Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-22

mn long, curving line of con-
crete wIarves the December
winds snapped with psrticu-
lar cruelty at the threadbare feet of hundred
streets.
Snow swirled In cyclonic spirals, tossed about
IN feathery clouds that half obscured the rag
ged fronts of down-at-the- heel buildings few
blocks away, the tall buildings of Broadway
halted the rush of wind and the snow fiurries
beat against the steel giants as Intellectually as
petals. Slowly the sidewalks and pavementS
took thin coating of slush.
And through this sush came plodding Just
before the breakfast hour, the feet of hun
dred beaten men. With each footStep the melt
ing snow penetrated the thin and broken soIes
of shoes. as though they were so much blotting
paper. The men turned up their collars against
the wind as they made their way westward
toward the river They pulled down battered
hats. And down by Tenth avenue they turned
abruptly into a mission
WITHIN 20 minutes they were emerging
again. But now an amazing TRANSFORMED
ton had taken place. BY some magic they had
achieved gay red coats and gay red hats. They
wore white wigs and white boards They IAN
gled merry little bells. And through the storm
they now made their way to posts on Fifth
avenue, where, to the eyes of the busy shoppers
they were so many Santa Clauses
And such Is the illusioned faith of childhood
that 1t does not look behind the beard the
mask and the costume They see only the SYM
bo of Kris Krngle. Eyes may be deep-circied
and cheeks gaunt behind the white boards:
shoes may have become soggy sponges-but the
millions give little heed
Mothers take tots over to ..m:et Santa" and
children break away to get closer look
While this army Of ragged Santas stand
tnrougnout the day In storm and sleet ringing
little bells and chanting-"Please help the poor
give somp'n for the Christmas dinners"
It's really not SO far in distance from the
streets down by the river to the glitterng heart
of Fifth avenue-but physically they are sep
arated by worlds
JUST before Christmas, Fifth avenue. like
little orphan Annie" is Just as good as It
can be-
And when Fifth avenue is as good as it can
De, It's little bit better than any other high
way in the world
1t Is more ornate its windows are hvunotic
and ailuring: its displays are bizarre and beau
titul it calls upon the talent of the world for
new Ideas: 1t shows puppets and baubles: the
value OF It's wares staggers the Imagination; it
Is damned with dizzy parade of humans -.
mas lO-cent stores and millionaire's de-
HghtS. It's shoppers range from ladies in costly
furs TO shop girls who borrow their wraps from
a roommate. 1t reeks of extravaganza and
luxury.
Every corner has its Santa Claus Eyery
santa Claus has large-mouthed pot at his
she; Every Santa chants the whole day long
Help the poor-give somp'n for Christmas
dinners
And in this small army of hungry Santas
there Is this year, usual certain SANDY"
Clems. The Similarity Of names is quite strik
ing 1t takes but couple of letters to change
Sandy Cfws into Santa Claus
Like Santa, no one knows for sure where
Sandy comes from. The childhood legend was
that Santa came from the North Pole To ALI
mtents and purposes, so does Sandy