Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 38, Number 303, Decatur, Adams County, 23 December 1940 — Page 8

TRAIN TO MAKE RUN AS SANTA FOR 39TH YEAR Engineer To Drop (lifts At Huts Alon< Rilht-of-Way By ARNOLD DIBBLE Viilt'M Staff Correspondent Te* U.Pj — Engineer Jon Gerard. the Banta F«> Manta Clap*. has laid In a supply <** present* for this 39th annual Christmas ’•run" front Cleburne to Purcell. Oklahoma 4t 71 the oldest engineer em ployed In the Santa Fe system. Gefard plana to drop more than

1 /(y *q/[ a Christmas comes each year to awaken the appreciation of happy relationships ... to rekindle the warmth of friendships made during the time it has been our privilege to ' serve you. ®To all whose friendly support has contrib--wg uted so greatly to our welfare, we extend our most cordial appreciation. Best Wishes for a • / ■ I • » j ; Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous ' . ■ New Year A ‘ > I 1 ■ - 1i H'H.eM-.iii— Hl— ■■ si MMaau >«*n< • « fU'**-' • itTnr .wist fl*** • I ' »• ■ . J Cloverleaf Creameries, Inc. I Decatur, Indiana ""■■—■“l—l■».——“■—■—1 I«—iO.—l w—«—■

jwo-ncoro <it packacun to **al»cktimlltoi" alone tbo traelu to Purcoll For almoat 40 yrara ha baa boon 'the only Santa Ciaua thaaa people hart ovar knoirn. Gerard la a ruddy man with blue eyea. He started the trip to Purcell in l»0|. He »ay» he know a every curve, every bump on the road, and "every tie aa well” Ha now tnakre 11 tripe a month, conauminc 2> daya. ('hrlatmaa morning he will don hit Manta »ult. pile bit toy a. candy and clothes to be distributed to the ' needy children. In the cab, and ' ' highball" out with old No. 7440 Never Slows Train Without slowing bls train. Gerard makes accurate shots Into the yard ot persons be bas chosen to give presents. Tiny children and | adults alike stand along the right- | of-way to wave the 72-year-old j Santa Claus along his way. Christmas is the only day Ger- ' ard wears a Santa Claus suit. But bls benefactions spread through-

out the entire year On em h run he distributes comics, magatlnes and frequently clothes to the chil dren along the Banta Fe trucks. Ho spends several hours every day gathering old magaalnes and newspapers from newsstands and agencies His wife complained that she couldn't keep a magaslne in the bouse. ”1 throw them to the poor people who live In tents and dugouts along the road." the engineer said. They never see anything and they get a kick out of the comics and the msgaslase." Many <biJdren have grown up ■ since Gerard started hie run. Frequently some grown poison will approach him and say: "You tout rmember me. but I’m the little blonde-beaded girl who lived two miles north of the Red River and you used to bring candy and maga lines." He gets many 'Tan letters," as he calls them, after Christmas. Thero are no names on the lags tied to the packages be drops, only

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT, DECATUR, INDIANA.

milepost numbers •anta Suit Nearly New This year Gerard suU wear bls new Manta Claus suit for the second time. Last year the Gnlneville Community Circus gave him a new one after his old costume — with flowing cotton whiskers and cot ton trimmings — had been con’demned as a fire trap. There was danger That the suit would calch fire when the fireman stoked the boilers. The aging railroader said that hie greateet thrill came when be threw a new cotton dreas with a gtpper-to a Ultla girl who lived along the roadbed several years ago. "Bbe stood by the tracks waving at me." he said, "Her little dress was ragged and torn, so I decided to buy her a now ope. Well. air. after 1 had thrown it to bar she Just waited for the next trip and than stood there waving. She was proud as punch." Gerard doesn't know wken he 11 retire. Bull bale sad hearty, he

said. He toes hope, however, that his vuoeessor will carry on the tra<U.ju «f the "Ranta Fa Banta Olais." • 1 • Beam Also Hsvs Toothache Berkeley. Cal —(UP)- Besr. are prvubly the only American wild aainaia that enjoy the otherwise ei< istrely human attribute ot having * toothache, the University of Cni toruta has announced The conctu ion was reached after the esami' 4tton of the teeth of 5 157 Am eri «n wild animals Only th4 teeth ot bears showed dental caries. 0 ; Too Quiet For Felice Miami. Fia.- <UJB -U was quiot on tho afternoon shift at police headquarters—too quiet. Suddenly chief Inspector Forrest £■ Nelson CeU out ot his chair and broke his glasses. Then, shrubbery In front of the polks station somehow i cgught Bro and almost smoked the whole force out ot the buildmg

Santa Comes v.Cm to Pierre r/V/j Budeles Bevon * OLD MARIE didn’t quite understand about Santa i Claus, but her little Pierre did. Pierre went to school with th® other boys white Old Marie sewed dresses in the sweat shop. It had been that way ever since Jacques died, two years after they left sunny France and cam to N<w York. "Mama!" UtUe Pierre would ash her st mght. "Please. Mamms. will Sanu Clous brmg mt the vi» lin from Rubens' pawn stop this Christmas?" Then he would stare expectootly while Marie tried to And an answer Sbe usuallj him SAnt* would, tor Utile Pierre wanted th* violin to bsidly. Out •• ChrUtmAS grew nearer the groceries and coal ■w mm ■w * Flees, M'sieur, a penny! She cried to the pa ltrs by. and ihocs ussd up all her saving*— there was nothing left for Pierre's violin. Marie was usually stolid, but she twit sad when she left the sweat shop Christmas eve. Little Pierre would be home waiting for Santa Claus and the violin. Pierre had seen it in the window at Sam Rubens' pawn shop only yesterday, a big five-dol-lar price tag tied around its neck. How sad he wnuld be if this Santa Claus fellow forgot him! Marie was swept along in the Christmas Eve traffic, downhearted. But despair gave way to triumph, for a plan suddenly came to her amid this confusion She would beg tor alms like her gran pere had done back In Paris! These Americans—they seemed happy enough to help her on Christmas eve! "Pleei, m'sieur, a penny!” she cried to the passers-by on Broadway. "A penny for my leetle Pierre's violin!” Marie had collected seventy-eight . cents before the big Irish policeman saw her. "Here now. old gurrul!” he protested. "Don't ycx know ye can't panhandle here? Come along now to th* station!” A few minutes later old Marie was pouring out her story to the gruff desk sergeant. She was confused. "Thres panhandling,” she complained. "You say 1 cannot do it But I only try to get money tor the violin, so your Santa Claus weel come to my leetle Pierre. See?"— she held out her money—"l only need four dollars and twenty-two cents more!” "Well, now, that's different.” the sergeant repled. "Come boys"— be addressed the policemen gathered around his desk—"let's kick in the ftve dollars to buy a violin for Mane’s little Pierre! Sure now. and where's your Christmas spirit?" A few minute* later a grateful old Mane was hurrying down the snowcovered side street to Sam Rubens' pawn shop. But alas! Sam was just handing the violin to s. well-dressed old gentleman a* Mari* stormed in. “Pises, m'sieur!” she cried. "You mu*' not buy it The violin, she is for my petit Pierre. See’ I have five dollars!" The white-crested purchaser was dumbfounded. "But madame,” he answered. "1 have just bought it for my grandson's Christmas." "N'impcrte!" Marie protested, adamant now. "You mus’ sell it to ms. The policeman, they have given me the money, see? My leetle Pierre, he will bo so disapn intedl” The old man looked at Sam. ' "Have you another violin?" "For seven dollar I got a better one." Sam’s eyes lighted up. It looked like soother sale. “All right, madame." the gentleman spoke to Merle. “Here’s your violin. Give me the flve dollar*." "Merci, m'sieur!" old Marie cried. "My Pierre, he will be sc happy!" With that she dashed out into the night, beppy at last Pierre was asleep when she asrived home, bus he found the violin on the table next morning. It glistened like new (aside ths weatherbeaten case. "Rsmmsl" be eried with glee. "Mamma! Th* violin! But bow—where—who gave it to me?” Old Marie's ayes filled with tears “Santa Claus brought it, Pierre. Os course—Sanu Claus. Then there was the policeman and the kind gran’per* . . But Pierre didn't hear the last Ha only knew Santa Claus hadn't forgotten! (Reieesed hr Western Nswhspw Uatoe.)

MONDAY, DECEMBER, 23,

IK '• d ill 3 \| \1 Z 1 ' y Zsi This is Our Wish for You A MERRY CHRISTMAS A HAPPY NEW YEAR ■Be . and may the New Year bring Peace to all the world. The Decatur Casting Co. Itecxtur. Ind. 1 V i May the true spirit of Christmas fill your home at this festive occasion ... and may its many benefits linger on throughout the entire year. May a new prosperity and happiness be yours throughout the coming new year. These are our most sincere wishes for all! Again we say MERRY CHRISTMAS! Phil L Macklin 6- Co. | Your CHRYSLER & PLYMOUTH De*l' r