At this holiday season, we take great pleasure
in reprinting one of the classic newspaper
editorials of all time — perhaps the best
Christmas editorial ever written. It has
survived the test of time and seems particularly
fitting and poignant this year.
The editorial was written by Francis Church
of the New York Sun a little over 100 years ago
— Sept. 21, 1897.
And yes, readers, there was a real Virginia.
Her name was Virginia O’Hanlon and she was
eight years old when she took her pressing
question to The Sun. Virginia lived deep into
old age. Her question and Francis Church’s
answer have outlived them both and the
newspaper in which they first appeared because
he captured an important essence of
Christmas:
Dear Editor,
I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends
say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, “If you
see it in The Sun, it’s so.” Please tell me the
truth, is there a Santa Claus?
Virginia O’Hanlon
Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They
have been affected by the skepticism of a
skeptical age.
They do not believe except what they see.
They think that nothing can be which is not
comprehensible by their little minds. All minds,
Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s,
are little. In this great universe of ours, man is
a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect as
compared with the boundless world about him,
as measured by the intelligence capable of
grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He
exists as certainly as love and generosity and
devotion exist, and you know that they abound
and give to your life its highest beauty and joy.
Alas! how dreary would be the world if there
were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as
if there were no Virginias. There would be no
childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to
make tolerable this existence. We should have
no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The
external light with which childhood fills the
world would be extinguished.
Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as
well not believe in fairies. You might get your
papa to have men to watch in all the chimneys
on Christmas eve to catch Santa Claus, but
even if you did not see Santa Claus coming
down, what would that prove?
Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign
that there is no Santa Claus. The most real
things in the world are those that neither
children nor men can see. Did you ever see
fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but
that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody
can conceive or imagine all the wonders there
are unseen and unseeable in the world.
You tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what
makes the noise inside, but there is a veil
covering the unseen world which not the
strongest men, nor even the united strength of
all the strongest men that ever lived could tear
apart. Only faith, poetry, love, romance, can
push aside that curtain and view and picture
the supernatural beauty and glory beyond. Is it
all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is
nothing else real and abiding.
No Santa Claus! Thank God! He lives and
lives forever. A thousand years from now,
Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now,
he will continue to make glad the heart of
childhood.
inactive
December 23, 2009
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa
- inactive
-
- Littering a major problem The annual observation of Earth Day is April 22, and the Earth Festival that has been held in Milford for the past five years is this Saturday.
- Mayor, board deserve praise Hats off to the mayor and village board for their work on formulating a budget for the coming year that calls for a reasonable tax rate increase while maintaining services and planning for capital improvements.
- It’s time to be creative For the last few weeks, we’ve devoted a lot of space in the paper to the dire news coming out of Cooperstown Central School regarding their projected budget for next year. With state aid decreasing, teachers and programs may be eliminated next year to make up the shortfall.
- Time to work together The election is over and we offer our congratulations to Joe Booan, Alton Dunn III, Lynne Mebust and Leslie Friedman for their victories.
- Katz is our choice for mayor Next Tuesday’s annual village election has a full slate of candidates for mayor, trustee and justice. Our choice for mayor is Jeff Katz, the senior member of the village board and the current Deputy Mayor.
- We’re in this together This year’s village election offers an interesting look at a pervasive aspect of small town politics _ newcomers versus native sons or daughters.
- Jump is annual highlight Our hats go off to all jumpers who took the plunge into freezing-cold water during the 15th annual Goodyear Lake Polar Bear Jump held on Saturday.
- Classic changes should enhance fans’ experience After last year’s inaugural Hall of Fame Classic, we wrote an editorial outlining some changes that we felt would make the game more appealing to baseball fans. Coincidentally or not, we’re pleased to see museum officials have addressed most of those concerns for the second Classic, which is scheduled for Father’s Day, June 20.
- Every little bit helps The village’s attempt to capitalize on some of its unique baseball heritage is a step in the right direction. The plan to take advantage of the village’s iconic Doubleday Field by licensing the commercial use of images of the field and marketing a newly developed logo creates a welcome new revenue stream.
- Village should speak up Two weeks ago, Congressman Michael Arcuri said what should be obvious to everyone _ our water supply is our most valuable resource.
- More inactive Headlines
Ravi Spared Prison in Rutgers Webcam Case
Miss. Prison Quiet After Riot; 1 Dead
Obama Confident Afghans Can Take Security Lead
Raw Video: Deadly Bombing at Yemen Parade Preps
Professor: Chinese Activist's 'Spirit Is Good'
Ring of Fire Eclipse Seen in U.S., Asia
Golden Gate Bridge Celebrates 75 Years
G-8 Seeks Unity on Euro-debt Crisis, Iran
Prosecutors: Trio Planned to Attack Obama's HQ
Obama: G8 Unified in Stance on Iran, Syria
