The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1952-07-25
Just Among Ourselves
Passing Comment Considered or Ineensidsrsfs

mere IN midsummer let us Talk ABOUT Christmas
Of course, you remember the famous Letter to
Virginia" which comes in each year with the holly
and trees and appears in almost as many places
Away back in 1897 young Virginia OHanlon wrote
TO the editor of the Net0 York Sttn asking point
edly about the existence of Santa Claus The Suns
associate editor Mr. Francis P. Church. answered
Virginias question in an article which has been
called "the classic expression of Christmas sent
ment, and which has been reprinted more mil
lions OF times than any other newspaper article
written by any newspaper writer in any language"
IhlS article appeared In the sun under the heading
is There Santa CLAUSE" But, though it was not
printed in letter form, it is universally known as
THE Letter to Virginia.
Lest our discussion of this matter be considered
too ur easonal we remind you that Virginias letter
and the famous answering article appeared in the
Sun September 81, 1897 Virginia would be back
in school then, likely for her second year for her
letter tells she eight years old and at that
time children seldom entered school under the age
OF seven BY September 81, Virginia and her friends
would have settled TO scholastic routine and would
have had time to consider exra-curricuar prospects,
such as the coming of Christmas In 1897 no radio
movies, or TV existed to spoil the exquisite enjoy
ment of long, long anticipation of the years
Great Days.
AT all events, it was in September and more
than three months before Christmas Day that Vir-
gina sent off her letter to the editor and read his
Letter to Virginia" despite its fame through SIS
years is in no wise SO fine important piece of
literature the letter from Virginia Ii is the let
ter that Virginia wrote and not the wordy and
heavily phrased answer she received,-an answer
full of hard words and adult gobbIe cook that no
eighty could possibly understandable com
mands admiration and acclaim. We maintain
that for all these years the praise has been going to
the wrong writer.
You might consult textbooks and experienced
men; you might do research in a dozen Libraries;
you might interview irritable and inkstaned edit
orS 10 find out the ideal and perfect form in which
letter to editor should be cast Your deep
studies would certainly indicate the following pre-
scription a. General rule: Be brief, accurate un-
mistakaby clear in expression 2. Special rules OF
constructions (o) Identify Yourself (b) State your
question or problem fe) Say sincere, pleasant, or
complimentary word TO win attention and please
the editor to whom you write; Id Make respectful
request for an answer fe) Sign Off"
The letter Virginia wrote meets the requirements
of all these rules II is brief she uses only 81 words
to complete the whole message. II is accurate
the multiplication table and as unmstakably clear.
The special rules point by point, are followed in the
developing of the letter. There is not irrelevant
phrase, not unnecessary word in the entire
munication As model of letter to an editor, Vir-
gnia's effort may stand unchallenged among the
best II is roundedly perfect II has grace without
y.
is pointed but not brusque. If letters to editor
can qualify form of literature this letter quail
flies among the first of the lot. II is literary
masterpiece.
This is what Virginia wrote Dear Editor: am
years old Some of my little friends say there is
no Santa Claus Papa says If you see il in the SUM-
it's SO, Please tell me the truth, is there Santa
CLAUSE" That is all, save the signature, virginia
0'Hanon," and the address OF the writer
We are told that when this letter came TO the
desk of editor Edward Mitchell he handed il to his
associate Mr. Church, to answer doubtless Mr..
Mitchell caught by the charm of the third sent
ence. How could he help it? And Mr.. Church, the
story goes at first brushed aside nonsense the
thought o. paying serious attention to little chds
question about Santa Claus. But he read the letter
second time, and il got him. Not by any sweet
sentiment mark you; for Virginias letter is as bare
of sentiment General Eisenhowers brow is bare
of cowicks. Its appeal is in its artistic perfection
No journalist or of letters could fail TO respond
to that appeal even though he were not quite sure
of what makes il appealing Art conceals art and
Virginias letter is true, if unconscious, art,
Yet for SIS years this small artistic masterpiece
has had next to no notice on its own account 1t
has been used merely as the occasion of Mr..
Church's outburst of overpraiSed sentiment And,
from the standpoint of literary art that outburst
the famous Letter to Virginia. does not deserve
to stand the page with the perfect little let
ter written by little Virginia.
In qualities other than the sheerly literary, the
Letter to Virginia" fails of perfection First of all
il is not straight to the question PROFOUND
ed Virginia asks about Santa Claus. and she gets in
reply a whole mess of words about love, and
romance and generosity and devotion, and the light
with which childhood fills the world. Next it is
inept. il answers child in terms that child cannot
grasp II tells Virginia that her friends twho sowed
doubts about Santa Claus in her mind "have been
affected by the skepticsm of skeptica age" Fin
ally il is honest: IL does not speak to Virginia
but through Virginia it rhapsodizes for the benefit
of adult readers of the Sun.
Well, as take on deepening summer tan
under the persistence of July sun. let cooly
consider that Vrgnia'S letter dandy and that