Evening star., 1924-12-21
Christmas Trees and Santa Claus

SEeclaI o spalches heteln are also reserved.
Christmas Trees and Santa Claus
Piles of jack pines and some north
efn spruces are at grocery and other
stores. These trees are offerings tc
Santa Claus, and many of them will
be dedicated to children by him. The
poor jack pine that Is not bought and
taken to a cheerful home will grieve
IT is the ambition of every youthful
jack pine to come into the parlor in
December and feel the caress of Santa
Claus as he hangs sweets and Jewels
On 1t. These trees tell that Santa is
popular, tha: he is held in happy con.
fidence. They tell that were Santa
Claus a candidate for Office a million
little Johns and Marys, and even little
Percivals and Gwendolines, would
toddle to the polls or go there on scoot
ers or pogo sticks. stand on tiptoe
snd vote a Santa ballot. the ballot
with a Christmas treo as the party
emblem.
Some middle size children might not
go to the polls and some big boys and
girls would laugh. They think that
Santa Claus is an impractical old fel.
low who spends his time making toys
and giving them away. The up-to-date
idea of a fellow who does anything
for nothing is that he is cracked
There comes a time in the life OF a
child when it loses something Of its
faith. There are boys Il years old
who have cast off their belief that
father Is as truthful as George Wash
lngton was. that father is more am.
bilious than Napoleon, a greater con.
aueror than Caesar and a harder
fighter than John L. Sullivan. There
are girls 15 years old who think that
mother was perfect fright in a close.
fitting basque with balloon sleeves on
her arms and Floradora hat on her
long-haired head.
Little children know that Santa
Claus is a good old man. It seems
strange considering the hundreds OF
Christmas ewes in which this remarka.
bic man has Travelled the roads and
roofs, trimmed Christmas trees and
delivered gifts that no more informa
ton could be got about him. Until re
Gently the most prominent author
who devoted his talent to finding out
things about Santa Claus was Clement
c. Moore, who wrote "A Visit From
st. Nicholas" For years he remained
the best authority on Santa Claus. and
many subscribers who read these lines
through specs remember that before
they themselves could read their
mother read aloud:
Twas the night before Christmas, when
all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even
q mouse:
The stockings were hung by the CHM
ney with care,
In hopes that st. Nicholas soon would
be there.
Following that verse were several
giving a plain and trustworthy &C,
count of this man, known TO some
children as st. Nicholas, to others as
Kris Kringle. but known to most
Washington children as Santa Claus.
Even after the literary work OF Mr..
Moore there continued to be considera.
BILE mystery concerning and surround.
ing Santa Claus. He Stunned pub.
icity. He was no glutton for the spot.
light. Some persons who perhaps be.
lieve and say many things that are
not SO have denied the very existence
Of Santa Claus. Some grown-ups are
so stupid! Last Winter DIR. Donald
Baxter Macmillan, a fine scholar and
rather a truth-telling man, while liv.
ing near the North Pole met Santa
Claus, and visited his snow palace and
doll factory. He sent the news to us
by radio. In view Of the skeptcisn
which had found lodgment in some
minds it was a treat to hear by radio
from an explorer who could and woulG
tell the truth about Santa. Since ther
several other men have come forward
10 testify as to what they know o.
Santa Claus, and all the testimony !.
creditable to our old friend. All tn,
witnesses say, they even aver, tha
Santa Claus is skillful toymaker
that his sleds are the fastest ,and hi
dolls the prettiest in the world, an,
that his highest happiness is givin,
them to little children.