The idea of Christmas in the world of children develops and expands with the years, and it seems to me that Christmas is losing its primary religious character and becoming "the feast of the little ones" in every land and of every religion — playing its enchanting melodies upon innocent hearts, so that joy swells and innocent eyes dance with cheer and happiness...

... All this thanks to "Santa Claus," or "Papa Noël," the venerable traditional guest, with his red robe and his white beard, who slips into the little ones' houses through the chimney and fills their stockings with gifts and longed-for sweets!..

In this translated article we shall reveal sweet childish pictures that express the feelings of children and the intensity of their hope in Santa Claus... It is, accordingly, an occasion to reflect on adopting this charming custom among all that we adopt from the West!

Oh, the joy of the children — their joy at the coming of Christmas, nay, at the coming of beloved Santa Claus, master of generous giving and the open hand. They have heard of him without seeing him, and he has occupied their thoughts. They have loved him without knowing him, pinned great hopes upon him, and set themselves to studying and doing good so that Santa Claus might learn of it and reward them for these deeds. Poor children, too, have believed in Santa Claus's bounty, done good for his sake, and sent him letters asking him for the things they need — and Santa Claus has never disappointed a single one of them, save in rare cases...

Yes, this is what happens every Christmas in America, and the letters sent by small children to Santa Claus almost burst the mailboxes. And what becomes of these letters, some ask? We answer them: the post offices in America take great interest in these letters and never neglect them... There is a provision that licenses postmasters to deal with persons able to answer these letters, so as to fulfill the wishes of the small children; so the persons of material means come, each takes a number of letters according to his ability, and sends the children the gifts they asked for. The number of letters sent to Santa Claus that reach the post offices in all parts of America in a single year is estimated at nearly 300,000 letters, some of them exceedingly delightful. There is a boy from New York who wrote to Santa Claus saying: "Please bring me some candy with you, because we eat nothing but macaroni." And there is another boy from Chicago who wrote: "We are on vacation today, so please bring us all our toys."

All these letters sent to Santa Claus the mailman places in the supervision office, and from there the chief sends them to certain well-known persons and societies who take an interest in these letters and who find delight in fulfilling the wishes of deprived children...