The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-12-26
Gov. Smith
Sets Pace
AS Santa

New York. Dec. 25.-Tradiiion has It
;ha; there Is only one Santa Claus. en'
tradition was given the lie direct N
New York today when nearly everyone
from Goveruor-elect Smith down l"
:ne humblest cstizcu-donucd red coat
and whiskers. in pubic or private. IL
was city OF Santas.
The new governor was the hrSt 10
set the fashion. Returning from nid-
u!gh, mass 10 his apartment IN 'Ae
Hotel Riltmorc. he mounted a step
adder and began String!ng SI:sieh'Hs
ornaments on sturdy christmas tree.
'rhen-plain Father Al Smith he
seated himself on a low stool oenea'h
The ;roe and began distributing the
family's gifts.
Meanwhile other SaataS were HL'-
Messing their theoretical endeaN"r '''
a Snowless journey around town t"''e
were private San,as galore. hut Il va"
the Santas in hospitals ahd p''S"s@'
street corner SartaS and Santas Ill h's"
S!ous that drew the m"S' eyes -
seemed as it New York-thc great c!.y
~ p.ariv six millions snu!s-had hark-
cned 10 the cry OF darker. wartime DAYS
and was giving untn Il hurt.
Santa in the rombs.
\n. even priSOl. bars could smut "'U
,l,. christmas cheer. In the TomnS.
that forb!dding building with its bridge
a.: s!ghs. Santa strode the stone flasSso
corridors. his pack on his back. \ 'e't
christmas dinner. with mince PIE '""
nx:n's. Was spread before a3O men az"
% women. q
ON Ellis Island. that t'tamons gateway
Of the immigrant. l.100 future Amer
n
america under the very shadow OF Lady
Liberty. ,,
In,o the hospitals. where grown to.N
,rJ Youngsters Law on their beds n
balm. marched the red-clad figure Win
his rows and sweets. At his entry eyes
,b,, a moment before had been dan Ii1
empty. lighted up.
Among the stage Foh
Among the mosc generous ~ i"e
San,ns were the stage folk from Bro l.
wa. Into hospitals. into sium$. 'a'o
the homes OF the hopeless they pens. :
rated Side hy side with Salvation
Army lasstes they labored. spread;"S
iov among those who could NOT buy
ihel- amusement at the box office.
Tongues were not long enough /"
carry the cry or Merry Christmas
During the day the radio took up the
greeting until the very heavens were
full OF good cheer.
The Note or Tragedy.
Eut the note Of traged?-'aev';ahic
as fate--was introduced int" at least
ono home.
Mrs. Rita Diaz. young Porto Rsrnn.
had joined with her husband in a Christ
mas eve party. \ tree. Music. dancing
aud the guests had rct,ed the Iiaz' :
seven nonths-old baby. \ Tiny white
sock was hung for hahy's presents.
Then the husband and wife quarr"isd.
In tho night the wife arose. passed
the stockings Santa had packed. en-
tered the bathroom and drank poison.
She died on the way 20 the hospita'.
Prohibition officials who asserted th1t
Broadway had experienced the dr;e>.
christmas eve in iis history. largely D.
cause Of the defeat which they claiTeh
tho bahama rum tleet had m: at 'ie
hands OF the dry navy. pointed as prUNf
70 the fact that the Wcs; Side cour;.
which usually boasts many lrunkS on
Christmas day. had no offenders hrfurc
t. Police assigned 20 wa'"h r"N;:U.
rants and cabarets reported they ha-i
seen no liquor law violations alOa,: tnc
Gay White Way.