I find it fascinating that Clement Moore's "Saint Nicholas" - (which is how he refers to him) is described. He's not the nifty neat clean sanatized "Santa" - He is dressed (as I qouted above) ALL in fur, from head to foot, much as there are illustrations of Father Christmas who I have frequently seen portrayed in fur. Not just fur trim, fur clothing.AND he's covered with soot. Logical, of course, given that he spends all night climbing up and down chimneys. But how many Santa's do you see with scuffmarks on their boots, let alone soot stains?

on the other hand "a right jolly old elf" and "his eyes how they twinkled, his dimples how merry" makes him sound more like Shirley Temple!!!