Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 58, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 December 1908 — Santa In Grass Valley [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Santa In Grass Valley

One town in the United Stutes hue a practical and apparently perpetual Santa Claus. In Grass Valley, Cal., everybody gets Christmas gifts. There la no child so poor as to be disappointed when Santa passes bis bounties uround. aud; for that matter, no grown person either. Twenty-five years ago Mrs. Hansen of Grass Valley was *n invalid, confined to her chair at the Window of her cottage. She watched the school children troop by. Some of them were scantily clad and looked HI nourished. The good woman forgot her own misfortune in her compassion for the unfortunate little ones. She suggested that on the last day of school before the Christmas holidays each child should bring to school something to give away to others. It weed not be anything big or costly—fast whatever the child could spare. ▲ committee was to distribute the things where they were most needed. So many little ones and their parents wore made happy the first Christmas that Grass Valley adopted the Idea per-

maneatly. Now tor s quarter of a century Mrs. Hansen’s improved Santa Glaus system has been in working order. though long ago the good woman herself was released from her chair of pain and laid to rest In the town cemetery. When the last day of school la the old year donation day In Grass Valley—every child of tbe more than 1.000 In tbe schools Is seen trudging teacherward with an offering Later the town's brass band beads tbe procession, dispensing appropriate mu

lie. Some of the children carry sticks of wood as big as themselves; others hold only a fat potato In their chubby Angers. Here and there a boy bears aloft a live chicken, cackling and struggling. At the rear of the walkers follows a line of wagons laden with good things donated by the merchants and other well to do citizens. Suppose it rains? Weil, that doesn't matter. The children march, rain or shine. Santa Claus is not deterred by inclement weather—not In Grass Valley.

HER AND THERE A BOY BEARS A LIVE CHICKEN.