The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-12-22
Tuesday, December %, 1908.
THERE rs A SANTA CLAUS.

DV the ReF. w. 3. Aull, LII WHICH tudL
gentleman seems to doubt that Santa
Claus really lives and really visits
the children each succeeding Christ
mas, will mislead any Of the little
folks who may have heard of it; be-
cause the little folks have received
too many pretty gifts from their gen
ial patron saint to begin at this late
day to have any doubts as to his ex-
istence.
The article from Mr.. Aull was cali
ed forth by the recent publication In
a number Of newspapers Of an article
published years ago in the New York
Sun, in which the late Mr.. Dana an
swered the questions Of little Virginia
O'Halnon, written to the editor Of the
Sun: ''Dear Editor-1 am s years
old. Some Of my little friends say
there is no Santa Claus. Papa says,
IF you see it in the Sun it so. Please
tell me the truth: Is there Santa
Claus" Of course Mr.. Dana told heR
the truth that there is a Santa
Claus; that he exists as certainly as
love and devotion and generosity ex-
ist; that without him this would be a
dreary. dreary world-as dreary as if
there we're no Virginias. Now comes
Mr.. Anil and seeks To take issue with
Mr.. Dana.
It is hardly to be feared that any
of the little children whom The Her
aid and News visits will believe that
the Rev. Mr.. Aull knows what he is
talking about. How he happens to
be in such dense ignorance is the
marvellous thing. Surely he has not
forgot the happy Christmases in the
days gone by when, long before the
\ approach of the gladdest day in all
the year, he began to write notes to
Santa and send them up the chimney.
Surely he has not forgot how those
notes went straight to Santa-he
knew they did, because they never
came down again. Surely he has not
forgot how, on Christmas eve, he
would hang up his stocking and go to
bed, knowing that just as certain as
the next day would be Christmas, old
Santa would come down the chimney
before the dawn; and how he would
awake on Christmas morn and find
his stocking filled with candies and
nuts and raisins and all good things
that Santa brings to good little boys,
and around the hearth wagons and
tool boxes and engines and soldiers.
Was there ever more striking in
stance Of ingratitude than that which
he exhibits, now that he is grown-up
to deny the Santa who 80 often made
him happy? The little boys and little
girls, who know there is Santa
Claus and who know he will visit
them next Thursday night, can only
feel a. great pity for such an one.
If there really weresno Santa, think
how lonesome the little boys and girls
would be on next Friday morning. No
Santa Claus to come down a single
chimney in Newberry county on next
Thursday night! Think Of the little
hearts that would be bleeding on what
has always, since the birth Of the
Christ-child. been the day Of days
for the chi dren! They would be
lonely-in that condition Of heart
and soul in which Mr. Grantland Rice,
in the Nashville Tennesse~n, so pathe-
tically pictured the little boy after the
death of Uncle Remus:
"The Little Boy is lonesome and his
eyes are dim with tears;
Beyond the mists he only sees the
shadows Of the years;
The light all lies behind him with his
best friend gone away
But the softest winds Of Dixie at his
heart will kneel to pray.'
Let US not permit the practical
things Of the intensely practical age
in which We live to take such fast hold
upon US that we would destroy the
most beautiful mystery Of all the
ages. Let us rather enter into thu
true spirit Of the Christmas season
which would help Santa Cluas FIND
the homes Of the poorest children as
we'll as those of the rich. Sentiment
is needed to combat the ultra-com'
mercialism with which We are threat
ened, and love is the greatest thing II
the world.
Let us not destroy the tender faltE
Or fancy, if you choose to call it
nf The children. Soon enough the cur