The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-12-26
SANTA CLAUS SETS
1SO.2OO0 KIDDIES
AC0C I'm AUDITORIUM
Community Gift Distribution
Handled Like Army Maneu-
YER by Lion Leaders
THRILL TO NICK IN FURS
Merry Old Saint Arrives in Auto
and Makes Diverting
Speech to Children

0p0SCU 10 NVIlUt0II
Between $500 and 1000 Bismarck
children enjoyed the initial thrill OF
Christmas In the community celebra-
tion at the municipal auditorium.
Monday afternoon. They packed the
lower floor and the galleries up stairs.
For an hour they were in the magic
land of Santa Claus, joining III the
singing Of Christmas hymns, listening
to recitations and solo singing and
breaking out In amused excitement
over the antics Of Old Nick in snowy
whiskers. red fur-trimmed garb,
goloshes and other attire from the
land OF the igloo and the Eskimo.
When they passed out from this, they
we're each handed a package Of
Christmas sweets and nuts at the
door.
Lions Handled 1t Finely
Members OF the Lions club handled
children. while Clyde L. Young, as
chairman OF the community commit
tee which planned the affair. presided.
All moved with the precision OF clock
work. ana the volatility OF Young
America was kept in hand all through
the exercises. SO that the celebration
was put through with all the aplomb
Of army drill.
The hour for the celebration to open
was 3. Before the hands OF the clock
had gotten around to that. vast
throng OF children was jammed on
the front sidewalk Of the auditorium.
The older ones were there footloose,
but the little boys and girls were for
the most part accompanied by a par
ent. Once the doors were thrown
open. the throng began to untangle in
orderly lines through the passageways
into the house. The orderliness Of the
celebration was, in fact. feature at
every turn and stage OF the proceed
ings.
Chairman Young got the program
going as soon rs the children had
been packed away In the sections of
seats by Lion ushers. Each member
Of the club committee had a place and
. task to perform and each stuck
close to 1t.
A screen was let down on the stage
and on this spotlight threw the
words of the several hymns sung. The
opening number was Jingle Bells
and Joy to the World" after which
the Rev. Walter E. Water spoke the
invocation. the audience. especially
the children. joining with him in the
Lords prayer at the close.
Marian Sandin sang THE Birthday
OF a King" as solo, accompanied
on the piano by Mrs. r. E. Morris,
who also was accompanist to the
massed singing, which Henry Halver-
son led.
Emily Belk dressed up in Santa Co.'S
tune. recited Coming Christmas
Morn" The children gave her great
salvo Of applause as she ended, then
the lights were turned off again and
the audience sang "Hark. the Herald
Angels and Holy Night" The young
sters' enthusiasm was mounting and
they sang these numbers with vim
and exactitude, led by Henry Halvcr-
son. that was electrifying.
Santa Arrives Asleep
Now came the peak of the celebra-
ton. Chairman Young announced
that Santa Claus was about to arrive.
The rear doors of the stage were
thrown open and in through them and
out to the middle of the stage burst
q car with q jolly fat figure in red
In the front seat and q chauffeur by
his side. The chauffeur alightcd, but
Santa failed to show any signs of life.
He was sound asleep. nodding and
snoring, and 1t took some shaking and
humping and yelling into his ear to
wake him. Sleepily rubbing his eyes
to get the sand" out of them, he
finally crawled out and greeted the
children with shout. which was re-
echoed in great chorus from the
young folks all over the house.
Good Children Were Plenty
Santa soon had his young friends
In shivers of delight. He inquired
what place this was and the chauf-
feur told him It was Bismarck.
ANY good boys and girls here?" he
next inquired.
A deafening chorus of "Yes!" an
swered him from the body OF the
house. He began a speech, dilating
on the terribly cold trip he had had
down from the North Pole and tell
ing Of the great icicles that he had to
break off his whiskers before he got
here. All summer, he said, he had
been busy making toys for good chill
dren and he had come to bring some
to Billy, Jimmy and Mary Jane, who
he had been assured, were good chill
dren.
A great laugh went up when he told
Of coming down the chimney at night,
or II he couldn't get In that way there
were good children to be remembered
In presents, Of wiggling through the
keyholc. That was little bit ol
hyperbole that wouldn't pass muster
with tho youngsters. the eyes of many
Of whom were almost popping out OF
their heads as they watched the old
saint prancing around on the stage.
When It came to closing the exer-
ctses. the children were started out
In Z section ct . time. Santa held
and entertained the others Will
further antics and jests from thu
eteeo. and the house was efnptied II
the same orderly manner as it had
been filled. OF the 2.00o packages
prepared Tor the children, severa
hundred were left over, possibly zoe
q 800.
YOUR QUALIFICATIONS
Budapest. Dec. 26.-After q man..
married ~ voSy soldom sits on parl
hn1a0h With htn Nlfe. Vat CITY az.