The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-12-28
HUNDREDS VIEW
SANTA CLAUSAT
HOLIDAY Tree


out q memory tn8I Will lln8er long
in the hearts Of Mercer township
children, for last night Santa Claus
himself was in attendance 1t Aledo's
first community Christmas tree and
brought . present for every one.
From the time the doors Of the
opera house were opened at z
O'Clock until each child had been
presented personally with gift from
Kris Kringle himself, the Christmas
spirit OF JOY and goodfellowship
reigned supreme, and the most joy
GUS Of all the 1000 people gathered
together were the 500 kids, who
shouted with glee when old Santa
Claus finally made hts appearance.
Seldom, If ever, has the Aledo
opera house presented such q festive
appearance. Garlands Of red and
green were drapod across the snowy
whiteness of the walls. The giant
Christmas tree, which lowered al
most to the ceiling, was beautiful
to behold and sparkled with tinsel
and colored lights. The stage was
hung with red and green Christmas
bells and a fireplace, with q fire
glowing within, had been arranged
upon the stage.
The program Of the evening was
opened by q Christmas carol by the
Aledo quartet. Following this DIR.
Samuel Van Pelt of the First Meth
odist church, who was introduced to
the audience by L. C. johnson,
chairman of the committee in
charge of the entertainment, deliv-
cred short invocation.
Following the prayer, the aud
fence Joined il singing the old
Christmas song, "Joy to the World"
Quite the sensation of the evening.
however. was the youthful per-
former, Miss Mildred Clauson, aged
3 years, who brought down the
house with a story, told to her dolly.
Despite her extreme youth, Miss
Clauson could be heard quite dis
tinctly in every part Of the house
and the applause which followed her
recitation could be heard blocks
away.
Two we'll known Aledo men gave
the next number on the program,
which delighted the kids. A. K.
Philleo surprised those who knew
him best by giving a real old fash
Toned clog dance, accompanied by
John Cooke on the 'jewsharp. "
Both gentlemen proved themselves
star performers and it was not the
children's fault that they did not
answer the wild cheers which fol-
lowed their performance.
Little Miss Clauson proved her
self a singer as we'll as a speaker,
when she gave the next number on
the program, a beautiful Christmas
song, which, sung in her childish
voice, proved to be one Of the most
charming features Of the evenings
entertainment. After this number
the audience refused to let the per
former 60 and she was forced t.
come back and sing again.
The orchestra had the next num-
Der on the program and played a
popular air which gave the audi.
ence time to prepare their voices
for the next number, which wa.
up on the Housetop." However
after the first line of the song wa.
sung most Of the people who wers
seated in the balcony, stopped il
amazement, for every child in thu
house was singing at the top o.
his or her voice and no attention
was paid to the printed words OF
the program. They knew it ant
proved the same to the intense sat
isfaction of the onlookers. Thre'
verses and three choruses were SUM
with all the enthusiasm that so,
children could produce, and tina
was some enthusiasm.
Scarcely had their voices die
away on the last words Of the son,
when little girl appeared on tn
stage and climbed into bed to avail
the arrival of Santa Claus. An,
she did not have to wait long, TO
a tinkle of sleigh bells and a grea
stamping OF hooofs announced tina
Just as he had promised. Kris Krin
gle had come to bring to all tn
boys and girls there a Christina
gift. Everybody knew him when b
came on the scene, for he was tn
one and only Santa. He inquire
at once il they had all been goo
boys and girls, but as some Of tn