50 years ago, December 23, 1974The tradition that Santa Claus is the giver of Christmas presents comes to us from a fourth century German legend of St. Nicholas (Santa Claus is a German corruption of the name). When St. Nicholas learned of three young women who were unable to attract suitors because their father was too poor to provide them with a dowry, he filled three bags with gold one night and threw them into the windows of the young women. Soon after, they were all happily married. Unexpected gifts were thereafter attributed to St. Nicholas.The myth that Santa Claus descends the chimney to fill the stockings comes from the Norsemen. Their legend tells us that at the winter solstice the goddess Hertha appeared in their fireplaces and brought with her happiness and good fortune.Dr. Clement Clarke Moore, a professor in the General Theological Seminary in New York, put the myth in the form of a poem, “The Visit of St. Nicholas.” He invented the sleigh and the reindeer and his description of St. Nicholas was suggested by the appearance of a German man-of-all-work in his employ. The sleigh bells were suggested by the bells on the bridle of his own horse. He wrote the poem for his children in 1822 and read it to them on Christmas Eve of that year. The poem has become the foundation of our own rich American tradition about Santa Claus.Major Bowl Games In Final Football Contest The final Football Contest of the current season appears in this issue of the News for football fans to test their skill in picking the winners of the major bowl games. Four games have been selected for the contest, the four major bowl games. The tiebreaker game will be the Orange Bowl game between Alabama and Notre Dame.Prizes will be $17.50 cash and two one-year subscriptions to the News. First prize will be $10 cash; second prize, $7.50 cash and third and fourth prizes will be one year subscriptions.Entries will be limited to one per person. All entrants must be 18 years or older to enter.Winners must be selected for the following bowl games: ROSE BOWL – USC vs. Ohio State.ORANGE BOWL – Alabama vs. Notre Dame.COTTON BOWL – Baylor vs. Penn State.SUGAR BOWL – Nebraska vs. Florida.Grandson Of Cityans Is Outstanding WrestlerKyle Simpson, 16, son of Mr. and Mrs. Roy “Peegee” Simpson, Derby, Kansas, undefeated 138 ...
