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A PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, December 22, 1987 -- 11 This famous editorial, Is There a Santa Claus? first appeared in the New York Sun, September 21, 1897. It was written by Francis Pharcellus Church, an assistant to the editor of the Sun. LE BE BE BE OE BEBE BE BE AN J Dear Editor: I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says "If you see it in The Sun, it's So. Please tell me the truth, is there a San- ta Claus? Viriginia O'Hanlon. . : 115 West 95th Street LL EE EE ON J ~ Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe ex- cept they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their lit- tle minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge. Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas, how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Yes Virginia... There is a Santa Claus Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished. Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees San: ta Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies danc- ing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world. You tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not - the strongest man, not even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the super- natural beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding. No Santa Claus! Thank God he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virigina, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood. 6 UNION (Hwy. 7A) PORT PERRY 985-8513 Open 24 Hours .: Try Us ... We Care! We would like to wish all our friends and customers a very Merry Christmas and a safe and enjoyable holiday season. > a > 1g fails \ Thy ) i" ag I" (RATT Di I} : | ORRIN il I I 254 i] t DON'T FORGET ... We sell pop and all brands of | cigarettes at special low prices! Carol Irvine, Ken Irvine & Staff Jovous greetings of holiday cheer to one and all. Your patronage has made us proud. woOooOD LUMBER Uxbridge OPEN 7:30 AM to 6 PM; Except Friday to 9 PM