Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-11-25
NATIONAL MAGAZINE TELLS
OF WORK OF MRS. penney,
AUGUSTAP. 0. SANTA CLAUS

The National Magazine in its No
yember issue contains a very interest
ing and comprehensive story concern
ing Mrs. Charles T. Penney of AZ
Chapel street, Augusta, together with
picture Of Mrs. Penney, who is
Uncle Sans Official Santa Claus for
Augusta, and who according to the
inscription under the picture lives
down in Maine next door to the
North Pole" The story is included
in the magazine department entitled
"A few pages Of gossip about Affairs
and Folks-brief comment on current
happenings, and news notes about
some folks who are doing worthwhile
things" 1t reads as follows:
While the dismal iconoclasts-they
of the ultra matter of-fact minds
| have been arranging funeral for
| Santa Claus in the drear land of
Myth, the snowy headed Saint Boun-
| tiful has had new birth. Not only
| is he very much alive, but he has a
street number known to the post
man. Letters to him may continue
| to be addressed Santa Claus, North
| Pole but they will be delivered
! faithfully into the care of Mrs.
Charles r. Penney, ~ Chapel street,
Augusta, Me, and their business will
be as promptly attended to- as
that of letters to mail order house
with cash enclosed.
more beautiful conception has
never appeared in the annals of
benevolence than that of Mrs. Pen
ncy, which has given the children's
old friend a real postofice address,
instead of the dreary postal morgue
to which the mail of Santa Claus
was consigned. The inspiration came
to her some years ago when visiting
the dead letter Office in Washington.
She realized there how tragic the ex-
perience must be for the little folks
not to have their letters to Santa
Claus answered. Right there she re-
solved to become the mediator, and,
! as was found necessary. secured the
appointment from the United States
Post Office department as official
Santa Claus for her city. Each year
since then she has been regularly ap-
\
| Augusta.
Mrs. Penney in three Christmas
seasons has handled respectively 10.
132 and 1852 letters addressed to San
I ia Claus--some just that and others
with the address North Pole" The
prayers of the tots range from flying
! machines to baby sisters. Homes of
! the writers in Augusta are sought
out and visited, and within reason
able bounds the children receive the
things they ask. The necessary
funds are not procured from chart
/ table organizations, but from dona-
| tions solicited among her friends by
| Mrs. Penney. Sometimes a family is
! found needing food clothing, or
medical attendance, when relief is
forthcoming from one or other of the
| charities with which the official
! Santa Claus is identified. Three dear
/ ladies'" all over eighty. We're discov-
cred one season and. in turn, found
lasting friend. One of them had
| Just celebrated her eighty fifth birth
| day, and was given the first birth
| day cake she ever had. Many chill
| dren make requests of Santa Claus
| not for themselves, but for their lit
tie brothers Or sisters, mother or
father, or, even some needy friend.
A child asked for a rocking chair
for grandmother coming to live
with us" Granny got the rocker.
A little boy wanted.a baby sister--he
already had seven sisters.
Letters are received from other
places in Maine, also drift in on win
try winds from other states. The
fame of the Augusta Santa Claus has
led postal clerks in every direction to
send this class of correspondence to
that destination, the record showing
points of origin in Alabama, Califor-
MIA, Kentucky. Pennsylvania, Texas,