maybe Christmas next year?
I admit I’ve been sitting on this story. When I was reading newspapers a few weeks ago at the Library of Congress, I was quite shocked by an article that seemed to contradict a rock-solid assumption I’ve held for over six decades. I just couldn’t credit it. I’ve never had any doubt that every Christmas Eve Santa Claus loads up his sleigh and, with the help of eight or nine reindeer, personally delivers gifts to all the good boys and girls throughout the world (and lumps of coal for others of us). But the newspaper article from 150 years ago reported that Santa Claus sloughed off at least part of his typical gift-delivering duties to people he called his coadjutors. That was hard for me to take, but I tried to think it through logically. According to the article, Santa attended a reception that America’s Brother Jonathan was hosting at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. That seemed possible because 1) 1876 would be the centennial of the Declaration of Independence, proclaimed by the Continental Congress that was meeting in what became known as Independence Hall 2) It wouldn’t surprise me if Santa Claus was a history buff since he has lived through so many centuries of history 3) possibly he realized he couldn’t attend the Independence commemoration in July 1876 because at that time he’d need to be up at the North Pole in his workshop leading and managing the large elfin workforce, ensuring enough toys got made for Christmas 1876.
So, while I didn’t like it, I thought it was at least possible; it wasn’t necessarily April’s Fools Day on Christmas Day, so I started to get the story ready. From the December 25, 1875 issue of The New York Herald (page 3):
The New York Herald December 25, 1875
letter from Santa
Wait for my coadjutor, Johnnie
______________________
For the first time in many years – perhaps for the first time in history – Santa Claus changed his plans last night, and instead of travelling all over Christendom, as was his wont, he left the giving of good gifts to children to others, as appears from the following circular letter which he issued some time ago: –
TO MY COADJUTORS ALL OVER THE WORLD:
I am under special engagement with Brother Jonathan to attend his levée at Independence Hall, in the city of Philadelphia (America), on Christmas Eve. I therefore call upon all my friends and the friends of the little ones to relieve me as far as possible from my ordinary Christmas duties; especially do I command my coadjutors who have wrought with me so well in the past not to forget the poor children to whom Christmas is the brightest day of the year when a little forethought is employed to make them happy.
SANTA CLAUS
A copy of this letter was sent to the HERALD in order to give us notice of Brother Jonathan’s levée and enable us to send a reporter to witness and report the scene. When the HERALD representative arrived at the Old State House in Philadelphia he found everything in the building exactly as it was 100 years ago, while it was occupied by the Continental Congress. It was impossible to look at the old building standing now nearly as it stood in 1775, and not feel with the poet –
This is the sacred lane wherein assembled
The fearless champions on the side of Right;
Men at whose declaration empires trembled,
Moved by the truth’s immortal might.
Brother Jonathan straddles the U.S.
The Hall of Independence was opened for the mystic celebration and the reception of the mystic guests. The changes which man and time have wrought are few, but as we said before, even these wore restored, and the Independence Hall of which we speak was the Independence Hall of 1776. In this venerated chamber, sacred to memory and patriotism, sat Santa Claus and Brother Jonathan, conversing of the past, the present and the future. Surrounded by a hundred relics of the Revolution and even seated in John Hancock’s chair, Jonathan’s complacency was only equalled by his volubility. Bringing down his huge fists upon the arms of the old chair, he said, “Hancock was always a great favorite with me, Mr. Claus. Hancock was a gentleman; If you don’t think so all you have to do is to look at bis handwriting. Nobody but a gentleman could sign his name as John Hancock signed his to the Declaration of Independence.” …
This as a very long article so when I got to this point I looked ahead, way ahead, to the end. And “what to my wondering eyes did appear”? It turns out that the whole story was the reporter’s dream! At the end of the festivities Mr. Claus was enjoying his pipe and a glass of grog, then
As the smoke cleared away the images all disappeared, and it was found that Santa Claus, too, was gone. And, to crown all, the reporter found himself quietly snoring in his own bed, like the majority of Christian men on Christmas morning, with a headache.
levée venue
The reporter’s dream included some contemporary politics. Mr. Clause was strongly opposed to President Grant seeking a third term:
In the chatter between the two every possible subject was discussed, even the question of a third term for General Grant, and it was remarked that Santa Claus was even more hostile to the idea than Brother Jonathan himself.”It would would be a strange thing, Mr. Jonathan,” he said, “if you and Uncle Sam should consent to give away the liberties of your people after what we have seen tonight. What good were your Washington and Adamses, and Jefferson and Jackson and the long line of your Presidents, if at last you are weak enough to forgot the traditions and glories we have seen pictured here? Should you consent to such a sacrifice this old hall would not be true to itself or to its name unless it crumbled to pieces before your very eyes. And that magnificent palace which you are building on the Schuylkill would be the badge of American degradation and shame, instead of the evidence of the freedom and prosperity of a great country. General Grant is not a bad sort of man in his way; the people owe him a debt of gratitude for his services during the late war which they can never repay; but he is much like some of the children I meet in my annual tours -unable to refuse anything and always wishing for something more. The people do not owe him another term and they will make fools of themselves if they give him one.” …
Santa says, elect #19 in 1876
Santa on phone in workshop, about 1906
From the Library of Congress: Currier and Ives’ c1876 Brother Jonathan, Library says, “A cartoon celebrating the centennial of the United States. The figure of Brother Jonathan, a precursor of Uncle Sam, straddles the towers of the main building at the Philadelphia World’s Fair of 1876. Between his feet the North American continent, crossed by a railroad, appears on a half globe. Hot-air balloons labeled “1776” and “1876” rise toward the top of the print on either side.”; Independence Hall, c1875; 1876 print of first eighteen U.S. presidents; Santa on phone in workshop, 1906; Currier & Ives’ c1876 Happy New Year lithograph;
The image of Santa Claus out in the snow with the little boy is from James Whitcomb Riley’s A Defective Santa Claus at Project Gutenberg, where you can also find the pictureof Santa Claus and reindeer.
By the way, I’m quite thankful for the various lumps of coal I’ve received in my life. Sometimes “no” is the kindest word.
USA 250!
