiting there for n
valentine. lie was very disappointed that
none was handed out to him from the win
dow. and Mrs Hammer then olive May
wllson-offered him one OF hers.
mo" he said, putting his hands behind
him. ~ want Il regular valentine, with "a
stamp on It,"
That was the Santa Claus Girls idea,
So this year She has named the business
The Santa Claus Mail" Mrs. Hammer Ia
tho treasurer and sho has as her advisory
committee \. j. DrcKel Biddle John w.
Converse and Percy g. Madeira. They are
TO help her spread tho real Christmas
spirit"
The names and addresses OF children
who but for the Santa Claus Mail" would
be forgotten Christmas have been obtained
by experienced social workers. A long list
! IN now In the hands of the committee,
Tho work has been helped along by prom
lnent men and women all over the United
States. Letters indorsinE II and Offering as.
sistance have been received by the Santa
Claus Girl from Governor Martin q. Brum'
baugh, Vice President Thomas X, Marshall.
William Jennings Bryan, Champ Clark. Ad.
| miral George Dewey. Senator oscar w. I'm.
derwood and Theodore Roosevelt. In pre-.
vious years the late James Whitcomb Riley,
tho HOosicr childrens poet took much In.
terest In the work.
Among tho gifts this Christmas that the
children will receive through the Santa
Claus Mail will be something from their
| movie" hero. Charlie Chaplin. Mrs Ham.
| mer received this letter from him the other
| day:
Dear Mrs, Hhmmer-7-I beg to ac-
| knowledge with many thanks the receipt OF
| your letter. and have ordered 20 be shipped
| to you from New York something that |
am sure will meet with your pleasure as
| gifts Wishing the Santa Claus Mail all
kinds OF success, | am very sincerely yours
CHARLES CHAPLIN"
Other such letters accompanying gifts
| were received from movie" actors,
actresses and producers Thomas II. Ince
the producer. sent his personal check An