davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Middletown transcript., 1922-12-16

and copied it into her album. Then.
sent copy to the editor of the Troy
Sentinel. And that's how the verses
came to be printed in the first place.
Clement Moore, like many n man
with serious purpose in life, had
hobby which he did not ride in pub
lie. His vocation was the teaching
Of Biblical learning to theological stu
dents. His avocation was writ po-
etry for the edification and pleasure
Of his children. AS for the children
they thought their fathers verses were
the best fun in all the world. He un-
derstood so well their likes and dis
likes and sympathized SO keenly with
their joys and griefs. Sometimes the
poems contained moral that could
be applied right at home. But in gen.
eral the verses were just sheer, clear
rollicking fun.
Clement Moore, as he related In lat
er years, first heard the story of st.
Nicholas as told In the poem from a
jolly fat Dutchman who lived near
his boyhood home. The Dutchman had
heard the story when boy in Hol-
land.
Well, when the Christmas of 1922
drew near Clement Moore thought he
would write a Christmas poem as a
present for his children And he
picked out the Dutchman's story of
ST. Nick as the subject. The Moores
lived In big house on hill that
sloped to the Hudson. The ground
was all covered with snow. There was
a great fireplace where the Christmas
stockings were hung. The setting was
just right So one evening Clement
Moore sat down in front of cheerful
blaze in the big fireplace and began
the verses that will Keep his fame
immortal as long rs there are chill
dren and Christmas Is celebrated.
Clement Moore was very modest
man and his personal feeling about
the verses he wrote for his children
was that they had little merit except
as verses for chldren-and for his
own children. And for that reason
he was reluctant to disclose his au-
thorship. Finally, in 1914, he did pub
lish a collection of Poems," which
included "A Visit From st. Nicholas"
In the records Of the General Theo-
logical seminary Is the following testi-
monial from its faculty to the sterling
worth of their associate:
I'VE recognize in him one whom God
has blessed with selected gifts; warm
hearted in friendship, genial in society.
kindly and considerate to all; pos
sessed of fine literary tastes, poetic
instincts and expressiveness, and Of
cheerful humor withal; at the same
time well accomplished in severer stud
les and resolute for more laborious
undertakings, as his learned works in
Hebrew grammar and lexicography dis
tinctly testify
"a Visit From st. Nicholas" is here
with reprinted in full. And no apology
is made for reproducing a poem that
millions of chlldren-and grownups.
too-know by heart. It's not hard
work at Christmas time to run over
the old, familiar lines--they're good
reading yet for the oldest and crusti-
est of us.
The few lines of verse below, print
ed just for the contrast, are the be-
ginning of n clever Twentieth century
version from the Philadelphia Public
Ledger in which an up-to-date St. Nick
travels by airplane.
Middletown transcript., 1922-12-16

ways being put away, neither to be
seen or heard until another Christmas
has come.
Yet l am losing my prime and my
youthful freshness in spite of them.
Five years ago / was sent away as
Christmas gift. And once year
start off on a new journey.
"There's little handkerchief, not
very pretty, which l can save to give
to some one for next Christmas" is
what is said when l appear.
Yet look a bit drab now. Sooner
or later may be kept, though for the
Middletown transcript., 1922-12-16

with misfortunes or have lost their
breadWinner through sickness or
death shall have that simple and fun
dalnental opportunity without which
democracy means lttle-the opportu-
nity to live family life. 1t is labor
ing in season and out of season, Just
like Miss Phillips, to demonstrate to
the public that this involves adequate
rellef; that scanty and penurious
relief Of family which merely makes
1t possible for it to eke out drab
existence Is not intelligent relief:
that this relief must not only be ade-
quate in amount but regular in it's
provisions.
OF New Iork's' zone hundred need
lest cases" in 1921. eighteen concerned
young mothers and children under the
care of the State Charities Aid asso-
ciation These eighteen were given
instant relief. In addition the sum
total of children saved from serious
and distressing situations reached the
number of T5. These additional chill
dren were helped from funds not des-
ignated for particular cases. In some
cases considerable portion has been
conserved for future use. Here, for
instance is sample report of the
association, which shows what Christ
mas giving can accomplish when done
in the right way:
Raymond, of Case No. 50, the half
starved, half-naked baby rescued
from a desolate room, had desper-
ately hard fight for his life. The doc
tors at the hospital tried every sort
Of food. but Raymond's was so serious
case of malnutrition that nothing
seemed to reach the tiny spark of VI
tality. Finally, as last resort, blood
TRANSMISSION was tried, and this had
the desired effect. Raymond reacted
almost Immediately; and was soon
able to leave the hospital for a free
convalescent home for babies in the
country From there he recently
went to foster home of his own, an
unbelevaby sturdy and vigorous
child. Amount received, $500; amount
spent, $72.73; balance on hand.
S227.997."
So, at Christmas time y. u. 1920,
a multitude of organizations all over
the country will gather from those
who have and distribute among those
who have not There viii be Christ
mas good cheer in homes where other
wise ii would be lacking Encourage
ment will be given many who had
well nigh lost hope. Lives valuable
to the state will he saved And there
will be JOY where there was sorrow.
The activities of these organiza-.
tions of course vary widely. Some
give gifts. some give food, some give
clothing, some give money, some give
service But their principle and pur-
pose and inspiration are the same;
all are born of one idea and all aim
at the same goal. This goal is to
make Christmas day everywhere the
day of joy 1t should he in Christian
nation celebrating the anniversary Of
the birth of Our Lord.
It is no exaggeration to say that
much of this Christmas giving Is the
result of Elizabeth Phillips lnspira-
tion eighteen years ago as she lay III
in her clearinghouse room. To this
Philadelphia school teacher is due In
no small part various movements all
over the United States that embrace
the collection and distribution of
Christmas cheer and Christmas char
ity.
The spirit of Elizabeth Phillips goes
marching on.
Middletown transcript., 1922-12-16

good cheer and gift-glving. From
another viewpoint there is an encour-
aging growth of the spirit Of the ut
terance of Elizabeth Phillips.
Eighteen years ago Elizabeth Phil
lips had an inspiration to make the
anniversary OF" Our Lords birth not
so much an anniversary of happiness
for the few as an anniversary of hap
pness for the many. She had vision
of those who have giving to those
who have not. And from her humble
beginning with few bundled poor
children have come the thousand and
one Christmas givings the country
over that are making the holiday year
by year one of happiness to Increas-
Ing numbers of the poor. the friend
less and the hopeless.
Elizabeth Phillips-she has been
dead these thirteen years-had her
inspiration In 1904 in Philadelphia.
She was a teacher in the public
schools. She lay i'll in a boarding
house. She saw the cold rain of au-
tumn beating against her window.
She thought of the Christmas that
was coming.
christmas will not mean very
much to me-" she thought. "But 1t
will mean far less-maybe nothing at
ALTO many. If I could only make
1t better Christmas for some If
those. can; l know l can. | will
try
AS soon as she got well she began
to work out her plan. Through the
cooperation of President Roosevelt
she was enabled to secure hundreds
of letters to Santa Claus-every
Christmas season these letters come
in flood to every big-city post office.
Then she made 1t her business to
visit her friends, to call upon q host
of new ones, to solicit help from
everybody. everywhere, collecting two
cents in one place, five cents in an,
other place, a dollar somewhere else.
and by the time Christmas eve arrived
she had filled several hundred stock
ings.
The fame of Elizabeth Phillips
spread widely. And she had visions
of nationwide movement along the
line of her successful experiment.
"a Christmas stocking for every
child" she said 1.-THE Christmas
day Is coming when Santa Claus shall
visit every child in the land and none
shall be forgotten.
ut is my purpose to make Santa
Claus a reality, whose home will be
In every home and who will be the
friend of children everywhere. The
most important thing is permanent
headquarters-the House of Santa
Claus. And over the door there will
be a statue Of the old fellow with n
pack Of toys on his back. When the
children pass by they can say, There's
where Santa Claus lives-he sees thnt
every boy and girl gets a stocking
filled with Christmas things at Christ
mas time
"There Santa's work will be carried
on-not only during the week before
Christmas but all through the year.
And besides, 1t will be a home for as
Middletown transcript., 1922-12-16

past two years there have been dis
NAL sarcasms made about me. "Well,
l guess Minnie gave me handkerchief
which had been given to her. 1t looks
none too fresh. Well, I'll put 1t away
and 1t will do for Jane next YEAR,"
Sol cannot tell Now another Christ
mas is approaching. What will be the
fate of this poor, well-traveled hand.
kerchief?
Middletown transcript., 1922-12-16
many children-orphans- can

many children-orphans- ! can
stuff into it.
u hope to build up an organization
in the National Santa Claus associa-
ton which will be n Joy not only to
the children but benefit also to poor
people everywhere"
For four years Elizabeth Phillips
continued her work. The Santa Claus
association grew with each succeed
ing year. 1t came to have many as
siStahts with fleet of automobiles
ana an army of 2ivers in the cause of
Christmas giving. The movement
spread to other cities and thousands
came to know her name and love It,.
But the results of her work, though
great in the estimation of others,
seemed small to her. And as the re-
suits became greater and the work
increased the goal seemed farther
away than ever to her. Her work
was halted by illness, and she was
forced to watch the Christmas of 1909
draw nearer apd nearer without being
able to keep on. Despair took hold
OF her and she ended her life.
But the spirit of Christmas that
animated her did not die with her.
She had done her work too well.
From her inspiration, directly or in
directly, have sprung the Christmas
sivings of the Christmas clubs, Big
Brother and Good Fellow n lvements
and Needy Cases campaigns and the
Christmas activities of municipalities.
community centers, newspapers and
business concerns.
For example: A New York news
paper took up. three years after Eliz-
abeth Phillips death, the task of SUD-
plying the Christmas needs of 9Th /,
hundred neediest." The task, 100
great for one individual, one organi-
zation, was distributed among a great
body of those best able to shoulder
it, just as Elizabeth Phillips aimed to
do, and as the sivers increased in
number so did the receivers multiply.
Organized rs a clearing house for
the benefit of all the many charitable
organizations, concentrated as a focal
point for the contributions of all the
many previously unorganzed and
aimless givers, the "neediest" cam.
paign began its career in 1912 with
the Christmas distribution of $1,000.
Each year 1t spread to greater
breadth.
I For such was the success of this
movement that newspapers In other
cities took up the idea. And such was
their success that still other organl-
zations copied the plan, others and
still others. first in one section. then
In another, all over the United STATES
Philadelphia has similar movements.
so has Pittsburgh, Chicago, st. Louis.
Denver San Francisco.
The idea, just like the aim of ElIzo.
beth Phillips, has been the means of
pointing out that such relief Is some
thing more than the giving of a tinsel
top. Is something that has a deeper
significance than spasmodic giving.
useful as that sometimes may be. II
has been the instrument of bringing
whole-hearted generous help to fami-
lies in need and Of bringing at the
same time the satisfaction to n large
number of Christmas donors of n
simple and direct method of translat.
ing Christmas generosity into terms
of health, happiness, good cheer. the
essence of the Christmas spirit.
The modern Christmas spirit has
gone farther thar nero giving Mt
Christmas time. It has undertaken
to see that families who have met
Middletown transcript., 1922-12-16
A MODERN KRISS KRINGLE
By HAROLD BARNES

,
Rriss Kringle laughs uith a merry glee;
"Plt fool the children this gear" says he:
"1hey think am coming with deer and sleigh
And jingle of bells, in the same old way.
"But III do it. he says, Nth knowing vink
As he opens his hangdr-and what do you hink9
There stands in its shed like rafting train
The finest Jraad of an aeroplane.
Shining and cleaning and neW and spick-
Just made to order for Old St. Nick.
Middletown transcript., 1922-12-16

lard rubbed on the stained pieces be-
fore the soap is applied will loosen the
stain. If this is not successful, a sat
urated solution of oxaIic acid is about
all that will remove the ink. Soak the
stain for few seconds, then rinse in
clear water and finally in water in
which few drops of ammonia have
been added.
Middletown transcript., 1922-12-16
MiStletOe

d OSES are for ladies
IN With shoulders soft and bare.
Violets are for little girls
To shake In yellow hair.
Dahlias are for gardens,
And jonquils are for play.
Grandmother chooses mignonette
To decorate Der gray.
Middletown transcript., 1922-12-16

him mamma" and TO prescribe rem
edies for his baby's collie that his af.
fection waned. Billy has long won
dered in the old garret when Chauncey
will return. He feels sure that even vet
Chauncey's thoughts go back with
pleasure to early associations.
Middletown transcript., 1922-12-16
Missinq No Tricks.

Madge-I thought you and George
were going skating
Marjorie-So we were, but when he
saw had my hat trimmed with
mistletoe he asked me to go for
sleighride.
Middletown transcript., 1922-12-16
The Christmas
Handkerchief

o0. 1922. Western Newspaper Union)
7 AM a Christmas handkerchief. In
= fact l have been one now for five
years. Pm almost too old to lead
such a silly childish life as do-al-
Middletown transcript., 1922-12-16
A VISIT FROM ST. NICHOLAS
By CLEMENT C. MOORE
>TWAS the night before Christmas, whcn all
Il tLrn1lnh liz hon

1TvWAS the night before Christmas vhcn all
through the house
~, Not creature was stirring, not eren mouse;
Ihe stockings hung By the chimney rih care
IN IN hopes that st. Nicholas uoud be there;
Ihe childraa were nestled all snug in their beds,
'vhle psions of sugarplums danced in their heads.
And mama in her kerchief and in my cap
Had Just settled brains for long uinters nap
When out on the lawn there arose such clatter
spung from my bed 10 see what ,cas the NATTER
Auay to the window few like fash
Tore open the shutters and Hrew up the sash
1he moon on the breast of the new- fallen snow
Care luster of midday to objecs below;
When mhat to nny wondering eyes should appear
But miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer,
With q little old drirer so lively and quiek
knew IN a moment it must be st. Nick
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came
And he wh'Stled and shouted, ana called them by
"Now, Dasher! now Dancer! now, Prancer and Virenl
On, Comet! on, Cupid! on Donder and Bitten!
TO the top Of the porch TO the top of the waH!
Now dash array, dash array dash away aUt
As dry leapes that before the uiH hurricane fly,
When they meet an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the housetop the coursers, they fen,
Wdh the sleigh full of toys-and St. Nicholas too
and then in a twinkling heard the roof
Ihe rranc1ng and pairing of each little hoof.
As dre~ IN n'y head, and was turning around
Dorm the chimney st. Nicholas came with bound
lie cas dressed all IN fur from his head to has foot
And his clothes all tarnished ch ashes and soot
A bundle Of toys he had flung his back.
And he looked like peddler Just opening his pack
i.o "yeo' "o~ "tey tUTheu! htS utWpteS HOW mefryI
HIS cheeks were like roses has ike cherry;
HIS droH little mouth was draun up like bow,
And the beard on his chin white as the snow.
The stump ofa pipe he held tight in his teeth
And the smoke 1t encircled his head like a wreath
lie had broad face and a little round belly
That shook, when he laughed like a. bowl fH of jely
He was chubby and plnmp-a right jolly old elf;
And laughed, when saw him, in spite of myself
A Wink of his eye and tuist of has head
Soon gaze to know had nothing to dread
He spoke not uord but ,vent straight to his uork
And filed all the stockings; then turned nth jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving nod, up the chimney he rose
He sprang to his sleigh. to his team gave a ,chstle
And array they all few like the down of thistle;
But heard him ercain,, he drore out of sight.
Happy Christmas to all, and to all good-nightr
Middletown transcript., 1922-12-16
Chauncey's Doll
By Christopher C. Hazard
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

10, 1922. Western Newspaper union.i
THERE seemed to be mistake
= about the Christmas gift that
Chauncey got. but probably Santa
Claus knows better than we do where
things really belong. Anyway. Chaun-
Middletown transcript., 1922-12-16
To Preserve linoleum.

To Preserve linoleum.
Linoleum should oe swept gently,
then gone over with damp cloth (wet
In milk If pOsslble). A good floor wax
should be well rubbed in every three
or four months.
Middletown transcript., 1922-12-16

HE spirit of Christ
mas, 1922 What
is it in America.
the greatest and
wealthieSt nation
of earth? From
one viewpoint 1t is
much the same
that it has always
been "A eligious
family festival of
Middletown transcript., 1922-12-16

old portrait that hangs on
The portrait is that of Clement Clark
Moore Q7S1-1S63), founder of the
seminary who gave it the whole block
known as Chelsea square. Moreover.
from 1921 to 1850 he was the professor
of Biblical learning and was professor
emeritus from then until his death.
And in addition he compiled a He
brew and English Lexicon" QS09), the
first TO be published in this country.
This notable scholar and dignified the
ological professor was born IN New
York City, the grandson of Maj.
Thomas Clark, retired officer of the
British army, and son of the Rt. Rev.
Benjamin Moore, third president of
Columbia university and second bishop
of New York. He studied for the min
istry, but was not ordained.
Christmas morning at 8 80 o'clock,
several hundred Sunday school chill
dren-maybe' as many as thousand
will march from the new Chapel Of
the Intercession In New York City with
trumpeters and banners, singing
Christmas carols as they go, and lay
great wreath on tomb In famous
old Trinity cemetery. This tomb Is
that of this same grave and reverend
professor of Biblical learning and COM
piler of Hebrew lexicon. And this
memorial celebration is now n feature
of Christmas day.
1t is likely that this Christmas the
theological students and the Sunday
school children will add special fea-
lures to their memorial celebration. For
Clement Clark Moore Is, as everybody
should know, the man who wrote
"Twas the Night Before Christmas"
and this Christmas season Is the cen
tennial of the writing of the poem that
has gone around the world and is the
delight of children wherever Santa
Claus is known. OF course there are
lots of people who do not know who
wrote It, And that's because 1t has
become so much a part of our Christ
mas tradition and literature that it
never occurs to them that it had an
author. It's like Mother Goose, you
know.
December %, 1923, the Troy IN. W
Sentinel printed the now famous poem
with the title, "A Visit From ST. Mich
olas." The name of the author was
not given.
The jolly Jingle met with instant
appreciation. Other newspapers pub
lished It, City after city all over the
country copied it. 1t was published
In magazines. Next 1t went into the
public school readers. Then came
special editions of the poem, illustrated
by artists who had made name by
their pictures for children. Finally
It was translated into many languages
Now 1t may be heard almost all over
the world.
And all this time the name of the
author was unknown, The fact is that
Professor Moore was not exactly
pleased over the publication Of the
poem and it's worldwide popularity
caused ;,im to shrink from claiming
Its authorship.
You nee, he had nothing to do with
its original publication. The poem
was written for his children and was
strictly for family use. But in the
winter of 1922, shortly after the poem
was written, the family had as visitor
the eldest daughter of Rev. DIR. David
Butler, rector of St. Pauls church,
Troy. To her one of Clement Moore's
little daughters read the poem. The
visitor was delighted with the poem
Middletown transcript., 1922-12-16
Mcdern Requirements.

Dealer This sectional Christmas
tree is ms lie especially for flats.
Mrs. Newlywed- I'll need base
and only about three units as l live
In kitchenetfe apartment.
Middletown transcript., 1922-12-16

Holly is for Christmas.
1t Is a merry sight,
Debonair. and jolly. too,
Dancing. gay and bright
Usefulness is splendid,
And so It seems to me
Mistletoe's the best of all
To deck a Christmas tree.
Mistletoe's not lovely.
But. now. remember this
There aren't SO very many
Excuses for a kiss!
Milwaukee Sentinel.
Middletown transcript., 1922-12-16

.,A, christmas stocking for every child!
ne Christmas day Is coming when Santa
Aus shall visit every child in the land
ahu a. none Dhau be forgotten.-Elzabeth
Phillips
Middletown transcript., 1922-12-16
Christmas Letter of Love.

Remember, also, that little letter
with lot of love in 1t makes very
good gift.
Middletown transcript., 1922-12-16
Ink Spots.

For fresh ink stains apply an abun-
dance of soap and wash hard. A little
Middletown transcript., 1922-12-16

@N1 0y JOHN DICKINSON SHERMAN
CHRISTMAS EVE the students of the
~ General Theological seminary in New
Ell York City, the largest training school
Al for the ministry of the Protestant
5o)I ~ "'' ~ -.
monte monies 'U,i will In" wreathe @ "pae holy about an
- old nOrtrnit that hangs on the Mnll
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-12-01
SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

lssSsSm S A. % Ham.l Lagsn, o, IN.
Strests Seventeenth and Wa,n@"t MY
kcr a.. announces the enGaeen,"nt H"ut
Isen n..shtsr' - Miss Anita ds Hawai- Si
iioS L. and Mrs. Samuel Risnhn,,, hH, Soi!
.odsHx a. xiInnt;SSssting n engagement .nnourc.,
Xiics RnhNssw hNssw York Is that of Miss MSru
l. o%hSHGolns, daughter OF Mrs.. IS Ers M"Iy nniy
". TSSO,ns. Of Greenfield. NAE 'anc,s nWs
nS,ouaN Frere Chsmpnsw r.; sn1 sna
jemSS &C., son Of the late NJ ::rd "a H ian
Z: Robin: iG.htSSmp%nsy; i. tSs !. e New York.
81 H. or; Francis Ls 6arono VI sns ists
NlaS - tc,y. " Her brother is Dean o%Snh.. %nh.
VKs New York. and shs o. 4. 'onn & me
q ES nyis 10 . gradvate Of Harvard snG ~;
~ux Arts In Paris. ""'
81 :sseJsmsnt Of intsr.,. IN mi. ,,.,,
H.. York announced tod"v" ~: ~ .hyy Shssy
EusStSss. Hsrlanns Wentwo,ih " Inst Inst
SHV O ~. and MIA Johr" .Nsn.
S ~ s4nr yosbur1h, jr.' sonn 20 20 ~
~ ~ Frank A. vosbn.r 9t NJ:
q = c;siss:i M! NNss 4 a.: :'sc'S: s'.Ss
''''aa =. Grey. q New Ycsk.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-12-01

Mra Charlss b. Conn was given. 9
surprt.e luncheon q her new home. S0sS
number of her frlsnas. The Luests were
Nc. Lewis scStt ~: Td {. Ecrstn.s.r,.
Conner. Mfa Bert z. Conn. Mrs. Robert
J. Barnett and xrA Edward Robertson.
Miss Dorothy Lovstt. Of 1888 ortho-
do1 street, and Miss Clarissa Green
napolis.
Mrs. willard Maar. Of 1885 Dyre
street, has returned from q abort stay
at Atlantic City.
Miss Naomi Fieiders, Of Arrott street,
will give . luncheon and bridge party
this Afternocn for Miss Helen Royer,
daughter OF Mrs Donald Royer. OF Bos-
ton, who is Miss F'ieldsrs' guest over
Thanksgiving and the weekend.
The woman's Club Of Frankford held
z reception on Tuesday evening at the
Frsnkford Library. There were music
and dancing.