Robert Franklin, the grizzled and awesome Santa Claus who works the South Street Seaport, takes his job seriously. “Mr. Franklin says there is a responsibility that comes with the job,” reports the Times. “He even refrains from belting out too many ‘Ho, ho, hos!’ He explained: ‘It has to be real. It has to come from deep inside. If I don’t feel it’s right, I don’t do it. You don’t fool the children.’” [NYT]
