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Smokey Stover is back this year, now trying to hire someone to play Santa for his son. Now, I don't think the comic is saying that if you hire any random man off the street with a long beard that they will definitely turn out to be a wanted safe cracker and house breaker, but it does seem safer to give the job to someone you know. Besides, it seems like there are more men with beards these days, so it shouldn't be too hard to find a friend or neighbor to do it. There have also been major advances in costume beard technology, so even if you don't have a beard, there are ways to more easily trick your kid into believing it.