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Port Perry Star Christmas Edition - Wednesday, Dec. 20, 1978 - 11 R "vr : | bape" ECE Wr : Lg . SR "3 Yes, Virginia There is a Santa Claus! One of the most famous newspaper editorials of all time has to do with Christmas. It first appeared September 21, 1897, in the pages of a leading newspaper of the day, the New York Sun. Virginia O'Hanlon, eight years old, was torn between the doubts placed in her mind by playmates and her own sincere belief that each _ Christmas a jolly old man came to help spread joy through the world. To settle the matter, she posed the question to the editor of the Sun. Francis Pharcellus Church replied as follows: "Is there a Santa Claus?" "We take pleasure in answering at once and thus prominently the communication below, ex- pressing at the same time our great gratification that its faithful author is numbered among the friends of the Sun: "Dear editor: | 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? Signed Virginia O'Hanlon, 115 West 95th Street" "Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skep- tical 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 their 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 to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees 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." y SN N 7: 7 > Za Cm (& ' "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 the curtain and view and picture the supernatural 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. Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood." Kids give Talking Gifts Dear Mom, THE CHRISTMAS MOUSE Once upon a time lived a ttle mouse named Willy. n Christmas Eve Willy rushed his teeth and wash- 1 his face, neck, and ears. filly was a clean little use. He was chased from is mother, father, sisters nd brothers by an old tom- at. But he found a home here he was happy there. lilly never "forgot Christ- as. Every Christmas Eve 2 always had a Christmas ee standing up with dec- 'ations on it. He hung up 8 stocking for Santa to fill. hen Willy washed and set s alarm. Then he went to eep. Brrrr-rrrrr-rrrrring went the alarm clock. Willy yawned sleepily and got up. He dressed quickly so he wouldn't get cold. He ran downstairs quickly so he wouldn't miss Santa Claus. After waiting he heard the tap, tap, tap, of the rein- deer's hoofs. Then came with a tumble good old Santa Claus. With a happy Ho Ho Ho Santa Claus said, 'Hi, Willy!" Willy was frighten- ed. Santa said "Fear not. I do no harm". Willy said "hello" Santa filled his stocking and put his gifts under the tree. He flew up the chimney with a flash and said "Merry Christmas to all and good night." Kim Hazelwood Grade 4 Greenbank P.S. I want to get you a talking gift. I don't have the money to buy it so I will have to imagine it. I want to take you to France so you can get what you want but how am I going to get you there with know money. So I will have to wish you a Merry Christ- mas. Your daughter Monique Rioual C.C.PS. Dear Dad, If I had 1 million dollars dad I would buy you your most wanted wish. I would buy you a new four wheel drive pickup truck. With a double cab which has two tilt up seats. And two little chairs on each side of the cab. With room in the middle for luggage. But all I can wish you is a Merry Christmas. From Phillip Harrison Dear Mom, I'm going to give you a talking present. If I had the money I would bye you a mink coat, But that I don't have any money I will have to imagine that I gave you one. So Merry Christmas with my love. Brenda McMahon C.CP.S. Grade 4 Dear Mom and Dad. If I had the money I would pay for all the taxes. And for the hydro bills. And if I had some money left over I would buy Dad a 1979 Horizon because the other car has had it. And I decided to get mom a van for going to Florida. But I am sorry but I do not have the money so I will give you my love. Kevin Schnavel C.CP.S. Grade 4 Dear Mom, I want to give you a dish- washer but I don't have the money. Dear Dad, I want to get you a farm and some cows to go with it but I don't have the money. I wish you a Merry Christmas and a good new year. Your son John Tilling C.CPS. Grade 4 Dear Mom and Dad I would like to get you a new bed but I haven't got the money. So instead of a bed I will get you a pair of ear rings Mom and for Dad I will get a neck tie and a trip to Florida for two. Have a Merry Christmas. Best wishes from your daughter, Vicki Shaver C.C.P.S. Grade 4 Dear Dad and Mom. Dear Dad I wish I could get you a snow-blower because you have to shovel 17 feet of snow and 4 feet deep. Dear Mom I wish I could get you a new hair dryer because your old one doesn't work. But I don't have no money. I will just have to wish you two a Merry-Merry Christmas to you. Your Son Robert McConnell C.CP.S. Grade 4 Dear Mom and Dad, For a talking gift I will give you a new patio set and a car. It will be a 1978 Cadillac. For you Dad I will give you a new ski-doo and a trailer. If I have the money. A happy new year. Yours truly Robbie Smith C.C.P.S. Grade 4 J i ---- 0 a i em N DR a pC ER cL, a ---------- on A a a EE VI or a a or ' we - . rom em