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About Mt. Scott herald. (Lents, Multnomah Co., Or.) 1914-1923 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 7, 1916)
J ohn a Alias Santa Claus Copyright by Johu A. Moroso. 1H second long term for burglary put the crimp in Jerry Gottlieb, ills first term had been ten years, but his second had lieen twenty. When he left prison for the second time he was an old man, pennf- lees and friendless. He was a large miin ami with big blue eyes Hud he I teen well fed and well groomed he might have been termed a handsome old man, for bls physique was tine, and there was grave dignity suggested In his carriage. Gottlieb boarded a train and went to New York. It was a (Inc June «lay and the oil iv|< t enjoyed every moment of I crusii of tin* elevated trains ovc: I and tile «'Jam: of trolley gongs r k Eye Garry McCkifft be still alive. Cock Eye l-e|*' cent table d'hote In Chatham , am' if a man just out of Jn I it to Ids place without u cent In bi ■ P'hketa he might ¡«*1 laituioes or i Tub the flour for u good meal an I perhaps the privilege of xleepiug ill tin- coal biu under the sidewalk. ln du* 'line he found that Cock Eye had bee.i lathered to Ids fathers, but that the place was still running. The new pro 1 rietor needed a man to help with the >'-ullioi) work for n day and Jerry Gott lieb worked at the appointed task, filled hl« stomach mid started forth at »unset to carry the lianner, which phrase, in the jargon of the under world, means to walk the streets dur ing tlio night. Jerry made his way further south to l'ark row and then cast to Oak street Near the green lumps of Oak street po lice station was uu old bouse with tlx* windows lighted. over the door was a large sign with this legend: “Ho, every oue that thlrsteth, come ye to the waters, and be that hath no money. Come ye. buy and eat. Yea. < nine, buy wine and milk without money aud without price.” Jerry was pondering the marvel of wine and milk wlthiait price, when a little clean shaven tnan. shabbily dad and of his own age. started up the •te;m, turned, came liack to him and then took him by the arm. saying: “Cotue along, brother. You belong here a < much us I do." The stranger carried ii battered Bible under his left arm. tucked close to Ills Ixxly. Gottlieb entered the long meeting room with It« slick Ixtnchcs and grimy vn'l paper. Its Biblical tsxts offering the Lord's help tacked here and there, and Ila little stand at one end for the preacher. There were hardly a baker's doreu of mon on the Iteiiches. The old convict sllp|a*d Into a sent. tired of body, but feeling at home among the tatterdemalions of society He Talked Dirsotly to th* Old Gray Outcast In ths Rear of the Room. tbe threshold of this genuine il dingy place of worship in <»al< street. His beard grew until It reached Ids waist In ii cascade of silver. Ile lost the prison pallor, and a flush of health came to his cheeks. 1’iitll his friend, the preacher, gave him the job as Jani tor of the mission lie slept on the wharves, crawling between bales of freight of ull sorts, like the Hon of Mun. uncertain <4 anywhere that lie might cal) his own for the casual slum ber of the harried fox, llemorseless mututlon brought deatli to Gottlieb's preacher friend. He asked Jerry t<> take up his work. “You see. sir," the old convict : ex- plained. “I'm a two termer, and the bulls always keep after me. I'd get the whole mission pinched if 1 did I any- thing else but clean up the place. That's my job. sir. I'm the janitor.” It was in the late fall when this bap- |tencd. Gottlieb felt the bands of his friend grow cold. He left the laxly ns a nurse came and made a record for her report of the transition of the evangelist, ile went to a window and looked out Into the fleecy, tumbling sky. He told himself that be would meet his friend ngnlti some time, some where. somehow, lie had come to be lieve In the | romlscs of God. “Well. Ranta Chius”' a voice sounded hi his ears. “Why not come down stairs with mo and have a cup of tea?" The nurse had com® to offer, as liest sin- could, her symputhy. com, out ine lesso.i nau isva uriven Into him along with the lesson of faith. It rang with hope, and Ills dead friend hud ever had it on his lips. From the book of Isaiah it came: ”1 ear thou not for I uni with thee: lie nor dismayed, for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee: yea, I will help th«1, yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Another temptation came 1» nfm, this time from the sly, sandy innatacbed lierson who had been ever at his heels since hl« release from Slug Sing, the hi-ndipiarters detect!» e whose business It was to watch those who had sinned, had Pahl for their sin and who might he expia ted to sin again. The detec the wanted him for u stool pigeon. Gottlieb, alias Santa Claus, as he was now known to the police, refused, was arrested as n vagrant and sent to Blackwell's island for thirty days. "When you change your mind." his shadow Informed him. "x”t:d me word." There was no change of mind and Gottlieb served Ids thirty days, month of somewhere to sleep and soi tiling to cat. He came out on the eve of Christmas and once again started in a tid a bl.s hunt for-a corner t ed to t lirfnee to nav for it. predated by any man’s "best girl." Here's a regular long list to pick from: Large silver hairpin, Dresden penholders. opera glass holders, stiver glove uuttoner, a wastepaper basket, laig for o|>era glasses, a silken chair dra|>ery or rug for chair, a leather shopping bag, silver shirt waist studs, glass or china puff box, two silver cof fee spoons, sterling silver penholder, sweet grass workbasket, one silver strawberry fork (or more of them*, a Dresden china table bell. Japa nese bedroom sllpjiers. belt of gold or string at the top, but should have the back fastened straight on a brass rod vat I train 1er. He invested half of ii g'lioestrlngs ten pairs. The retail is i enta 3 isdr. (Continued next week.) k little, j«n:n<-t;y dominie, with round cheeks mid a diploma from a semina- rial Institution, endeavored to take up the work. Oue day the mission doors were locked, and Jerry Gottlieb stood on the happy seusou, swept by the old man who held with strong stolidity to the Idea that God was his friend and that his right, hand would uphold him. A finely dressed lady bought a pair of shoestrings and gave him 50 cents, bidding him keep the change. Here was a bonanza. On Christmas day he could lie in his lodging house ls*d and rest his tired old bones. He could linger alsiut the stove tn the reading room and keep warm all day. and he toured out be could have two meals surely— real meals. 10 cent meals—bean soup, breud, coffee and hash! A limousine came plowing through the snow and stopped on Gottlieb's side of the corner. A fine looking man of middle age In a fur lined broadcloth coat 0[>eiie«’ the door and beckoned to Gottlieb. “Would you like to make $10 a day during the holidays?” he asked. "Ten dollars a <lay?” gasped Ranta Claus. •'Yes. aud easily." explained the rich man. “My little boy doesn't believe in Santa Claus any more, and I know that a mask doesn't fool hint now. I want him to believe In Santa Claus just as long ns possible, and if I rig you up tonight we'll put one over on that lad, by Jupiter we will! What de you say?" “It's a godsend to me, sir,” replied Gottlieb. "Jump in.” The big limousine forged ahead, burling great gouts oi snow to right and left. On the Jersey side of the river Santa Claus and the fnther of the little boy who didn't believe any longer took a parlor car, and the train worn steps stroking hie patriarchal beard thoughtfully. It was a sinister day for him. for his Jolt was gone, and his only friend was gone. The Rev. T. Beverly Wainwright, the successor of the old evangelist, had received a call to a very sung parsonage in the up- per west side. There liad been no salary attached to the job of Jerry Gottlieb, janitor of this closed house of God. But there had been n phice to sleep and always a bite to eat. for the Oak street mis sion had managed u handout of soup or broth and bread along with its handout of salvation. Now the bread and the broth and the corner to sleep in were gone. A faith in God was his only remaining asset, There was one place for him to visit, Cock Eye'a old place. • * • Gottlieb tried for any kind of work that had gathered to hear the shabby day after day, night after night and Ilia flowing Santa Clntts advocate of God among the miser got nothing, beard was against him. The snow be- able» say what he bad to say in his gun to fly again, and when lie w:is Master's behalf. driven from doorways by the cops he Out in the lutll a little man with a would collect old newipajyrs. cove cropped sandy mustache who had fol himself with them ami -deep on < lowed Jerry rolled a cigarette and sat bench In one of the parks. I ke now-* at the foot of the stairs, a sinister papers held In what " 't ''ill there was thing in the yellow light of a flickering In his laxly, and the suo> covere.l him gas jet. and si’.ik d his |>< ■ r i > :an s blanket. The mission worker began his preach . < *>::i| c lod to i he Again and n ing. and he talked dlrotly to the old resort to Coe’’ e for a hand- L gl'uy outcast In the rear of the room. ■* <>f warmth. out and it CW !)«• . lempting of. There lie If I A great peace descended upon the fer:t. line f in icons plck- soul of Gottlieb. -him ns a pocket wlm The o|<l mission prcficher talked the stoll—that I i v. ho gets in languago of Gottlieb’s own tribe. He. the wa», of ' the thief (1 nlfied a|> a>, had dene the wrong things in life a ch.'iu c tn x pression nd had come to know the sad and penram e nt faith bis et helpful lesions of regret. Some which had thing in the preacher's argument for the mission had trans- righteousness shone forth nlxrve ail pos- dead friend of milled to him wotild serve the thief ble forms of creed and dogma. Very hungry aud very For five years Gottlieb hung alaxit well. He was silver braid, eiderdown dressing jack ets. sterling silver heart brooch, ster ling silver or gold trmkets. Purses have a wide rauge. The one illustrated is rather elaborate and may lie mounted on material like milady’s afternoon frock. The embroidery in gold thread and jeweled clasp are in keeping with the choice fittings inside For the motor girl are a dinner basket, fur robes, rubber robes, foot warmer, leather coat, map measurer, set of road maps, “overnight" bag. compact mend ing outfit in ease, small cushion, gog gles, fur gloves,' motor cap. automobile horn, knitted muffler, linen dust coat, tool kit, folding toilet case, automobile HE Ideal Christmas gift Is a clock, automobile mirror, automobile useful luxury—a luxurious ne flower bolder and tour book. cessity, as it were—something that one wants and needs, but hesitates to buy for oneself. A unique gift is a samovar for mi lady's tea table. The cut shows a beautiful one in copper, but even rarer ones may be found in the brass and copper antique sho{« that thrive In Or give him a gayly painted photo graph frame to hold pictures. - More personal in their uses are a •ano with handle of horn or ivory (in golf design if he Is strictly up to date), a pipe of brier or meerschaum with mouthpiece of amber, a blanket bath robe amply large tor comfort, an um brella with handle of hobnails, carved ivory, sterling silver or natural wood. Or. if he is fond of dancing, a stun ning pair of patent leather pump« like those illustrated might walk directly into his heart T OR men—and they are general ly the stumbling block at Christmas time—there are a few new conceits. The “pipe bolder" is a brand new idea. Or try a copper chafing dish, book rack, half a dozen white dress ties, razor roll, box of favorite shaving soap and powder, txx>kcase. writing table fitted with assorted stationery, gloves, suit case, collar bag. Malacca cane, sapphire or opal scarfpin. bedroom slippers and seal ring. If he travels a case fitted with toilet necessities, like the one Illustrated, would be appreciated. Handkerchiefs of pure linen with an embroidered Initial are $1.50 for a box F acme places. Delectable goblets in metal on a matching tray come to serve tea in, along with samovars. We have come to recognize the bay berry candle its typical of the Christ mas season. It is made from the fruit of the bayberry bush and la a very lovely transparent greeu. Thia candle does not smoke when lighted and ex udes a pungent «lor. which Is not un like the breath of the pine trees. Nothing could lie more suggestive than a gift of Christmas candles, which could be accompanied with a pair of either stiver or glass candlesticks In which burn the Christmas candle. A box of silk stockings mnkes fastidious gift. From the picture we get a hint of them in bright shades for uri of half a dozen In some of the good shops. • Beautiful neckties are to be had for $1.50 and quite magnificent affairs for $3 and $5. Heavy gloves arc $1.50 and $2 a pair. Dogskin and pigskin with one button are what the mau of the mo ment likes. Pictured are interesting fobs; others desirable may have college or more personal emblems attached. More mannish and serviceable are leather wallets or bill folders of pig skin. hand sewed, from 50 cents up: cardenses of pigskin for $1. cigarette cases $2, crystal and leather flasks from $1.50; morocco tie, handkerchief or collar boxes, jewel boxes of pigskin, reindeer Hued. $1.75: razor rolls $2. There is one sort of handkerchief case that is useful tn travellug. ft has a case, on eacn side like a pocketbook, and the back Is lined with heavy pasteboard, padded. It shuts up and fastens with a clasp. A soiled collar ts and bag. made of linen, is a good thing. It ■ smart should not be constructed with a draw- !.e *o- A humble snaving mog. to oe uaen each morning, Is often an affectionate reminder. or a small stiver tipped cantease which can be slipped Into his Inner waistcoat pocket. Of if be is a university boy give him a huge red or blue silk muffler for his throat Or a set of books you have heard him express a wish for. and see. first of all, that the edition is a readable one. Small boys like a watch, as suggest- ed by the illustration, as well as pocket knives. tool chests, a bowl of gold fish, Silk murtlera are from $1 to $12. For about $2 75 are imported mufflers in dark colors.