The Daily Alaska empire Newspaper, December 24, 1942, Page 11

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1942 RARRRX RRRRRRRRRRIRR 3 Y @.x«\\\“\\\'fif R 4 v GREETINGS ---- Fora MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR! @® We give you wishes long enough 1o last through the Holiday Sea- son and through the coming Year! James C. Cooper and Staff Certified Public Accountants ) | Kringle THE DAILY ALASKA EMPIRE—JUNEAU, ALASKA ' e essesscsae istmas POl ~voeee ov Douglas \X/B'rtney This, iriends, :s a Christmas though stories of kindliness houldn't only bob up with Kris Our tale is concerned with tory Robert Parker If you don't reme.uver him, ask omc older folks. Par leading cl lepitimate stage once one of the actors of the For ) NNl a oL NNtk oo o o L e e DD B O P Ll el T Al S o BN EY, EMENENEIENE e THE BARANOF HOTE and its entire staff takes this opportunity to extend the Best of Season’s Greetings to each and everyone. . . . May the New Year be one of resolute determination to preserve our American way of life. J. J. MEHERIN, President DR. W. W. COUNCIL, Vice President JAMES V. DAVIS, Vice-President AL SHYMAN, Vice- President 'WALLIS'S. GEORGE, Secretary-Treasurer vears he trouped the hinterland: in support of the great names The week before Christmas al- ways found Parker in New York at the ‘center table of the Leopard Club, th Z tion room was filled the week be » Christm is a tradition in show business that the weeks preceding Christmas and Easter ave the worst in the theater Born of extremely parents, Parker had never forgotten - the miseries of poverty. Each year it had been his custom to arrange a variety show, using the talent of thé Leopards Club. The toward the of food baskets which tributed every Christmas day the lobby of the clubhous: When there was snow, i the carriage he and, like Santa noted actors anize The poor money realized went purchase dis- from were stead of would use a sleigh set out on his an- nual round. It took a great deal of money, but as a result, Bob was beloved by everyone. Bob grew older. and his stage en- gagements became fewer One day a club meeting Bob stood up and addressed the mem- bers Gentlemen, I'm getting old It’s time for me to put away my grease paint a ostumes, and re- tire. Before doing so I want to ex- tract a promise from the general membership. I ask that you gen- tlemen continue to run the annual Christmas basket benefit for the poor. I cannot ume the task any longer. Will you do this for Actors are a sentimental and generous lot. They promised Bob that the tradition would be faith- fully maintained, and honored him further by voting him a life mem- ber, And so, retiring from the scene, his visits to the club became infrequent. The for- gotten A year ago, Bob came back to the club a little before Christmas. He looked much older, his shoulders bent and his shock of hair noticeably thinned ‘Gentlemen,” he said on “this is probably the last shall address this group old man now. There is one favor I wish to ask of you. As many of you may recall, the distribution of Christmas baskets was my hob- by and sole interest theater.’ His voice breaking, he continued: “I wish to request you to give once more your time and talents for a benefit, the proceeds to go toward the basket fund. Moved by the appeal of their old master, the Leopards gathered all their resources and a wed an unusually successful response. Every prominent actor and actress with- in a day’s traveling distance ap- peared, The theater was jammed to capacity. A’ latge sum of money was realized To Bob's supreme delight it was a white Christmas. Since he was too old and feeble to sit again on the driver's seat and guide two prancing horses, the club arranged for the needy to come for their baskets. All day Bob attended to the distribution He took the subway home. His smile remained despite his weari- ness. An hour later me?" baskets were white rising, time 1 I am an he was seated at a -small table in a plainly fur- nished room. A tiny white-haired lady sat opposite him. “Robert, will you carve, please?” she requested with marked deference “With pleasure, Mrs White meat?” “Yes, if you please, Robert.” “This is a wonderful occasion, he 1. “Were you embarrassed, dear? I hated to do it, Mary. When yvou came to the head of the line and I handed you the basket, I was afraid that some of the boys would recognize you as my wife.” He seemed a trifle perplexed. Strange I should have felt un- comfortable about it,” he mused. “Surely two as poor as we deserve a Christmas basket, don’t you think?” Parker, e For the Soldier Are yoii wondering what to send to your friends and members of your family whoe are serving with the armed forces? A lot depends on where they are stationed. But there are some things all service men want, and here they are: House slippers Tooth brushes Wrist watches Tooth paste Handkerchiefs Sewing kits Pocket knives Clothes brushes Scrap books Metal polish TYan shoe polish Feuntain pens Nail files Postage stamps | Beap Lighters i Christmas_town—Bethlehem, Pi. —was foufided on Christmas eve, outside the War or No Toys? H ent stnce metal i materials. Robert ROVING REPORTER CHECKS OLDEST CHRISTMAS GIFTS In Chicago, a roving reporter for a daily newspaper was given the assignment to go out and ask vari- ous persons what were the presents they had saved from past Christmas holida; he learned from a young n was that when he was 's old his parents gave him red, white and blue decorated snare drum. That very drum start- ed him on his professional music careed. The musician said it was more than “just a gift” for it had influenced his whole life oldest Then the roving reporter asked a housewife what gift she had saved from her early days. She replied Jhe had saved. He that it was a doll given by her mother. Since her mother is dead she keeps it in her memory for it has great sentimental value Another woman, a “collection cor- respondent,” told the reporter that when she was elght years old, an aunt gave her a doll. She, too, as a fitting remembrance of her aunt, has kept the doll even though little PAGE. FIVE War, Santa’s Still Got a Bagful + - oing to be plenty of ‘em this year, war or no war, But they'll be differ~ Santa Claus is doing very well, thank you, with wood, cardboard and other evre proves this—and with a wooden gun-—at Chicago's Merchandise Marts For Him in the Navy of the original remains, having had || to replace its head and clothes. It still retains its charm, she said. Another young man, a cutter by trade, was stopped and asked what said that the Christmas following the death of his mother, his father gave him her ring. He had it made over to fit | his finger and has worn since. He has hopes of passing it on to a child of his own - The Poles called Christmas “Boze Narodzenie,” ‘God’s Na- tivity.” meaning it ever|: ¥ i e . S d This Is just one of the many greet- | Ing cards available to send to thode you know in the United States navy. BUY DEFENSE BONDS T U T T e e P e e O SO S LS 3, FE May this Chritsmas be one of Joy and Happiness followed by a New Year of Prosperity. ¥ The ALASKA DOCK ! and STORAGE Co. WHRAFAGE - COAL - STORAGE * R