Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-12-21

Hello, Santa Claus! Please bring me an
,.I'd like dolly that zoe, to sleep
Il want red sled!"
- CCH are the greetings which
thousands of children this
month are giving to their
~ friend, Santa Claus" as they
flock about him in the toy de-
partment OF the big store at Eleventh
and F streets northwest.
He stays in Washington all the
year around, but you cannot find the
name Santa Claus" in the City d.
rectory. That is because this jolly
fellow tells the prosaic census taker
that his name is Herman Braatz."
For 80 years, Mr.. Braatz has been
filing the role OF Santa Claus in
homes, schools, churches, theaters and
toy shops OF the National Capital. He
has snow-whIte beard and twink
ling blue eyes, so when he puts on a
fur cap, a red suit and black boots,
the frontispiece to The Night Be-
fore Christmas seems viviied. He
Is IS years old, vigorous enough to
fling a bundle of toys upon his back.
and sympathetic enough to show
children how TO play with them.
Santa Claus" Braatz started maxi
ing Christmas more merry by giving
playthings to a few needy boys and
girls Soon other people, noting his
ability to attract interest and love
of children, engaged him to distri-
butes their gifts for them.
Now every year at the Central
Union Missions Christmas party In
Keith's Theater he hands out pres
ents to 1000 youngsters. At the Ma
tional Park Seminary, Forest Glen.
Nd, he distributes gifts which that in
each
other. And he accepts as many invi-
tstions to Christmas exercises of
churches and public schools as length
OF the Yuletide season permits.
But it is as Santa Claus in the toy
department OF one Of Washington S
large stores that he meets the great
est number Of children. There he is,
from November ! to December "a,
shaking hands with his little visitors,
showing them toys, hearing their
Christmas wishes, and asking wheth-
err they have been good since last he
saw them.
Thus his Santa Claus work has ex-
banded from a one-mornirg to a
two-months performance.
During his years as Santa Claus,
Mr.. Braatz has seen boys preferences
In toys change frequently from a
Singing top in 1894 to a radio set in
declared, for throughout the 30 years
dolls have been the presents they
sought most.
Boys choice OF toys change, but
their curiosity doesn't" Santa
Claus" Braatz observed. Every year
they ask me: How can you take
presents to children all over the
world in one nightP
"Can you make yourself invisible?
=
are other questions they ask.
"ChiIdren's faith in Santa is in
spring. II ask a youngster where
he lives, he is likely to reply AT the
same place you left my toys last
year When visiting me at the store.
they tell me what I failed to bring
them, as well as thank me for what
they did receive the previous Christ
mas"
Scores of appealing letters are sent
to Santa Claus" Braatz by his little
friends. Errors in spelling and gram
mar these notes may have, but they
also possess childhood originality and
juvenile diplomacy, which give the
reader many a chuckle.
Dear Sundy Claus: Pleas send me
a large size two wheal biklet and a
large size sherwood spring coaster"
Frank Micka wrote, and then he add
ed this promise: Il Will obey my
mother and farther and Tern good in
school and play good on my violin"
Sweet Sanity, you are dear and you
are good-looking and you are hand
some," was the complimentary way
william Ray introduced his request
for "a sled, q book with fairy stories
and rhymes, an airedale that Is al
trained and the biggest knife tina,
you can find In your store"
| Not all the letters ask for things
One OF the most pri1ed messages IL
one which evidently was sent by a
boy who was grateful for receipt Of a
sled. It was postmarked Dec. rs. 10
a.m.," and read:
Dear Santa Claus,
81 am having fine time sled rid
Ing. Wish you a Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year.
CHARLES H. HARTMAN"
| Perhaps one reason why Santa
Claus'' Braatx wins the confidence and
love of children 10 because he has kept
"a childlike spirit himself. When he