See other Editorial Articles
Title: Is there a Santa Claus?
Source:
New York Sun
URL Source: http://www.newseum.org/yesvirginia/
Published: Sep 21, 1897
Author: Francis Pharcellus Church
Post Date: 2007-12-22 19:52:42 by scrapper2
Keywords: Christmas classic, Yes, Virginia, Believe!
Views: 210
Comments: 22
Eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York's Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897. The work of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church has since become history's most reprinted newspaper editorial, appearing in part or whole in dozens of languages in books, movies, and other editorials, and on posters and stamps. "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. "115 WEST NINETY-FIFTH STREET." 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 eternal 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 hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they 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 may 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 man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal 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 he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.
Poster Comment: Enjoy!
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#1. To: scrapper2 (#0)
Of course there is. Just saw him at the mall. He smelled like cheap scotch.
"I'd like to live just long enough to be there when they cut off your head and stick it on a pike as a warning to the next ten generations that some favors come with too high a price." Vir Cotto, Babylon 5
I had to break out the ether this morning, but even then the snow-thrower wouldn't start. I took off the carb cover to see if anything was amiss, and in my own interpretation of the hail mary play gave the start rope a tug and it fired right up. It was something electrical, but it's fixed now.
"Most of the trouble in this world has been caused by folks who can't mind their own business, because they have no business of their own to mind, any more than a smallpox virus has." - William S Burroughs
After purchasing liquor today I spotted a lady in distress in the parking lot, a little smoke coming from her hood. Once she'd actually opened the hood my chivalry instinct kicked in and I asked if she needed any help. She'd just had an oil change, and a little fluid had spilled on exhaust manifold, I was glad to help.
"Most of the trouble in this world has been caused by folks who can't mind their own business, because they have no business of their own to mind, any more than a smallpox virus has." - William S Burroughs
Santa scared me as a kid. And yes, this is me.
Fortune favors the prepared mind. A zombie, however, prefers it raw.
I find yelling at and making fun of two stroke engines helps motivate them.
"I'd like to live just long enough to be there when they cut off your head and stick it on a pike as a warning to the next ten generations that some favors come with too high a price." Vir Cotto, Babylon 5
That's sweet Bob, but what's with that glowing "E" symbol in the background?
"Most of the trouble in this world has been caused by folks who can't mind their own business, because they have no business of their own to mind, any more than a smallpox virus has." - William S Burroughs
That's a good picture...for a tin-type. [/ducking...running away]
"I'd like to live just long enough to be there when they cut off your head and stick it on a pike as a warning to the next ten generations that some favors come with too high a price." Vir Cotto, Babylon 5
I went and got a three-pronged power cord to plug up to 'LetroStart, even that couldn't achieve any part of the four cycle process. I put carb cover back on so it's not mashing against choke, throttle, and kill switch tight as it was.
"Most of the trouble in this world has been caused by folks who can't mind their own business, because they have no business of their own to mind, any more than a smallpox virus has." - William S Burroughs
And yes, this is me. Aaaaahhhh...so cute, so darling! I love your little hat with the flapper ear covers. You were a scrumptious little boy. ( ooops - I didn't mean it the way it sounds as in from the perspective of Grandma Wolf in Red Riding Hood - I meant it in a nice happy way)
LOL, now the FReekers gonna be after you for blatant and foolhardy anachronisms.
"Most of the trouble in this world has been caused by folks who can't mind their own business, because they have no business of their own to mind, any more than a smallpox virus has." - William S Burroughs
It's the electrical grid that powered that scary little toy head. For years he showed up in my room at night and said...things.
Fortune favors the prepared mind. A zombie, however, prefers it raw.
Real men use ungrounded outlets.
"I'd like to live just long enough to be there when they cut off your head and stick it on a pike as a warning to the next ten generations that some favors come with too high a price." Vir Cotto, Babylon 5
One woman who saw that photo told me, that hat did wonders for your head. She meant to hide it.
Fortune favors the prepared mind. A zombie, however, prefers it raw.
Ha! Tin-types are like so 1880s. I assume this photo had to be developed through. I have no memory of this photo at all, but I'm obviously intimidated by Santa. The clearest memory I have of Christmas is being about six, and in the morning finding the cookies and milk left out for Santa were gone. I was speechless...he actually was there!
Fortune favors the prepared mind. A zombie, however, prefers it raw.
Can I do the postcards for YertleTurtles For Profit Campground? "Most of the trouble in this world has been caused by folks who can't mind their own business, because they have no business of their own to mind, any more than a smallpox virus has." - William S Burroughs
My earliest memory of Christmas was when I was 4 and my father offered me a bounty of $5 if I snatched the fake beard from the mall santa while I was having my picture taken with him. I also remember my mother giving my father a bunch of static when I actually tried.
"I'd like to live just long enough to be there when they cut off your head and stick it on a pike as a warning to the next ten generations that some favors come with too high a price." Vir Cotto, Babylon 5
The franchise is yours.
"Satan / Cheney in "08" If that car was mine, it would be running.
Fortune favors the prepared mind. A zombie, however, prefers it raw.
In spite of your attachment to your red cavalier, I've always felt the 1958 Oldsmobile was a car well suited to your specific temperament. One clown even took took to composing music on the quarter panel trim: "Most of the trouble in this world has been caused by folks who can't mind their own business, because they have no business of their own to mind, any more than a smallpox virus has." - William S Burroughs
Except for the girly-pinkish-beige I'd take it.
Fortune favors the prepared mind. A zombie, however, prefers it raw.
Yes, and "he" is my wife. She got presents for more than fifty persons this year.
Republicans (Democrats for that matter) ....... HAD ENOUGH?
You think that's bad? A few years ago I was standing in a Walgreens when a little black woman makes a beeline for the only white guy in the place -- me. She couldn't get her car to start -- one of those old Ford Explorer thingies. Turned out the ignition switch was going out. I had her jiggle it while I rocked the whole thing back and forth, and finally it broke loose and started. I told her to take it in and get the switch replaced. Sometimes it's hard being a white boy.
Fortune favors the prepared mind. A zombie, however, prefers it raw.
Is there a Santa Claus?
#2. To: orangedog, who knows what evil, Esso (#1)
#3. To: orangedog (#1)
(Edited)
Of course there is. Just saw him at the mall. He smelled like cheap scotch.
#4. To: scrapper2 (#0)
#5. To: Dakmar (#2)
I had to break out the ether this morning, but even then the snow-thrower wouldn't start.
#6. To: YertleTurtle (#4)
#7. To: YertleTurtle (#4)
And yes, this is me.
#8. To: orangedog (#5)
(Edited)
I find yelling at and making fun of two stroke engines helps motivate them.
#9. To: YertleTurtle (#4)
Santa scared me as a kid.
#10. To: orangedog, YertleTurtle (#7)
for a tin-type.
#11. To: Dakmar (#6)
That's sweet Bob, but what's with that glowing "E" symbol in the background?
#12. To: Dakmar (#8)
I went and got a three-pronged power cord to plug up to 'LetroStart
#13. To: scrapper2 (#9)
I love your little hat with the flapper ear covers.
#14. To: orangedog (#7)
That's a good picture...for a tin-type. [/ducking...running away]
#15. To: YertleTurtle, tom007 (#14)
#16. To: YertleTurtle (#14)
The clearest memory I have of Christmas is being about six, and in the morning finding the cookies and milk left out for Santa were gone. I was speechless...he actually was there!
#17. To: Dakmar (#15)
Can I do the postcards for YertleTurtles For Profit Campground?
#18. To: Dakmar (#15)
#19. To: YertleTurtle (#18)
#20. To: Dakmar (#19)
I've always felt the 1958 Oldsmobile was a car well suited to your specific temperament.
#21. To: scrapper2 (#0)
Is there a Santa Claus?
#22. To: Dakmar (#3)
Once she'd actually opened the hood my chivalry instinct kicked in and I asked if she needed any help.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest