European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 20, 1977, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 8 the stars and stripes thursday october 20, 1977 Landau to have Thomas Nast Days Santa Glaus father7 was born in the Pfalz by Cunt Swift staff writer Landau Germany is one of the most enduring Christmas presents to american boys and girls of the last three generations has been the image of Santa Claus with ample Girth Rosy Cheeks White Beard pipe and twinkle in his Eye. It was the gift of a transplanted German Thomas Nast. Nast who won Fame As the father of american caricaturists was known to the parents of Many of those children As the Man who designed the Dollar sign and established the Donkey and elephant As symbols of his adopted nation s top Politi Cal parties. Nast cartoons also opened new yorkers eyes to the William Boss Tweed ring which bilked taxpayers of millions of Dol Lars through control of tammany Hall political machinery in the third Quarter of the 19th Century. The artist was born in the Rhineland Pfalz City of Landau Northwest of Karls Ruhe in 1840. This year Landau plans to Mark the 75th anniversary of his death with the Thomas Nast Days on dec. 6-7. A Christmas Bazaar in the town Hall Square featuring homemade pottery knitted and baked goods opens the festivities at 3 . Dec. 6. Landau school Chil Dren Are being invited to enter a contest to create the Best drawing of Santa. The festivities Are to continue with music and wine that night in the foyer of the fest Halle after a discussion of Nast s work by prof. Don Yoder of the University of Pennsylvania. The talk is scheduled to begin at 8. Nast will be honoured in a Small morning ceremony dec. 7 in the former red Cavern on Market Street now a Trade school where he was born. At 10 30 a.m., commemorative exhibits will open for Public viewing. A Nast room at the school holds some 40 original Nast creations Large re productions and family mementos. Nast s father a trumpeter in the 9th Royal bavarian regimental band moved to new York when his son was six. In his teens Nast studied Art there at the facade my of design and won his first Job at $4 a week after colourfully drawing the week end Rush at the Christopher Street ferry for Leslie s  the years before photography devel oped Nast travelled widely to illustrate Sto Ries and events. He was in London for the John Heenan Tom Sayers boxing match when he Learned Garibaldi had started his second attempt to unify Italy. Nast joined the Campaign in Sicily becoming one of America s first War correspondents. Nast s work for Harper s weekly great est . Picture newspaper of the time won him a National reputation. His pro Union drawings during the civil War such As the famous March of the new York National guard 7th regt Down Broadway led Lincoln to Call him our Best recruiting of  after he had reached the White House Ulysses s. Grant said he was elected by the sword of Sheridan and the Pencil of Thomas  it was at Harper s that Nast Learned to draw ideas instead of just events. In 1870 he created the Donkey which fellow cartoonists were to help establish As the Symbol of the democratic party. The re publican elephant followed four years later. In the interim Nast used another beast a Tiger first shown in a coliseum its claws raking the fallen body of the Republic to depict the Tweed ring. After Tweed was sentenced to 12 years in prison the new York Post credited Nast with being the single most important missionary in this great  when Tweed escaped to Spain he was recaptured and returned to jail by police who recognized the Felon through one of Nast s cartoons. Nast s Santa drawings were collected by Harper s Brothers in 1890 and published in a collection called Christmas drawings for the human  the drawing merry old Santa Claus showed Jolly St. Nick with a sprig of Holly in his fur Cap a doll toy horse sword watch Book and other gifts cradled around his Stout belly by his left Arm. Subsequent drawings showed jacket less Santa surrounded by wrapped packages talking on the Telephone to a Little one Santa hanging from the Mantle in a Christ Mas stocking Santa popping out from a Christmas crate opened by children Santa seated encircled by children and holding a baby on his knee Santa chiding a shame faced youth after receiving a letter from his parents Santa stepping out of the fire place and a waving Santa soaring away through the sky in a Sleigh pulled by rein Deer. After the civil War Nast s pen and Ink Campaign against reductions in the  and Navy led him to become the first Pri vate citizen to be honoured by the military services. He was presented with a Silver vase in the shape of an  canteen. At 62, Nast was named by president Theodore Roosevelt to be ambassador to Ecuador. The appointment was to be the artist s death warrant As Nast contracted yellow fever and died there dec. 6, 1902. His ashes rest in Guayaquil. National foundation March of dimes March of dimes prevention of birth defects through Protection of the unborn and Newborn is pursued through research education and serv ice to families affected by the tragedy of babies born damaged. Make someone Happy through 1978 Dod combined Federal Campaign overseas area 1978 National health agencies International service agencies american red Cross pm of uie firt characterizations of Saatela the be a stars and stripes Public service advertisement