Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1917-12-18
OLD SANTA CLAUS HAS MANY
ASSISTANTS.

Today, dear old Santa Clause has
many assistants. There may have
been time. long. long years ago,
when the generous old Saint did not
need any helpers as he went about on
his mission, carrying out the entire
Christmas scheme OF happiness with
out assistance.
But civilization has been moving al
a rapid rate. and now, in order to
keep up with the procession the pre-
siding genius of the great holiday has
been compelled TO call to his aid
great army OF helpers in order TO
meet the rapidly growing demands
upon his time and activities, Tuesday
next witnesses the triumphant ending
Of another visitation Of Santa Claus
made triumphant because OF the
cheerful cooperation of the countless
thousands OF assistants who forgot
that there existed prescribed hours of
service, and TO whom the feeling OF
WEAKNESS was not permitted to come
near.
The mail carrier. during some so
weeks In the year, may not at all re-
semble an angel. but during the last
half OF the month of December he
grows daily more beatific until Christ
mas Day, when he becomes the most
anxiously waited for individual in the
nation. What would Christmas be
without the mail carrier? None OF US
desires to pass through the experience
necessary to furnish an answer TO the
question While he has never asked
public recognition for the service he
so modestly and yet so faithfully rem
ders, this servant of the people, day
after day, makes his rounds, leaving
missives that keep commerce in ae-
ton, that bring near many widely sep
arated places. that contribute to the
happiness of the household and keep
all humanity in closer touch. As an
assistant to Santa Claus, he easily
ranks first and in that sentiment OF
gratitude which should animate every
human heart at this time, the mail
carrier should not be forgotten; he
has earned your gratitude.
Then there is another class of Santa
Claus assistants to whom no monu-
ments are ever erected and who sell
dom find their names in the papers in
connection with what the world calls
great deeds. Like the mail carriers
the delivery people of the numerous
stores OF the city have gladly entered
into the self-denial class and labored
without stint that others might have
a day of joy and happiness. Late into
the night has their service extended,
but while with sleepy eyes and tired
bodies they performed their tasks.
there was an expression of peace on
earth. good will to men, with every
parcel delivered and which they
knew contained some factor in tie
making of Christmas celebration
The expressmen, although not 50
numerous company as the mail car
rier or the delivery people, were not to
be outdone in their contribution to the
DAYS happiness. And what cannot be
said in commedation of the sales peo-
ple of the city. While a commend
able number Of people heed the oft
repeated admonition to shop early,
there were the usual host OF these
whom circumstances will not per-
nit to comply with the exhortation
and another multitude of those who
had forgotten something until the last
moment: and these were served with
courtesy and apparent cheerfulness,
lending no little brightness to the
occasion.
OF course. the merchants cooperate
with Santa Claus, lending Their
shelves and counters to the display of
Santa's exclusive goods, and that the
people appreciated the assistance
given Santa Claus by the stores OF
the city might be judged today by
the smiling countenances OF the
shopkeepers. 1t may be remarked in
passing that this same spirit of coz
operation exists between the serving
and served throughout the year, but
Christmas brings along an extraordi- \
nary demand upon both the stock and
those who act as intermediary between
the storehouse and the consumer and 4
this extraordinary demand could
never he met unless there existed a
disposition to discommode self that l
others might have increased enjoy l
ment This is the Christmas spirit |
and Santa Claus assistants have no
bly, exemplified it,
A few more strategic victories for
Hindenburg and all will be lost
For Germany on the west front
there seems nowhere TO go but
back.
II the alien enemy restrictions seem
harsh. he knows how to make them
rest lightly. All he has to do is to
respect the laws and attend strictly |