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Show Hews and Features ol Interest to Residents of Davis County. LAYTON, DAVIS COUNTY, UTAH 1 Santa Claus is one thing the Russians did invent Well, almost and we hope the Senate doesn't investigate us for saying so. You see, St. Nicholas is the patron saint of Russia, or he was until Mr. Lenin got elected to his old job. YOU KNOW, didn't look a thing like Santa Claus. He was a kindly old bishop back in ancient Rome who was celebrated for his good deeds. He didn't wear a red suit. He went around in a cope and mitre just like any other bishop. It was the Russians who first told the story of how he used to leave gifts for the children of the poor on Christmas Eve. And that's how it all started, 'way back before Moscow folks knew a soviet from a samovar. St. Nicholas Soon kind St. Nicholas was reputed to be leaving presents everywhere from the Volga to the Thames on Christmas Eve for people in other countries liked the gift idea very much. Among these people were the Dutch. And when they bought New York from the Indians for $24 and moved in on lower Broadway they brought the gentle legend along with them. - saint San Nicolaas. That's Dutch, you see. And the name stuck for a long time, until Brooklyn got settled. People there had their own interesting way of talking and San Nicolaas became Santa Claus in a hurry. In a little while folks across the river in New York were saying Santa Claus, too, and year after year the saint's new name moved uptown, to Washington Square, Murray Hill, Central Park and then all over America. ONLY THEY called the old about 1870 Santa was depicted as a thin old fellow in a long robe. He still looked a little like the old bishop. Then an American artist figured Santa would look merrier if he was shorter, fatter and chubbier. That, in turn, meant designing a new costume for him: jacket, breeches, boots, belt and stocking cap. In a jiffy we had our modern Santa Claus. Till Santa came out of you go back far enough Russia. But he is not that kind of a Russian. No in- deed. The only thing red about Santa Claus, Senator, is his suit. So if |