New Britain herald., 1924-12-24
OLD SANTA CLAUS'S BEDTIME STORY

Oli Man Santa Claus -- he with the white whisEers and the benign s..tude toward all mankind. es- pecially the young - has more troubles than just seeing that he orerlooks none Of his little charges. Conditions Of modern life are get ting onerous and threaten 10 inter- fsrs with his peace of mind in the future.
 In the first place, a little sgita- Mon has started - helped along by no less q parsonage than the Presi- dent ot the United States himself which begets mIsgiylngs in regard 10 the large number of Christmas trees "slaughtered' every year to provide cheer during the wonderful Christmas tide, This has set Santa 10 thinking and he has been won- derlng whether the time is soon here when there will not be suf- fclent Christmas trees to fill the demand Of his boys and girls. Per- ish the thought yes! But reali- ties confront the old fellow, just as they confront others who share his generosity; and he is inclined to think that his kindly ministrations would bo decidedly ineffective and his best efforts thvarted by a lack Of sufficient trees.
 SAntas advisers have told him flat in about 10 or 20 years the supply will grow distressingIy thin, and tho prospect makes his heart a trj0e heavy despite the joy he ex- p"r,gnccs in being 3 grand pro liJcr for the young. Santa has told his corps of experts in the big toy factories 10 experiment in the manufacture Of artificial Christmas trees. so that if the supply ever gives out and the need for conserv- ing trees becomes great, there may be good substitutes. and Of kind that may last year after year Santa says IL may be possible tc invent a tree that, once placed in a family blessed hy children, il will be good for many Christmas days, which would avoid the neces. sjty of his helpers and agents pro, viding new trees every year, as al present.
 Another thing that Is worrying Santa Claus today is the scarcity oi wood which his army Of workmer utilize in manufacturing into toys The biggest toy factory owned by Santa Claus, situated in New York uses 100000 feet of lumber every year, every foot of which is useG for wooden rocking horses, wagons wheel barrovs. sleds and all the other magnificent wooden toys tha Santa gives 10 good little boys anC girls every year. Altogether Sants Claus uzos lumber worth $35,0oo,. GOO every year -- and this requires tremendous amount of trees which have to he cut down for Santa and inc wood sont to hi' factories 70 he made Into toys.
 1t so happens that the supply 0 trees is rapidly dimInIshing, anc wood costs much more money thai il formerly cost. The lime is rapid Iy approaching when wood ma, Looomc s-arcc. and santa Clau may find it hard to gat onougl wood for his toy factorcs.
 So you soc rai.l~n, santa CIau has good deal on his mlnd, dc spite u.e i'm I, IS having just no" I+a lorets lis trouI.rs during th, Christmas ~a<au and is the hap plrs maa d .a. MayDo. his workmeI  Will 1a.-Y.ar'nrt ..Aor voodcr toys m tae C.ar. and usa nor iron aa@ 'n; om ,0ro probDo1u vtr 1~ so.>.d r4 Sauna nmu u. time comqS a0a at al ,',nts 6' vl3 continue ro lr,u ns c1a1ro' kindly
 Tonight is mc ogO -- .a, E1t Night when Ssn0a c.au~ cane around All good IuL. children vll have to go 10 bed early. Sh"9 Cnimrru - to had!