Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1929-12-20

the letters are written as though she
is still only eight years old. Many of
them are addressed in her maiden
name but they are delivered to her
at the home of her father. DR.. Philip
O'Hanlon. where Christmas is OBJ
served just as 1t was in 1897.
AT that home an enterprisfng re
porter sought her out In 1927. just
thirty years after her famous letter
was written. and in a copyright ar.
ticle issued by the North American
Newspaper Alliance, Virginia O'Hanlon
Douglas reaffirmed her belief that
Frank Church was right in saying
there is Santa Claus because he is
the symbol for the faith the world
lives by. She said:
1 wish that It could be made easier
for all children to believe in Santa
Claus, in the way that Mr.. Church
meant.
My only doubt. when was small
was about the identity of Santa Claus
Some Of my playmates were skeptical
Their own parents were under susp-
cion. So ! began to wonder whether
my Christmas presents really came
down the chimney. and whether the
stocking at the fireplace would be filled
by a picturesque old fellow from the
North pole.
But I'm afraid there are many thou
sands of children without any conf
dence that their stockings will be filled
by anybody. 1t has always been so,
but 1t seems worse now. because the
children from poor homes are taken
to the big stores, by their teachers in
the kindergartens and sch Is. and see
all of the dolls and toys that more
fortunate children will receive.
Half dazed, the poor little things are
led through aisles overlooking with the
most wonderful and expensive toys.
end then they are presented to the
store Santa Claus, and he asks them
what they want. Timidly they speak
of a doll or a drum, or some trinket
OF no consequence in the luxuriant
stock of big store. And they men.
ton 1t only to be polite. There may
he Santa Claus. but not for them
Last Christmas there wasn't any.
Isn't there some way to keep every
child from being entirely disappointed
on Christmas day? Couldn't the teach
ers in the schools find out the simple.
modest desires of these wistful chill.
dren, and then couldn't the community
provide the money to give to every
small child the particular small toy
that he Graves?
1t may be impracticable but 1t is
more than sentimental wish. l think
that ever child should have the con.
hdence and faith that are typifed by
belief in Santa Claus. I don't mean
that perfect trust In the Integrity OF
parents. which begins before a baby
discovers the moon and the grass. and
ice cream and Christmas. and ends
when he finds certain packages tucked
away in the closet, about the middle
of December.
That perfect trust is lovely and
touching, and something to make
thoughtful parents feel meek and in.
adequate. but 1t can pass without seri-
Gus consequences. | mean belief IN
people and in the goodness of life, and
in the spirit Of Christmas.
Within recent years there has been
written another "Santa Claus edito.
rial" brought about by circumstances
similar to those which inspired
Church's immortal bit Of prose, which
treasures childish faith in the good
st. Nick and which, If one may safely
predict what will or will not become
Newspaper Classic" may eventual.
~ enjoy wide fame. 1t appeared in
the Greenwood (Ark.) Democrat and
reads as follows:
SANTA CLAUS. IMMORTAL
Six-year -old Opal Marie Adams
| heard some of her elders discussing d
news item which told Of the death In
| wreck. of a man who was playing
| Santa Claus. This news of the death
| of Santa Claus was rt-breaking to
| the little girl Explanation by her
| parents were not wholly satisfying
She asked her mother to see the editor
| Of the Democrat and learn II the news
| were true.
| Opal Marie may Danish all OF her
| fears. for Santa Claus still lives The
| man who was killed in the wreck was
but one of those hundreds of thou
| sands of mortal aides to Santa Claus