Pan American
World Airways
^ ihe ffysfem of fle^Hyiny Clippers
Famous Artist Sketched
First Santa Claus For U.S.
Thomas Nast, the famous car
toonist who created crur concep
tion of Uncle Sam, the Republi
can elephant and the Democratic
donkey, is also credited with giv
ing America its first modern pic
torialization of Santa Claus.
Nast first sketched his notion
of Santa Claus in 1873. This Santa
was a rollicking, chubby old man
smoking a pipe and dressed in
what looked like a night shirt
with fur collar and cuffs. Since
that day he has grown taller and
rounder, has developed a full
white beard and mustache and
above all has acquired the tra
ditional red suit bordered in er
mine.
The story of how our American
version erf Santa Claus evolved is
interesting. According to legend,
children of Lapland and Siberia,
raised on tales of the good and
generous St. Nicholas, thought of
their benefactor as dressed in furs
and traveling in a reindeer-drawn
sleigh, just as they did them
selves.
Stones of St Nicholas
Wondrous stories of this great
fourth -century saint, who gave
handsome presents to good little
children, were repeated at the
firesides of all Europe from the
time of his death in 342. The
Dutch children observed the an
nlversary of his death on Dec. 6
and received presents in their
wooden shoes.
These Dutch youngsters thought
of St. Nicholas as a stern old man
with a long white beard, garbed
in bishop’s robes and carrying a
stick to chastise naughty children.
The little Hollanders coming
with their parents to found New
Amsterdam brought Santa Claus
or “San Claas” as they said, with
them. In no time the English
colonial children whose fathers
had taken over the Dutch settle
ment and renamed it New York
caught on to this wonderful man.
The English moved his yearly
visit from Dec. 6 to New Year’s
Day.
Germans coming to America
brought their Christmas custom;
Christmas trees and Christmas
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THE POLARIS
HOTEL BAR COFFEE SHOP
Christmas Greetings
From General Old
Christmas greetings from Gen
eral Old to members of the Alas
kan Air Command.
As we of the Alaskan Air Com
mand pause in humble devotion
during this Christmas season of
1951, our thoughts naturally turn
homeward and to that ideal that
has brought us here — peace on
earth and good will toward men.
Since there are forces in the
world that do not subscribe to
this ideal, it is our duty here in
Alaska to remain vigilant, con
scientious and cooperative in our
mission of protecting the hopes of
our nation, our families and the
hopes of all the free people of
the world that peace and good
will among men will become a
living truth.
Let us celebrate this Christ
mas season in the true spirit of
brotherhood and face the New
Year with renewed determination
to uphold our trusts, our faith,
and our Christmas ideals.
To every military and civilian
member of this command, their
families, I send sincere wishes for
a joyful Christmas and a peaceful
and happy New Year.
(signed)
Major General William D. Old
Commanding General,
Alaskan Air Command
candles burned in honor of the
Christ Child, whom the German
children called “Kris Kringle.”
At about the time that these
festivities were making Christ
mas Day important, families be
ginning to spread across the
country chose this celebration as
a day of reunion. Thus the Dutch
figure or Santa Claus, the Ger
man traditions and season of
celebration became combined in
one single holiday.
GORDON’S
SHOE
STORE
L --
1
At the Holiday* grout
closer, we want to pause
and say, “Thank You."
1 s *
MODERN
CLEANERS
i