Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-12-20
IL There q Santa Claus?

This is the season Wnen the all
important problem of the existence OF
Santa Claus is troubling million
childish minds, and when ten million
parents are wondering If they do right
in encouraging the faith in Santa Claus
which is as natural to chlidhood as
the breath OF life itself. Many years
ago when Charles A. Dana. one OF the
greatest editors that ever lived was at
the head of the New York Sun, he re-
ceived a communication from a little
child asking If there was a Santa
Claus. His reply was classic wnich
should be treasured as one OF the gems
of our literature, and at this time the
Journal takes pleasure in giving JUS
readers the benefit of it. 1t runs as
follows:
We take pleasure in answering at
once. and thus prominently, the COM
munication below, expressing at inc
same time our great satisfaction tha'
it's faithful author is numbered among
the friends of the Sun:
Dear Editor am years old: some
Of my little friends say there Is no SANTA IVA.
Claus Papa says: II you see IL IN t'; u.
there a Santa Claus? >,
Virginia 0'Hanlon, lis West Ninety :
fifth street.
Virginia, your little friends are
wrong. They have been affected by
the skepticism of a skeptical age. Ihey
do not believe except what they see.
They think that nothing can De zone
which is not comprehensive by their
little minds. All minds. virginia.
whether they are mems or chlldrens s.
are little. In this great universe OF
ours man is but a mere insect, an ant
in his intellect. as compared with the
boundless world about him, as meas
ured by the intelligence capable OF
crashing the whole truth and knowl-
edge.
Yes, Virginia. there is a Santa Claus.
He exists as certainly as love and gen.
crosby 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
be as dreary as if there were no Virgin
las. There would be no childish faith
then. no poetry. no romance to make
tolerabe this existence. We should
have no enjoyment except in
sense and sight. The eternal light with
which childhood fills the world would
be eXtingushed.
Not believe in Santa Claus! You
might as wei! not believe in fairies!
You might get your papa to hire men
to watch in all the chimneys on Christ
mas eve 10 catch Santa Claus. but even
if thcy 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 Won
dcrs that are unseen and unseeable in
the world.
You may tear apart the baby's rat
tie and see what makes the noise in
side. but there is veil covering the
unseen world which not the strongest
man. nor even the united strength of
ali the strongest men that ever lived
could tear apart. Only faith. fHncy.
poetry, love. romance. can push aside
that curtain and. view glory beyond. Is
it all real? All! 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. ten
times ten thousand years from now. he
will continue to make glad the heart OF
childhood.