Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-12-20
There Is a Santa Claus.

There Is a Santa Claus.
There are a certain class of people,
who from lack Of sentiment or pure
meanness attempt TO disabuse the
minds of children Of the old and
beautiful idea of Santa Claus. No
doubt there will be anxious inquiries
this week, by troubled boys and girls
of tender age, whether the dear old
saint sacredly dear to millions on mil
lions of children, is only myth. We
do not know better answer to the
question. than that given by the edit
or of the New York Sun, the late
Charles Dana. a number of years ago ::
Virginia is child who is greatly
disturbed on being told there is no
Santa Claus, whereup0n she writes to
her editor friend. as follows:
Dear Mr.. Editor My friends tell
me there is no Santa Claus. Papa said
/ could write to you. Will you please
tell me the truth. Is there Santa
Claus?'
This appeal is promptly met
Virginia Your friends are wrong
They are troubled with the unbellef
of a skeptlcal age. They do not believe
what they cannot see, and think moth
ing can exist which they do not un-
derstand All human minds are as
nothing compared 20 the One Great
Intelligence capable of graspIng all
there is of boundless truth and knOwl-
edge throughout this vast universe.
"Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa
Claus He exists as surely as love and
generosity and devotion exist, and you
know that these do abound and give
to your life its highest grace and hap
piness.
ALAS how dreary would be this
world without Santa Claus.
1T would be to have no Virginia.
no child faith and no pleasure except
in sense and sight. The eternal light
with which childhood fills the earth
would turn to darkness. Not believe
in Santa Claus? You might as well
net believe in sunshine and honey.
Suppose no one sees or hears Santa
the kingdom of love. That is no proof
that there is no such being.
"The most real things in the world
are those we cannot see. You can tear
apart the baby's rattle and find what
makes the noise. but the matchless
love back of the gift and invisible TO
the eye would defy the united strength
of all men to des roy it.
"Only sweet faith, hope and good
ness can sweep aside that veil aud dis
close the supeInal glory beyond.
Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all
this world there is nothing so real and
abiding. No Santa Claus? Thank God,
he lives, and lives forever!
"A thousand years from now, nay,
ten times ten thousand years hence,
will Santa Claus continue to make
jubilaut the neart of mankind, increas-
ingly.
The above response is message To
sll classes, and is both tender and
beautiful and the sentiment worthy
of consideration by thoughtful minds.
AS we'll attempt TO blot the shining
sun from the heavens as to explain
away tllo lONcE VI GIlS ages
Let men and women come to under
stand that Santa Claus represents the
infinite spirit Of love, wherein we
learn it is more blessed to give than
to receive" and also learn that this
blissful heritage of Christmas Joy aids
the brotherhood of man in universal
harmony. Truth is becoming con-
soiously truer.
Bethlehem's S star is the star of the
centuries and shines on undimed and
resplendent. Bethlehem's angels still
chant in exquisite strains of peace and
good will. Bethlehem's Babe increases
in blessing. wisdom. power aud might,
and the era hastens when the Prince
Of Peace. whose right 1t is, shall reign
forever and forever.