Evening star., 1936-12-19
SANTA IS AMAZED
At TOY CAMPAIGN
Rousing Welcome Given Wis.,
itor, Who Takes Note OF
ChiIdren's Needs.

ington was an unprecedented event.
made in cooperation with The Star
Warner Bros..N. B. C. Christmas toy
campaign and the Shoreham Toy Ball
last night, 50 that every child in
Washington will still believe in him
Christmas morning.
While Santa;s reindeer rested for
their Yuletide trips all over the world,
their master came from the Polar
regions in an airplane piloted by e. w.
Chatfield.
Santa Claus himself was peering
out Of the window Of the tri-motored
American Airlines plane that landed
at Baltimore, on its way from the
North Pole, to pick up q member of
The Star staff for an exclusive inter-
view. His nose was pressed against
the window, and his whiskers bristled
delightfully."-.
The reporter climbed aboard, find
ing in the eerie tint of the landing
lights the Santa Claus of childhood.
Twinkling eyes, girth, red cheeks and
Q nose ever so slightly pink.
The airplane took Of with a roar
and Santa and the reporter sat down
suddenly.
I'm more accustomed TO reindeer, {"
he apologised. The earth departed.
Stars came near and sparkled. The
ship split . plump cloud in two.
The reporter produced a pencil and
paper under Santa's scrutiny, trying
not to feel like that small child of
many Christmases ago who would have
given a great deal to pe riding with
Santa himself behind either an air.
cooled motor or reindeer.
Unusual Toy Campaign.
IT don't believe there Is q toy cam.
paign as extensive as this Star-Warner
Bros.-N. B. c. one I've been hearing
about In America" Santa Claus de-
elared.
Look here!" the reporter exclaimed,
"You are stealing my stuff. don't
believe there Is q Santa Claus"
Santa Claus roared with laughter,
holy with all the kindness Of all the
world.
Il must tell Mrs. Santa Claus" he
said. She'll get laugh out of that.
After all these centuries there are
really persons who do not believe In
tne?"
The interview ended with Santa In
full possession of all details about
what Is probably the most extensive
Christmas campaign on behalf Of
the needy ever made.
Washington Monument wheeled Hn-
der the plane. The ship landed while
searchhghts played upon Santa Claus
for the waiting crowd Of several thou
sand folk, many with young children
In their arms
Maj. Ernest w. Brown, superintend-
ent of police, was the first 10 greet
the patron saint Of Christmas, while
Lee Everett of the National Broad
casting Co. was present with a micro
phone so that he might speak to the
waiting N. 3. C. radio public. Chat
f1eld. who had the honor of being
6anta's pilot, informed children Of
the air audience that he had gotten
their Santa to town safely.
waiting children we're beside them
selves with excitement as Santa strode
from the field. Large-eyed little boys
dashed from their fathers handclasp
and screamed Hello, Santa Claus"
They waved and touched him, and
said what they wanted for Christmas,
and Santa heard them all The grown
ups, too, made way for Santa Claus
gravely.
Escorted to Hotel.
With Maj. Brown, Santa rode 10 the
ehoreham Hotel behind police motor
cycle escort. He was seated in the rear
of q cleaning maroon car, top down,
provided by the Packard Washington
Motor Car Co. Over the Highway
Bridge swept Santa's chariot, up Four
teenth street to Pennsylvania avenue.
Three police motor cycles cleared the
way In front and three brought up the
fear.
AS the motorcade turned into Penn
eylvania avenue police sirens opened
up with q scream that did not cease
until the end OF the route was reached.
Past the White House went Santa,
into Connecticut avenue. around
Dupont Circle. Crowds returning from
night time amusement paused ut cor
ners and along sidewalks to return
Saint N1ck's CHEEKY wave.
AZ Santa's car swung into the Shore
ham driveway. the lighted squares Of
apartment windows grew dark with
clusters Of spectators. The police
sirens gave dying sigh. Santa had
reached his destination! Campaign
officials stood under the portico to
greet him. With that democratic
demeanor that makes him the popular
saint he is. Santa shook hands all
around, smiling and booming great
"helloe"
Eager lobby throngs craned and ap-
plauded ss Santa strode down the car
petsd corridor into the lobby. Photo.
graphers' fash bulbs winked. 1t was
. cameraman's first chance to get"
the distinguished visitor since Christ
mas, 1885, and his last chance until
Christmas, 1887, for Santas visit next
Thursday night viii be secret, as every
youngster knows.
Dancing halted when Santa entered
the ball room and there was a ringing
cheer from the hundreds who had
come to do him honor and to remem-
ber the forgotten child with some
token Of Christmas Before joining
the throng, Santa paused at q table
heaped with big, gayly.wrapped par
GELS. These were gifts for needy chill
dren brought by the toy ball partici-
pants. The Shoreham waived It's