Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus!

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus!

by Francis Pharcellus Church

with Commentary by Don DeForge, VMD

Editor's Note: 8 year old Virginia O'Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of the New York Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial, Sept 21, 1897.  The work of veteran newsman, Francis Pharcellus Church, has since become history's more reprinted newspaper editorial; appearing in part or whole in dozens of languages in books; editorials; and on posters and stamps.

Here is the letter and response to the New York Sun 117 year ago.  It could have been written just as well 24December2014.

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 Santa Claus?  
Virginia O'Hanlon
115 West Ninety-Fifth Street
NY, NY

Editorial Response from the New York Sun...

VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong.  They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age.  They do not believe except what they see.  They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little 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 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 tills 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 to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa coming down, what would that prove?

Nobody see Santa 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 dancing 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 may 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, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived......... could tear apart.

Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, and romance.......... can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond.  It is 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, VIRGINIA, nay ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

Commentary by Dr. Don DeForge:

As I write, once more, the words of Francis Pharcellus Church in the newroom of the New York Sun on September 21st, 1897, I can feel his passion, his emotion, his love of children, and his hope. 

Santa Claus lives and is well this 26 day of December 2014--117 years since this editorial was penned to VIRGINIA!

He is present in all children of the world....... in their innocence, love, and concern!

He is present in the compassion we show to the lost, the lonely, and the down trodden!  

He never leaves us after delivering our presents of joy but stays with us throughout the year as an inspiration to do a better job each day; sharpen our values; and bring hope to those who need our assistance.  

Santa allows us to open doors for the stranger; be better listeners; smile more often; compliment our family and friends more frequently, and be better lovers.

Santa wants to rid the world of discrimination and hate and bring compassion and help to those being bullied.  

Santa does not have to wear his red suit and come down our chimneys to leave presents, one day a year, but brings to our homes each and every day a belief that we can make a difference with more love and less anger, hurt, and pain.

I feel Santa is each word written by Francis Pharcellus Church because he has unveiled and unwrapped the spirit of Christmas.  That is the key....if we keep the Spirit of Christmas in our heart and lives every day we can never stop believing in Santa Claus.

Please take this editorial to your school, work place, and family and read it aloud this Christmas.....Santa has not said good-bye today 26Dec2014 for another year but hello.....I am with you each day till I return 25Dec2015.

Merry Christmas to all!

Don DeForge, VMD

www.AnimalDocAMMultiMediaTheAnimalKingdom.blogspot.com

Comments on this blog should be sent to: DoctorDeForge@yahoo.com