The Key West Citizen Newspaper, December 24, 1952, Page 3

Smathers Talks Finds He Lives In Florida WASHINGTON— We were all gathered about the little tree in our office singing Christmas carols, lustily if somewhat off key, when there was a clatter overhead. A sound like falling pebdles was heard in the fireplace and although we did not see him enter there stood old Santa Claus. “Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho,” he greeted us, making the little bells “on our tree tinkle from the vibra- tion of his celebrated belly laugh. After we had all exchanged “Merry Christmas,” old Santa emptied his bag of gifts, then made his way into a corner and started helping himself to a box of oranges A. B, Michael had ship- us. “Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, he roar- ed, and at the end I though I could get in a word edgewise through the din, the tinkling of the bells, and the singing and laughing. “Tell me, Santa----” I started, but I didn’t get it finished because there were two or three married ‘women in the corwd and they had things to talk to Santa about. And old Santa was rather talka- tive himself. He was talking like a candidate for constable two days before election, promising Florida bumper crops, good prices, con- tinuous sunshine, record tourist erowds, and neither droughts nor floods. He put a finger alongside his nose and said--between belly laughs -- that he is devoting his major effort toward some thing much bigger than he’d ever under- taken before, and I heard ‘him mention ‘‘Korea” although I wasn’t sure he was talking about being in Korea or something happening over there. I finally got his eye and he waddled over into the corner where I stood, and everybody ‘got quiet. “Did you want to say something about peace, sonny?” he said. (Seems he calls all ordinary hu- mans “sonny” or “‘honey.”) “Well, yes, -- that is no,” I stuttered, “What I mean is yes but not right this minute. Fact is that I have wanted to ask you something ever since I was.a kid To Santa, and I hope you won’t consider it personal--but what in the world are you always laughing at?” Santa leaned back and let go with one that shook the chandelier. “HO, HO, HO, HO, HO, HO,!’’| Like that. Then he wiped the tears from his eyes and said. “Aren't you a clever one though?” And he laughed until he had us all doing it. After a while| he calmed down. “It's that North Pole story,” he | said. “Can you imagine - at my age and me in my right mind — me| living at the North Pole. Why it} makes me shiver to-think of it. | “If somebody had to know, I am| sure glad it was you that asked it and 1 don’t mind telling you, al- though you should have known. And wouldn’t you think that every- body long ago would have figured jit out — that is, where I would be living.” My wife had come up close be- side me then and she breathed a sigh of relief. “Oh, I see,” she said, and let her silvery laugh tinkle just a | minute. “But would you mind tell- ing me just WHERE you live in| Florida.” Old Santa just floated away, and we heard his belly laugh fading in the distance. We went back to our orange juice and our carol singing. THE POINSETTIA Poinsette found this lovely flower Far down in Mexico He spread the news among his friends And they found that it would grow And flourish in the Southern States Just at Christmas too A gorgeous crimson blossom I’m sending one to you. Phobe Hazelwood “He seeth every precious thing” -~-Job 28-10. Some sharks grow to a length of PEOPLE’S FORUM 1The Citizen welcomes expres- U. S. that I'd like most to re- “! of t s of it Siterge “pat the editor reserves the |Visit. To you, and all Key West items which | citizens, my best wishes for a} cious or anwar- ranted. The cra, should’ we | Merry Christmas and a happy and fair and confine the letters to |Prosperous New Year. I'd like “to Se ee ene ie stanane, Jide | send you some snow for Christmas, paper ont} ure 0: “ * the writer must accompany the |but I guess there wouldn’t be letters and will be published un- | much left of it by the time you leas requested otherwise. oak ie CHRISTMAS GREETINGS Editor, The Citizen: While writing Christmas cards| to the friends I made during 2%! ‘The old English form Cristes years of studies in the States, I/Maesse, i. e., Mass of Christ, from thought I'd also send one to the | which our word Christmas derives, city of Key West, where I spent | was first recorded about 1038. two wonderful weeks of rest and, relaxation last March. Next to! The filament spun by the silk Syracuse, N. Y., where I study worm is about 1-1200th of an inch ll vote Key West the city in the | thick. Sincerely, Arent Schoning Oslo, Norway sz" For the young, for the old. For the timid, for the bold. Christmas is for all. Yes, all of us are as one on this happiest of happy holidays. A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you. Pedro’s Upholstery Shop 804 Catherine St. Dial 2-5015 40 feet. Level dihe magnificent promise of the Chris! ns and prayers of men through the centuries. Wherever man! s story has inspired THE NEW Wednesday, Becember 24, 1952 THE KEY WEST CITIZEN Page 3 JWLK’'S SUPPER CLUB PRESENTS SPECIAL CHRISTMAS SHOW A New and Scintillating Show --- Written and Directed by of Miami’s OLYMPIA THEATRE —on— DECEMBER 24th & 25th STARRING .-.-- ANGELINA & FRANCISCO SPANISH DANCING STARS 1ST U.S. ENGAGEMENT! 3 SHOWS NIGHTLY 10:30 - 12:30 - 2:30 DINNERS ‘TIL 10 P.M. AL ROBINSON and “ALKALI IKE” “Comedy Ventriloquist” ANN DENNIS Singing Star of Rosalinda, Polonnaise and Madam Du Barry ADELE PARRISH With a Side-splitting Hillbilly Take-Off and her haunting “VIOLINISTICS” Music for Dancing By Frankie Mann's Orchestra kept to the spirit of brotherly love, there the meaning, the symbolic beauty of Christmas remainc. FOOD ‘TIL 5 AM. NO COVER OR MINIMUM DURING DINNER HOUR ON U.S. No. 1 STOCK ISLAND PHONE 2-3833 FOR RESERVATIONS is our fervent hope that this Christmas will bring us still closer to the fulfillment of the promise of Peace and Good Wi we wish a Me NAVARRO, INC. DAN NAVARRO, Pres, H. EARL DUNCAN, Gen. higr, ANGELINA