THE SUNDAY OREGOlsIAN, PORTLAND, DECEMBER 18, 1901". -
Santa Claus as Viewed by Portlaad CJoun
Boys and Girls Not Under Shelter of Parental Roofs,
Interviewed as to Kris Kringle.
gsters
MORE beautiful tale than that of
the delightful old fraud, Santa
Claus has never been told, and it
is truly doubtful whether some pre-eminent
romancer with an imaginative and
prolific brain may conceive a more pleas
lag delusion. Not a child lives that has
not at ono time during its life believed
sincerely, the time-worn story of a jolly
old fellow, garbed In a suit of red,
fringed with Immaculate fur, his face of.
a rosy hue and bedecked with a shaggy
and generous gray beard, who with an
amply filled sack of gladdening toys, sur
reptitiously slipped down the chimney to
hide a doll or a horn or a box of sweets
in the stocking ' which adorned the
mantlepiece. But sad, indeed, is the
cruel awakening of the young mind and
the shaking of that implicit belief of the
existence of old Kris Kringle.
The years wear on and tho children
who grew Incredulous now tell the same
old tale to their children; the tale that
has been handed down from generation
to generation, and yet, well as I knew
that the myth is accepted by some chil
dren with tho same sincerity as of old, I
was a little curious to learn Just how far
the delusion might be practiced upon
children who are without homes and
without loving mothers and fathers to
tell the glorious story
Actuated by this desire I wended say
way to the Boys' and Girls Aid Society
where I made known my wish. Mr. Gard
ner, the superintendent, received me very
courteously and after showing me through
the institution escorted me to the boys'
recreation room, where he introduced" mo
to two little youngsters of 6 and 7. The
younger was Lester Dutcher, and a
knowing waif is he. He was but a mite
as regards size, and his hair of that light
tinge, peculiarly Teutonic, was cropped
so short that it made him look amusing.
Ills complexion was not unlike ivory and
two great hazel eyes blinked from under
Rome very long lashes. His companion,
Charles Flowers, was slightly different in
appearance; his hair a shade darker than
Lester's, his eyes decidedly black and his
mouth small. I put little Lester on my
knee. I was a little embarrassed and
did not know just how to word my first
query, but hazzarded:
"Well, Lester, how old are you?"
"Don know." was his reply.
"I know," chipped in Charles, hastening
to enlighten me, saying: "He's 6 an'
I'm 7."
"Well, Lester," said I, "I am surprised
that you did not know your age. Perhaps
you may tell me something about Santa
Claus."
"Santa Claus?" repeated he, looking up
at me Inquiringly.
"Yes. You have seen him, of course,
and can tell me what he looks like," I
suggested".
My answer was a smile. Charles,
however, was better informed and cried
gleefully:
"I know what he looks like. His face
is all painted up with paint. I saw him."
I was not wholly satisfied with my
progress, so said:
"Lester, what Is our next great holi
day?" Again Charles was forced to come to
the rescue of his little friend, and said:
"Birthday."
Right you are," said I, "but whose?"
"Mine," he Teplled decisively, and I feel
obligated to say for' Charles that I could
not discover the slightest vein of ego in
his makeup.
"Yes, yes." I persisted, "but Charles,
someone's else birthday falls on Christ
mas." "Turkey," he replied dubiously.
Mr. Gardner stepped into the room at
this moment and informed me that the
boys who were at school would return In
a few minutes. Try as I might I could
not obtain the slightest inkling of an idea
of Santa Claus from either Charles or
Lester. I was resolved, however, to
learn their desires, and said to Lester:
"What would you like for Christmas?"
"Knife," was bis reply.
"Do you mean to say that you only
wish for a knife?" I asked.
"Uh, huh," said Lester briefly. Charles
walked over to the corner of the room
where a bookcase had been erected. He
returned presently with a formidable
looking volume, which he opened across
his knees. I could not discern his in
tention at once, so devoted my time to
querying Lester.
"But, Lester," I said, "wouldn't you like
a drum?"
"Uh, huh," he agreed.
"And a ball?" I continued.
"Uh, huh, and a little dog," he finished.
"I want a little dog," said Charles,
seeming to value Lester's suggestion.
"And I want some trains, and some
wagons, and a rocking-horse," he con
tinued. The ingenious little scamp had taken
the book for the express purpose of turn
ing over the pages and asking for every
thing that he saw pictured in the volume.
Mr. Gardner again returned to the room
and suggested that I visit the hospital. I
assented and plimbed the three flights of
stairs to the upper floor where the sick
bay is situated. It is in charge of a de
lightfully attractive nurse, of whom I
shall speak later. Four patients were
there two boys and two girls. One of
the boys was a precocious and incorrigi
ble youngster who has run away from 'the
institution repeatedly, the last time ef
fecting his escape by sliding down an air
vent and then going to a near-by house
with the tale that some person connected
with the institution had kicked him on
the ankle. He "was obdurate and -would
say nothing- cither about what he wished
for Christmas or what he thought of
Santa Claus. The youngster In the next
cot. however, was extremely interesting.
"What Is your name?" I asked.
"Pope Leo." he replied immediately I
could not for the life of me see any
'JAV SL22V, THERE
striking resemblance to the late illustrious
pontiff. It was explained to me later
that the little fellow had been thus dub
bed by a man formerly connected with
the society, and the name was used so
commonly in speaking of him that the
waif really had' forgotten his real cog
nomen. "Pope, my lad." said I," did you ever
see Santa Claus?" ,
"Yes, roa'm," answered the Pope.
"Ma'm" was a failing of his and he in
variably used it. . .
"What did .he look like?" I asked.
"Horse and wagon." was the dumb
founding reply.
"No, no," I corrected, "you mean, Pope,
that you would like a horse and wagon
for Christmas,- isn't that it?"
"Yes, ma'm,". agreed the Pope.
As a matter of courtesy I refrained
from" interviewing the young lady pa
tients and found my way down stairs
where a hubbub announced tho return of
the school children. They awaited me
in the recreation-room. I shall describe
them collectively and individually and
then go on with my tale.
Collectively I have never seen a jol
lier and happier lot of lads in-my life.
Individually, I feel that "William Gra
ham Impressed me the most William
is the oracle of the Institution. He Is
8 years of age, well-built physically,
and his gray matter Is unusually pro
lific. One remark of William's that
appealed to me very much was that his
name was William and he did not like
the boys and officers of the society to
call him "Willie" as they persisted in
doing. Melville Dayton Is a likely
young chap of 8 years. Robert Allison
Is apparently a very well-behaved boy
of 12, remarkably good-looking and I
think just a little out of his element
He was extremely modest and told mo
a short and adventurous tale of his
wanderings that would serve well for
the plot of a successful novel. George
Simmonds is another very promising
youngster of 8 years, and hi3 very good
friend of the same age, Byron William
Jackson, is, I feel, destined and I think
that you. will agree with me later
to become a very successful and promi
nent man. No boy with a name llko
that can possibly go through life with
out doing some great thing. But Orlin
Flowers. There is a boy, the brother
of CharleB, and he is a boy that I shall
ever remember. His face in particular
is that of a perpetually smiling imp,
but I must say that he is an amusing lit
tle reprobate. His hair is cropped short
and his ears stick out These when
augmented with a very broad smile
make Orlin one of the most pleasing
bits of real life I- have ever beheld. His
very ambition seems to be to have fun
at someone's else expense, and he cer
tainly did at mine, but of that later.
Leon Burt, aged 9; Gall Harford, aged
9, and Elmer Jacobson, aged 13, are
three very interesting lads. They are
.very well-behaved and modest in their
requests for , Christmas favors. Frank
Jacobson, ag'ed 9, is the brother of
Elmer, but as much like him as Queen
Alexandra Is like Alphonso of Spain.
Roy Lofgren, aged 8, is quite dark,
quite small and -quite amusing. Earl
Weyman, a little waif of 7, Is well, I
will tell you later.
I 'was introduced to the boys by Mr.
Gardner, who in his remarks said some
thing to the effect that I was the private-secretary
of Santa Claus and that
I was there to find out what the boys
thought of my boss. Ho went on to
say that tho hoy who could say the
most about old Santa Claus would reap
the reward.
I seated myself, and the boys, 12 of
them, gathered around -me. It was per
fectly natural for me to speak to Will
iam Graham first He is very mag
netic "William," said I, "what do you think
of Santa Claus?"
"Nothing," he answered, bluntly.
"Why not?" I questioned.
"He's a fake. I only saw him once
and I knew him by his voice."
"Aw, he's talking through his hat,"
came from that young imp, Orlin.
"Well, Orlin, what do you think of
Santa Claus?" I asked, turning to meet
a roguish grin.
"Santa Claus? Say, you can't give
me any o' that. I'm wise," answered
the precocious Orlin.
"Ypu said that William was talking
through his hat," I parried.
"He's always doing It' replied tho
Incorrigible with alacrity.
"Well, if you do not believe in Santa
Claus, how can you expect .to receive
anything for Christmas?" I asked.
"Don't make any difference whether
I get anything or not," he replied.
"You would like something, Will
iam?" I asked.
"I want a airgun, a horn and a pair
of boxing-gloves," replied William.
"And," chimed in Gail, "I want a
train and a drum and a cork "
"GIm me the woild wid a fence
around it" Interrupted Orlin. t
The next moment carried my thoughts
hack to my college days. There was a
rush and I was down without a yard to
gain. The air was laden with cries of:
"Drum, train, I want a Gun, rock
ing horse, cork gun, football, Mister,
give me a horn. I want a box of tools,
horsey. Are wagon!" and then the cries
rose to one .great disconnected yell
from 12 young and healthy throats.
"Boys," I howled, "take things easy.
One at a time, please."
"I forgot," said William, the oracle.
"I want a. football."
"All right, William." I acquiesced,
"and Elmer, what would, you like?"
Now, Elmer Is an odd-looking1 boy,
rather gawky In appearance, red-head"-cd
and freckled. He impressed mo as
being given to "tales of "Wild Dick, the
JT
Infallible Cuthroat," but I was destined
to a great surprise.
"I want a violin," was his answer.
"A violin!" I- repeated, momentarily
staggered. "But is that all you would
like?"
"Yes, sir," said Elmer, emphatically.
I looked at him and could plainly see
the cut of genius in his cleanly-molded
features. The look of hope that light
ed the boy's face madet me remorseful.
My conscience smote me. What kind of
a trick was I playing on these waifs?
There I was, seated amongst them, a
scratch-pad on my knee, upon which,
with my trusty Faber I chronicled their
wishes. Their faces were radiant with
expectancy. They were sure I was
closely associated with Santa Claus, and
as I loft them I veritably believe that
they felt .assured of receiving every
thing they had asked for.
I was about to lose the door when
I felt a touch at my knee. I looked
down, and thcro stood a little fellow,
not more than three feet high.
"I'm Earl Weyman," he said; "you
didn't get my name."
I proceeded to write it down Imme
diately, and asked:
"Earl, do you like Santa Claus?"
"Yes, sir; I love him," replied the
little chap.
"Did you ever see him?" I questioned.
"Yes, sir," assented Earl; "sawnim
once here."
"What did he look like?" I persisted.
"Oh, he was big an' fat an' had whis
kers an' was laughing an had snow all
over hisself, an he wiggled 'cause he
was cold, an he gave me a box of
candy," was the very precise reply.
"Then, "Earl, you do not believe these
boys when they say that there is no
Santa Claus?" I asked.
"No, sir," he answered.
"Well, what would you like for
Christmas?" said I, not wishing to omit
anything with the boy I had in some
inconceivable manner almost overlook
ed. "I want an automobile," was the very
original reply of this youngster. Will
iam looked at me as though he craved
my indulgence.
"Well, William, what now?" I asked.
"I forgot to tell you. I want a horse
and wagon," he answered.
"He's got de front Might be Santy
Claus hisself in disguise." This re
mark floated through the room, and I
looked around to discover its source.
There, in the further corner, sat Orlin
with a impish grin on his face.
"Orlin," I called to him "have you
changed your mind?"
"Told you I want de woild," I heard
as tho door closed behind me.
I then retired to the dignity of the
office where I asked if I might' Inter
view some of the young ladles. Mr.
Gardner sent for three little misses.
Hazel Wagner, Fern Flower and Irene
Ciper. They entered the reception
room presently and for the moment I
was decidedly embarrassed. You know,
I am not used to girls. However, I
spoke to Irene, saying boldly:
"My dear, I would like you to tell me
a story about Santa Claus."
"Yes, sir," replied Irene. "I saw him
once when his whiskers caught fire,
and he was my uncle."
"Yes," I replied, " but he was a make
believe Santa and I would like you to
tell me something of the real one."
"Well, he is awfully good," replied
the little tot, "and I want him to bring
me lots of things this Christmas."
"Can you tell me a story about
Santa?" I asked of Fern. She is the
sister of young Charles and that rogue
Orlin, but truly a flower, one of those
sweet flowers that oft blooms unseen.
T know all about him," I was as
sured by this bright young lady. "He
is big and fat and nice and he watches
us all and when wo are bad he don't
give us what we want, but if we are
good we get all Wnd3 of things."
"Who do you think he is Irene?" I
asked.
"I don't know, 'cep'ting he Is Santa
Claus," was her reply. Hazel, in answer
to a question, giggled and then
laughed. She is 9 years old and used to
believe in Santa Claus when she was
little, but now that she has grown to
be a young lady, the myth to her Is
simply ridiculous. I next interviewed
two young ladles, the Misses Mabel Bo
zart and Mary Yeakel, both fairly along
in their teens. Mabel was a case and
even now I am forced to admit that I
do not know whether she thought I
was attempting to make a fool of her
or succeeding In making a fool of my
self. Her answers appealed to me as
being delightfully sarcastic even
though she assured me she was quite
sincere. I have always prided myself on
lWUm . fli i rrmr iHWOTil h I
my keenness at repartee, but this
young lady certainly bested me.
"Mabel," I said, "you of course be
lieve in Santa, Claus?"
"Whsi of course," she -replied gently,
her eyes dancing with amusement.
"I am serious," said I, feeling; that
she was mocking' me.
"T was never more serious in my
life! replied Mabel with a laugh.
"I'beg, your pardon," was my hasty,
rejoinder. "Will.yojt.then toll me what
you" think of the old fellow."
"I think he Is Immense,' replied
u . i
Mabel. I resolved then to give her an
opportunity to think the matter over so
turned to Mary and suggested that she
tell me something of Santa Claus1. Mary
is different from her companion, not
only in appearance, but manner. She Is
apparently of sturdy Norse stock, mod
est in her desires and extremely bash
ful. The sparkling black eyes and vi
vacious manner of her companion made
a decided contrast.
"I used to see him once in a while
up in Washington," .said. Mary in
answer to my question
"How often, Mary?" I inquired.
"Oh, the real Santa Claus never came,
but maybe once In two or three years
he used to send a madeup one. Wo al
ways got presents."
"Well, Mary," I asked. "Are you
thankful. for all the happiness that
comes to you at Christmas?"
"tus, sir. I am thankful to Santa
Claus," she answered.
"Would you like something for
Christmas?" I questioned.
"Yes. sir," said Mary joyfully. "I
would like a musical album."
"And you?" I said turning once more
to Mabel.
"It doesn't make much difference
whether I ask or not because I don't
think I will get it,' but as long as you
want to know you might tell Santa
Claus that I would like a guitar," she
replied.
Arm-in-arm the couple left the room,
Mabeltlaughing boisterously, and Mary
slightly confused. In the vestibule
Goldie Debau awaited me, a young miss
qf 16. She crouched against the great
hall doors as X entered. I was a little
surprised naturally, but soon under
stood. The girl was not cowed, but at
bay. She was like a wild thing that has
been robbed of its freedom. She was
cornered and ready, I felt to spring
upon me. She glared at me with two
very piercing black eyes, but the pres
ence of the matron forced her to wait
for my first word. I really felt sorry
for the girl because, the absurd role I
played must have made the interview
a very trying ordeal.
"Wha do you know about Santa
Claus?" I asked.
"Nothing," she rep'lled simply.
"That's odd. You surely would like
to know something about him," I sug
gested. "No," answered Goldie briefly.
"What would you like for Christ
mas?" said I.
"Don't know," was the only answer
I received.
"Come now," I said, "do you mean
to say that you would not like a nice
new coat with a beaver collar, or a
pretty lowcut organdie party gown, ot
a Battenburg collarette.
Will I ever forget that answer or
will I ever forgive myself for asking
the question. I do not think so. As I
named the articles Goldie's face bright
ened with a look of expectancy, her
eyes glistened and she blurted out one
word that came from her very souL
The word was:
"Sure."
I laughed. The next moment I re
gretted it As though stung with a lash
the girl stealthily opened the door and
crept to the inner hall. Once more I
grew remorseful. I could not find a
name to apply to myself for perpetrat
ing such a misejrably cruel joke. It was
despicable. I was almost Induced to
give the story up. I Intimated to Mr.
Gardner that I had stayed beyond my
time, but he asked me to see a few
more boys and girls before I left, so I
remained. Three boys eniered ths of
fice. Ono was tall and clumsy, another
heavy set and the third very diminu
tive and bashful.
"That is Wiggle," said Mr. Gardner,
"Silas Wiggle." He pointed to ihe
heavy boy. Wiggle commenced to
squirm around and gave me my cue.
"Wiggle," I said, "why do you. Wig
gle?" he laughed.
"Now, look here. Wiggle," I con
tinued, "I have come here to find out
something about Santa Clau3. Can you
help me out?"
"I know all about him," said Wiggle
confidently.
"Good for Wiggle," I said liopofully,
feeling that T was abou: to hear the
most interesting story of the after
noon. "FIro away."
"Well, he tried to fool me once," jsald
Wiggle, "and I jumped out of bed and
caught him. He was my brother." Noed
less to say, I was keenly disappointed
and asked the long-legged boy to tell
me his views of Christmas and Santa
Claus. He was Lloyd Schneotzer.
"Oh," said Lloyd, '"bout the same as
Wiggle's," The third boy, Archie Mc-
Coy could not be Induced to open his
mouth.
"Perhaps, then,". I said, "voir boys
will expect something for Christmas,
whether you bcllcvo in Santa Glaus
or noV"
"I . could use a timepiece," said Silas
artfully.
"And:T need a suit tit clothes," chimed
in Lloyd.
Ts that all you would like?" I ques
tioned. "That's all," was the mutual reply.
At this moment, the nurser Emma Bell,
entered. Emma is a vory pretty young
lady, who 3ias been brought up at the
institutions Her hair is slightly blonde,
her complexion, healthy and beautiful
and her figure, exceedingly well pro
portioned. Shp is graceful and dresses
neatly. Emma has passed the age of be
lief in Santa Claus and was very much,
embarrassed when I questioned her. I
tried to assure her that I was sincere,
but could hot at flrst induce her to
say anything. She finally aaid:
f "I wish that Santa Claus would give me
a nurse's uniform.".- The young lady has
charge of the "hospital at the society
building, and aspires to become a success,
ful nurse. Mrs. Graham, the matron, ex
plained to me after Emma had left the
office, that the lrl Jonged for an oppor
tunity to attend a nurses training schoolf
If Santa Clans reads, this. I hope he may
find a scholarship in his sack, because
the appearance of that hospital, a result
of Emma's conscientious work, Is worthy
of such reward.
My work at the Boys and Girls' Aid So
ciety was now done, and there was an
other institution that I must visit, so I
bade Mrs. Graham and Mr. Gardner good
bye. I jumped a car and started for the
Children's Home. The car had gone but
a -few blocl-s when a lady carrying an in
fant got aboard. The Infant gave me an
inspiration. Here, indeed, was the sub
ject I had been looking for. I leaned
over to the mother and said:
"Madam, I am gathering matter for a
Christmas story, and if you have no ob
jections I would like to interview the
baby." I. was granted permission, so said
to the infant:
"Baby, do you like Santa Claus?" He
turned (I can't swear it was a he), and
replied:
"Uh, oo, ah, yah. oo."
"Did you understand him?" I said to
madame. "I did not quite catch the re
mark." "Why, he said that he Just loved Santa
Claus," replied the lady, glaring at me as
though I were an Idiot. I have always
thought that I was a linguist but I must
master the interpretation of baby-talk
before I may claim that distinction. I
remained perfectly silent and did not ven
ture a word until I had reached the Chil
dren's Home. Here I met Mrs. Stearns,
the matron of the Institution and a very
estimable woman, whose only desire seems
to be to better equip herself for the work
of humanity. Not a child escapes her at-
RECENT DECISIONS OF THE HIGHER COURTS
The right to writ of mandamus to
compel the removal from the records of
a state prison of a photograph, descrip
tion and measurements, of a person sen
tenced to death, but whose sentence is
afterward reversed and who Is subse
quently acquitted of the charge against
him. Is denied in re. Molineux (N. Y.)
65 L. R. A. 104.
A private soldier who has been sta
tioned to guard a residence which dur
ing a time of rioting and disorder has
been dynamited and against which
threats have been made to repoat the
offense, with orders to shoot to kill any
person found prowling about the house,
is held. In Com. ex rel. Wadsworth vs.
Shortall (Pa.) 65 L. R. A. 193, to be
guilty of no crime If heshoots a per
son who approaches the building and
refuses to obey his command to hale
A note to this case considers the ques
tion of martial law when there is no
actual war.
An innkeeper is held, in Rahroel vs.
Lehndorff (Cal.) 65 L. R. A. 88, not to
be liable, in the absence of negligence
on his part, for injuries to a guest
caused by an assault committed by a
servant employed In the inn.
A hostler in charge -of an engine run
ning through a yard Is held, in Louis
ville & Nashville Railway Company vs.
Lowe (Ky.) 65 L. R. A. 122, not to ba a
fellow-servant of a car Inspector at
work therein, so as to relieve the com
pany from liability for injuries inflicted
by him upon the Inspector by the neg
ligent running of the engine.
A railroad company which permits the
public to use Its right of way to travel on
foot at a particular place so continuously
and frequently as to result In a well
beaten and clearly deflped path, plain and
open. Is held. In Matthews vs. Seaboard
Alr-LIne Railway (S. C.) 63 L. R. A. 2S6,
to be bound to use ordinary care not to
maintain pitfalls or unsafe conditions
which may result in Injury to one attempt
ing to use the path, relying on the safety
suggested by the implied invitation aris
ing from the visible conditions.
Where three coal minfng companies
operating in the same vein or seam in
close proximity to one another, and just
having commenced the development of
that particular kind of coal, organize in
directly and nominally in the names of
individuals a third corporation to act
as their general sales agent, and each
gives it by contract the exclusive right to
sell Its entire output of coal at prices
uniform es to all three companies? and
tention; they meet with the same loving
Indulgence a parent would give. Mrs.
Stearns suggested that I look over some
letters to Santa Claus before making
notes, and I was heartily in favor of doing
so. The letters were jewels, all of them. I
have preserved a few, which I shall pub
lish. .The first was written by Susie Zach
man. The little one has succeeded In do
ing, something that I have tried repeat
edly, but futilely; and that is to use the
word "and" 12. times Jn one sentence. Its
text' follows:
"The Santa Claus: We all love you
well. I hope your bird tell you that I am
good to" have some present? Now, 1 will
tell you what I want? for
Christmas. 3 doll or rrior and some
dishes, aifd table and .chair and book and
candy and knife and" sheep and boy doll
and a doll buggy and some hair ribbon
and a vbox of nuts, and that is all now.
Good-bye. , .SUSIE.
The next letter, written hy Lottie Yan
dle, was an ingenious one. At the bottom
of tho page was a little pencil sketch of a
Christmas tree, heavily laden with well
filled stockings. Its significance was ob
vious. The letter read like- this:
"Dear Santa Claus: I thought I would
write a- few lines to tell you what I want
for Christmas. I want a new doll, pair of
stockings and a new pair of shoes and
some hair ribbons and soro candy and
nuts and a story-book. I w!Hl close this
time. From, .Good-bye.
. "LOTTIE YANDLE-"
The next one was written by Cora
Ty-te"-cszass jxs
Bailey, a very matter-of-fact young lady.
There was no attempt at letter-writing.
The top of the sheet bore the young lady's
name, and Immediately under was the
firs request. The others followed, line
after line. This was the letter:
"Cora Bailey, a yard of pink ribbon, a
doll, a story-book, nuts and candy, a ring,
two yards of black ribbons,' a doll, a
pomptor comb, a neckless with a heart
on it"
The last, by Lethia Turner, a young
miss of 13, is, I think, one of the most
beautiful letters I have ever read, par
ticularly because it was written by a
child. Even the excitement accompanying
the approaching holidays could not make
this little girl forget that Santa Claus
had many children to take care of.
"For Xmas. Dear Mrs. Stearns. This
Is what I want for Xmas. Two yards of
black ribbon. One doll. Nuta and candy.
I will not ask for too much, because there
are others beside myself.
"LETHIA TURNER."
What delightful examples of childish ln-
the agent company 13 to advertise and
introduce the coal in the markets, estab
lish and control all agencies and sub
agencies and make all sales and collec
tions, and deduct for its compensation 10
cents per ton out of the proceeds of sale
It Is held, in Slaughter vs. Thacker Coal
fcoko Company (W. Va,), 65 L. R. A.
342, that the contract Is illegal and void,
as tending to suppress competition .and
restrain trade, contrary to public policy.
A telephone lineman is held. In Whit
worth vs. Shreveport Belt Railway Com
pany (La.) 65 L. R. A. 129, not to be guilty
of negligence in going to the rescue of a
fellow-workman who, while on a telephone
pole, received a shock caused by the wire
he was handling coming in contact with
the span wire of an electric street-car
system, which, because of the defective
insulation of the banger by which it was
connected with the trolley wire, was heav
ily charged with electricity, whereupon he
fell headlong, and, his spurs catching on
a spike on the pole, hung suspended in
the air; and. the railroad company Is
held to he liable for the death of the line
man, where, in his effort to relieve hl3
fellow-worker, he seized the telephone
wire, which had become charged with
electricity through the negligence of the
railroad company, and was Instantly
killed.
The sale of flour in quantity by the
barrel to one who intends to resell It
under a representation that it Is of a
certain quality, without opportunity of
Inspection on the part of the purchaser,
is held. In Bunch vs. Well (Ark.) 65 L.
R. A. 80, to give him the right to rescind
In case the flour proves to be of Inferior
quality.
A purchaser of machinery is held, In
Computing Scales Company vs. Long (S.
G.) 65 L. R. A. 294, to have no risht to
rescind the contract merely because the
patents under which ft is manufactured
are in dispute.
A municipal corporation Is held, in Wil
son vs. Mitchell (S. D.) 65 L. R. A. 153,
not to be able to ratify the act of the
laipcrintendent of its water w.orks system
in entering upon private property and
connecting a well there .located with the
city water mains without the consent of
Its owner, so as to become liable for the
water taken from the well.
The creation by the Legislature of a
commission to erect public buildings for a
municipal corporation is held. In Fox vs.
Philadelphia (Pa.) 65 L. R. A. 214, not to
relieve tho city from liability for injuries
caused by the negligent operation of ele
vators in a building after it has been
nocence those letters were! The allusion
to Santa Claus birds is because of a
story that Mrs. Stearns tell3 the children.
They think that wherever they go. and
whether they are at play, at work or
asleep, the little winged representatives
of Santa Claus watch them, and if they
are bad. the birds tell their master.
After reading the letters I went to the
girls' playroom. Here I found a numb-r
of little misses and two boys. One boy
was tho baby of the institution, just 2
years old. The other was 3. and goes by
the name of Pete. He was a smart little
youngster, and, while he would not tell
me anything of Santa Claus. clung to my
kneo wherever I went, knowing well that
I was very closely associated with tho
man he expected his Christmas presents
from. "Vern "Weaver, a little girl of 7, told
me that Santa Claus had a red hat and a
red vest and a red belt, and she loved
him. very much.
"Vern," I asked, "will you tell me some
thing about Christmas."
"It's Jesus' birthday," she replied, im
mediately. Here was the strain I had
sought since leaving the Oregonlan office.
"Yes, but Vern," I said, "who were
Jesus' mother and father?"
"Mary and Joseph," answered Vern.
"And where was Christ born?' I q
ques-
tloned.
"At Bethlehem, In a manger."
"How did the wise men know that 'the
Christ was born, Vern?"
"By a big star in the east,, and they
followed It until they came to the stable."
Vern was becoming nervous so 1 asked
Emma Singer how Santa Claus. looked.
"Foxy Grandpa," she replied.
From the girls' room I went to the boys'
playroom, where the young6ter3 sang sev
eral songs for .my especial benefit. Mrs.
Stearns told the boys that I had come
from Santa Claus to learn what
they thought of him, and I was imme
diately made the cynosure of all eyes.
George Boylngton, aged 5. climbed In my
lap, and Henry Walling, aged 3, grabbed
my hands for keeps. 1 remained with the
boys an hour, and the only original re-
tol &s?i4 t-
mark I heard was a request from George
that I sincerely hope will not be granted.
When I asked If he wished anything for
Christmas, he said that ho wanted a
"swift kick." As I left the room, George
evidently thought that it was better to
keep on the right side of me, saying that
he wished to hug me. I barely came cut
alive. I returned to the girls playroom
to say good-bye, and they all wished me
a merry Christmas and happy New Year.
The last thing I 6aw as the door closed
was little Pete, standing with his legs far
apart and throwing kisses at me with
both hands.
My chain, however, was not as yet com
plete. I stopped a little newsboy upon my
return to the office and said: ,
"Well, sir, what is Santa Claus going to
bring you?"
"Fade away, will yer?" he yelled. "Wot
de hell do yer tink I am? A lobster?"
It would have been impolitic, I think,
to have interrogated him further.
BLAINE PHILLIPS.
turned over to the city, where the com
mission is given no power to maintain,
rebuild, repair or refurnish the building
after it has onoe parted with possession
of it ,
A municipal corporation is held, in
Copland vs. Seattle (Wash.) 65 L. It A.
333, not to be liable for the death of one
killed by the fall of material from a
building In process of construction adjoin
ing a street, by the mere fact that it
granted a permit for the construction of
the building, and took no precautions to
warn passers-by of danger in using the
street pending the construction of the
building.
An institution for the teaching of phy
sical culture is held, in German Gym
nastic Association vs. Louisville (Ky.)
65 L. R. A. 120, to be within a consti
tutional provision exempting from tax
ation institutions of education.
The right of a city to invoke Its tax
ing power to raise funds to construct
a bridge which is not located upon a
.street or highway having a legal exist
ence is denied in Manning vs. Devil's
Lake (N. D.) 65 L. R. A. 187.
Tho Legislature is held in Nathan vs.
Spokane County (Wash.) 65 L. B. A.
336, to have no power to permit a per
son who, upon bringing a stock of
goods into a state after the time for
levying the taxes for a year has passed,
pays the taxes for the whole year, to
deduct from the regular assessment
against him at the beginning of the
next year the amount representing the
time when his property was not in the
state,
A concern which sells trading stamps
to merchants, to be given to custom
ers as an Inducement to secure their
trade, and which redeems the stamps
with articles kept in stock for that pur
pose, is held in Winston vs. Beeson (N.
C.) 65 L. R. A. 167, not to conduct a
gift enterprise within the meaning of a
statute authorizing municipal corpora
tions to impose taxes on such enter
prises in the same manner as upon lot
teries. A municipal corporation is held, in
Johnson vs. White (R. I.) 65 L. R. A.
250, to be liable for injuries to property
upon which it casts surface water in a
body across intervening land by means
of a drain or culvert in a highway, al
though no more water is collected than
would have naturally flowed upon the
property in a diffused condition. An-extensive
note to this case reviews all the
other authorities on rights and duties
of municipal corporations with respect
to surface water.