The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-21
kansas COMGENT
sANTA CT,Aus


Some pieces are not worth printing at
all. Some are worth printing once and
occasionally there is a piece that can
with profit be printed at least once a
year. To the latter class belongs the
answer Chas. A. Dana, the great New
York editor, gave a little girl, who
wanted TO know if there was really q
Santa Claus, her faith having been shat
tered by some smart grown-up. the
tribune has printed 1t every year Tor a
number of years, but that viii not pre-
vent it from printing it again. No sweet
eF thing was ever written. Mr. 9ana
Wrote- Yes Virginia there is 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
II there were no Santa Claus? 1t would
be as dreary as if there were no Vir-
g1nlaS. There would be no ch1ld-like
faith then, no poetry, no romance, to
make toleIable this existence. We
should have no enjoyment except IN
sense and sight. The eternal light with
which childhood fills the world would
be extinguished. You may tear apart
the baby's rattle and see what makes
the noise inside, but there is a veil COW
er1ng the unseen world, which not the
strongest man, nor even the united
strength Of all the strongest men who
ever lived, can 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? An, Virginia, in all this
world, there is nothing else real and
abiding. No Santa Clausi Thank Godi
he lives, and he lives for ever. A thou
sand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten
thousand years from now, he will con-
tinue to make glad the heart of child
hood."-Chanute Tribune
K II AND CHRISTI A NIFTY.
The vesper service held at the uni
versity chapel last Sunday afternoon
was very remarkable meeting, not
only for its excellent features but as
spiritual barometer of Kansas univer-
sity itself. The hall was packed with
devout listeners, most of them students
of the school. On the platform the
chancellor took a leading part in the
services, emphasizing the commend
able example he has so consistently set
before the school ever since he came
here. 1t does not require an old per-
son to remember when the church
people Of the state, many of them,
flung jibes at Kansas university as a
hotbed of infidenty and agnosticism.
OF course these Jibes were never true,
but were inspired mainly by lack OF
understanding and appreciation OF the
advanced scientific teachings then
promulgated in the school here. But
there was not then a hearty spirit of
religious zeal, pervading all depart
ments of the university, ready to re-
flute the charges hurled at the school
The Y. M. c. A. and the Y. W. G. A.
have been potent factors in fostering a
growing regard for religion Of a sane
sort, and an immense impetus was
given the movement when DR.. Strong
was chosen for executive head of the
school The momentum gained has
been maintained and increased stead
lily, and it found q wonderful express
sion in the rapt enjoyment with which
hundreds of students enjoyed the very
long service last Sunday afternoon.
The time when colleges and Christ-ani-
ty opposed each other is past. Educa-
ton of mind and spirit ought to go
hand in hand, and in the University of
Kansas they do go hand in hand. K.
u is Christian school, and all the
state Is glad of it.-Lawrence World.
STATEHOOD.
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