University Daily Kansan, December 9, 1980 Page 19
Santa tops in kids' hearts
By PAMHOWARD Staff Reporter
Staff Reporter
A child's world is one of magic and make believe. It is a world of simple solutions where persistent problems do not exist. A child's world is the world in which is the one made especially for children.
Children soak up the Christmas legend quickly, without question and sometimes add their own perceptions of the season. The result is a sometimes amusing, often confusing, but always sincere interpretation of the holiday.
Four-year-old Jaime, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gary Barnhart, 209 Wagon Wheel Road, has very definite ideas about Christmas.
She said her Christmas tree this year was going to be bigger than her house. Surprized that anyone would suggest that she made it taller, she made it clear that the tree would fit.
"I would like to put a kangaroo on my tree," she said smoothly.
"I would like a fissassh and a whaaaale!" she concluded.
Santa Claus, who has lived in the fantasies of children for centuries, lingers on in young minds to bring presents in a room and place them beneath glittering trees.
JAIME SAID THAT she also would like to护星, a wabbit and a dog and a cat.
Jaimie knows a lot about Santa Claus. He knows he is the one to talk to about Christmas.
He can honor requests for particular playthings that fall on deaf ears during other seasons. He also can make restless to remember that only the good get gifts.
"I saw Santa Claus at one of those stores with my grandma and my mom," she said.
Jaime is not the only child to have spoken with the man in red.
"I saw Santa Claus in North Lawrence" was written by the architect of Marlyn Roberts, 1801. Maple Lane
Lona said she told Santa Claus what she wanted for Christmas.
"He said okay." she added.
Shelly Miller, four-year-old daughter of
Michael and Sarah Hill, said that she
also had spoken to Sten.
"He said 'Ho, ho, ho!' Merry Christmas!" , she said.
Quentin Rials, four-year-old son of Louse Rials, 1906 E. 19th, knows how Santa will enter his house to leave presents. He said that because his house lacked a chimney, Santa had to come in through the door. He knew that he needed the door for him on Christmas Eve.
"But he can come in when its locked," he said.
Quentin also knows how Santa makes his other deliveries.
He said the man in red got around in a sleigh that flew through the air.
"A reindeer with a red nose makes it go," Quentin explained.
DESPITE COMMENTS from other children, Quentin insisted that the red-sided reindeer named Rudolph pulled the sleigh all by himself.
Jasper Greenfield, 1900 W. 31st., has a genial grandfatherly air about him and works as a Santa Claus at Weaver's Department Store, 901 Mass. St. He said children made the most interesting comments about Christmas.
"You never know what they are going to come up with," he said.
One boy, he said, was worried that he could not squeeze through his chimney. He told me that he was saying, "I can fit in the chimney all right, but my bag might be a bit large."
Based on the 13 Week PBS TV Series