Newark post., 1919-12-24
IS THERE A
SANTA CLAUS?
Skepticism of a Skeptical
Age" Has Not Affected
Generous Hearts

AS the Christmas season draws
near, the old question, SIS there a
Santa CLAUSE" is repeated by ques-
tioning childhood all over the land.
Some one wrote years ago, There
are many parents who shudder at
the myth of Santa Claus-an in
visible being, who brings children
gifts; but that invisible being, to
the child's apprehension, is the
fore shadowing of the All-Giver,
the forerunner of the One who
came to man on that blessed
Christmas night. No rough voice
and no ignorant soul should ever
tell the little child that Santa
Claus does not exist, for Santa
Claus is the foreshadowing of the
All-Giver, and the one who gives
because he loves"
A few months ago my little
grandson asked me the old ques-
tioir: as there a Santa Claus,
Grandma?" | looked into his keen
bright eyes and saw there the in
nocent questioning look Of child
hood. What do you think, Rob
bie?" said.
Quick came the answer, why,
| think there is one; but some OF
the boys and girls say there isn't
that it is just your father and
mother that bring the presents fol
the trees and the stockings"
At once | thought of the beautl
full letter written by the lamente(
Charles A. Dana in answer to tn
: same question; in the letter writ
y ten to him by the little Virginia
e, so | said, "Now, dear, | am goin!
to read you letter that a grea
t. man once wrote to little girl /
answer to this same question.
Most lovers of good literature ar
familiar with the words of thi
beautiful letter, for it has grow
to be almost a classic, and so
read those wonderful, confider
ILL., words:
Eyes, Virginia, there is SAINT
Claus. He exists as certainly
love and generosity and devotiC
exist, and you know that the
abound and give to your life /
en- highest beauty and joy. Ala
how drearv would be the world
there were no Santa CLAUSE
would be as dreary as if there we
no Virginias. Not believe in San
on. nClausl You might as well not /
lieve in fairies! Nobody sees San
Claus, but that is no sign that the
is no Santa Claus. The most re
things in the world are those til
neither children nor men can s.
--- Did YOU ever see the fairies dal
,ed ing on the lawn? OF course NJ
tai but that's no proof that they
;rr not there. There is a veil GOV
ing the unseen world which not
strongest man, nor even the unit
lea strength of all the strongest n
aSt that ever lived could tear aps
ge- Only faith, fancy, poetry, love,
nance, can push aside that curt
Del and view and picture the super
in beauty and glory beyond. 1t is
real! All, Virginia, in all t
y world there is nothing else +
cta meu and abiding, No Santa Cla
w. w. Thank God! he lives and he Ii
''"e forever. A thousand years fl
now, Virginia, nay, ten thous;
Sat- times ten thousand years fl
now, he will continue to make g
If the heart of childhood"
bor As [ read these final words
ark beautiful boy at my side eXclair
with ecstasy, "There is one, i
there, Grandma? Pm going to
the boys!"
When | recall my own childhc
and especially the glad Christi
days; and the faith and cOntide
| had that Santa Claus was r
| am so glad that the "skeptic
of skeptical age" (Mr. Dana)
not affected the loving hearts
generous hands of many, m
people.-Mrs. Ella F, Flanders
Rural Life.