The Pensacola journal., 1922-12-26
IS
ON THRONE AS
SANTA CALLS
Manhattan All AgloW
With Yuletide Ac-
tivities; Rich In
wade the Slums
(By Associated Pressl

j
NEW YORK, Dec. a5.-Tradition
has it that there is only one Santa
Claus, but. tradition was given the
lie direct in New York today when
nearly eVeryone-from Governor
elect Smith down to the humblest cit
izen-donned red coat and Whiskers
in public or private. 1t was city of
Santas.
The new governor was the first to
set the fashion. Returning from mid
night mass to his apartment in the
Hotel Biltmore, he mounted a step
ladder and began stringing glistening
ornaments on sturdy Christmas tree.
Then-plain "father Al Smith"-he
seated himself on low stool beneath
the tree and began distributing the
family's gifts.
Meanwhile other Santas were har-
Messing their theoretical reindeer for
a .snowless journey around town.
There were private Santas galore,
but 1t was the Santas in hospitals and
prisons, street corner Santas and
Santas in missions that drew the most
eyes. 1t seemed as if New York-the
great city of nearly six million souls
had harkened to the cry of darker.
war time days and was giving until
it.hurt.
Even Into Prisons.
Not even prison bars could shut
out the Christmas cheer. In the
Tombs-that forhidding building with
its bridges of sighs-Santa strode the
stone tagged corridors, his pack on
his back. A real Christmas dinner,
with mince pie and fixin's, was spread
before $50 men and 26 women.
-
way of the Immigrant, 1900 future
Americans ate their first Christmas
dinner in America under the very
shadow of Lady Liberty.
Into the hospitals where grown
folks and youngsters lay on their
beds in pain, marched the red-clad
figure with his toys and sweets. At
his entry, eyes that a moment before
had been duh and empty, lighted up.
Among the most generous of the
Santas We're the stage folk from
Broadway. Into hospitals, into slums.
into the homes of the hopeless, they
penetrated. Side by side, with the Sal
vation Army lassies they la5ored,
spreading joy, among those who
couldn't buy their amusement at the
box office. r :. =
Tongues were not long enough to
carry the cry OF Merry Christmas"
during the day the radio took up the
greeting until the very heavens were
full of good cheer. ,....
But the note of ragedy-inevitable
as fate-was introduced into at least
one home.
Mrs. Rita Diaz, young Porto Ri
can. had Joined with her husband in
a Christmas eve party. A tree, mu-
sic, dancing-and the guests had
petted the Diaz's seven months old
baby. A tiny white sock was hung
for baby's presents.
Then the husband and wife quar-
relied.
In the night the wife arose, passed
the stocking Santa had packed, en-
tered the bath room and drank poi
son.
She died on the way to the hospi-
tai.
Prohibition officials who asserted
that Broadway had experienced the
driest Christmas eve in its history.
largely because of the defeat which
they claimed the Bahama rum fleet
had met at the hands Of the dry navy,
pointed as proof to the fact that the
West Side court, which usually boasts
many drunks on Christmas day, had
no offenders before it.
Police assigned to watch Testaur-
ants and cabarets reported they had
seen no liquor law violations along the
Gay White Way.