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VOICE OF SANTA IS HEARD IN CITY ABOVE CRY OF USUAL HOWLERS [[note]] Star 12-10-25 [[/note]] Pedestrians Obey Traffic Signals, Taxi Drivers Become Polite, and Other Strange Things Betoken Presence of Big Toy Man. Above the voices of strong men in earnest conflict, dominant among which may be distinguished those of Billy Mitchell, Gen. Howze, Traffic Director Eldridge, members of Congress, blond bandits, partially-controlled pedestrians and John L. Lewis, there has come of late, in ever-increasing volume, a comforting overtone of strange familiarity. It is a voice that makes busy men pause, neglectful mothers ponder and mischievous children behave; that pleasingly wrecks family budgets, painlessly extracts well-rooted funds, congests the streets with polite citizens and adds untold responsibilities to the willing shoulders of tax-burdened, hard-working coal strike victims. It is the voice of Santa Claus. The influence of this voice extends into the lowliest hovels and the costliest mansions of the Capital City. It has caused the most satisfying sort of confusion imaginable, and urges the citizenry to conduct themselves contrary to all usual standards. Cynic Stops Snarling. It was noted, for instance, that the cynic who recently remarked that for all he cared the country could go to the dogs, went to the Capitol to hear the President's message on the solidarity of our institutions, and was cautioned for expressing approval aloud. The fussy, bewhiskered old gentleman who doesn't like children was observed today sneaking into the toy department of a downtown department store with a wistful light in his eyes. And when several youngsters mistook him for Santa Claus he caught himself keeping the faith with the aid of a handful of coins. The conscientious parents who agreed several months ago that this Christmas giving must stop were busily engaged last night in hiding piles of bundles in crowded closets. The storekeeper who confided to friends not long ago that all was not well with his business has a sign in his window offering immediate employment to salespersons. Pedestrian Obedient. The pedestrian who defied the whole police department to make him obey a traffic signal at street intersections was chatting merrily today with a member of the force who reminded him to wait for the go-go sign and in so doing upset an armful of packages. A taxi driver who reached the corner of Twelfth and F streets at the same time as a wary motorist who had stopped from past experience, motioned in Alphonse-and-Gaston fashion for the astounded touring car driver to proceed. The lady who hates crowds and wouldn't go to the world series for that reason was seen in the center of a milling jam of shoppers on F street, her arms loaded with bundles, her hat tilted to one side and a broad smile wreathing her face. Everywhere an intriguing spirit of riotry prevails--riotry that displaces wrinkles with goose-pimples, brightens dim memories, softens hard dispositions and welds domestic rifts. All because of the presence in the community of an uninvited, but not unwelcome visitor with long whiskers, twinkling eyes and that comforting, faith-inspiring voice. IT IS GOING TO BE HARD TO GET THE OLD FOLKS' CONSENT AFTER ALL THAT HAS BEEN SAID HOME OF AMERICAN DEFENSE FAMILY ARMY NAVY MY PARENTS THINK I'M TOO YOUNG TO MARRY. I CAN TAKE BETTER CARE OF YOU THAN THEY CAN! THEY'RE NO GOOD! THE OLD FOGIES! THE AIRPLANE AIR ENTHUSIAST PROPOSAL FOR SEPARATE AIR DEP'T ORR Reg. U.S. Pat Off: Copyright 1923. by The Chicago Tribune
