* copied from www.lettersofnote.com/2009/12/yes-virginia-there-is-santa-claus.html
In 1897, on the advice of her father, eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon wrote a short letter to the editor of New York's now-defunct newspaper The Sun in which she seeked confirmation of Santa Claus' existence. In response, Francis Pharcellus Church published an editorial - entitled 'Is There a Santa Claus' - which went on to become, and is still, the most reprinted English language editorial in history. Interestingly, in 1997 Virginia's great-grandson appeared with the letter on the Antiques Roadshow, where it was valued at $20,000 - $30,000.
Question:
Dear Editor,
I am eight 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 W.95th St
Answer:
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 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.
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, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal 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.
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5 comments:
thanks for this...much needed!
Denise
I love this ... love it, love it, love it.
Miracle on 95th Street: Virginia O’Hanlon Scholarship Is Established at The Studio School
The Studio School accepting gift donations to the Fund
Yes, Viriginia, your legacy continues.
Founded in 1971, The Studio School, in NYC, is an independent not for profit day school, offering programs for pre-school through eighth grade.
A moving event took place at The Studio School, 115-117 West 95th Street, on Friday evening, December 4, honoring the life and legacy of Virginia O’Hanlon.
A large gathering, including three generations of the O’Hanlon family, attended the ceremony dedicating an historic plaque in Virginia’s name. After all, it was here, in 1897, that 8-year-old Virginia wrote her famous letter to The New York Sun, asking, “ Please tell me the truth. Is there a Santa Claus?” Her question inspired Editor, Francis Pharcellus Church, to respond with one of the most renowned editorials in American History that contains the oft repeated words affirming, “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.” Virginia O’Hanlon became a teacher, a principal, and an advocate for the rights of all children, regardless of social background, to have the same educational opportunities.
Janet C. Rotter, Head of School, announced the establishment of the Virginia O’Hanlon Scholarship, speaking passionately about The Studio School’s commitment to offering need-based scholarships for students of merit.
One of Virginia O’Hanlon’s granddaughters spoke of her delight in knowing that her grandmother’s childhood home, rescued from years of abandonment, had been transformed into The Studio School. In an eloquent tribute, she observed that “A full circle has been completed and [my grandmother’s] life’s work continues. Virginia would be so very pleased.” Everyone left the event with a sense of awe at the power of destiny to transmute the deserted house into a school alive with the laughter and energy of children.
We asked our students, at The Studio School, NYC, to consider both Virginia O’Hanlon’s letter to The New York Sun and Francis Church’s response, and write their own answers to Virginia’s question.
Here are some of their essays.
Dear Virginia,
In this day and age it is very difficult to know what to believe in. If everyone is
telling you that there is no Santa Claus, you may feel pressured to agree with them.
Virginia, don’t go along with everyone else. Have your own opinions and beliefs! I
believe that there is a Santa Claus, not because someone has told me to, but because
I am a believer in things unseen. I believe in Santa Claus and mythical creatures and
I am not ashamed of that. If you only believe what you see, then you are missing a
whole world out there full of wonderful mystical mysteries. Believing is seeing and
using your imagination. Whether it is looking up at the sky and seeing a new shape
in the clouds or taking an empty space in your mind and seeing a close friend, even
Santa Claus.
Never stop believing in Santa Claus, Virginia, because if you do you will stop seeing
the magic in this world. Grown-ups have become skeptical and are missing all of the
wonderful unseen things in this world. Virginia, there is a Santa Claus - I see him in my
mind and believe in him in my heart.
Much love from your BIG friend,
Leila, age 13
Francis Church is saying that belief is something we all have, but that some of us
may not use it. In the part that he says, “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?” he is saying that some
children need to see, feel, or hear something to believe it’s there. I don’t. Mr. Church
means that Santa is not flesh, bones and blood, or the guy in a red suit. He is joy,
giving, love, peace and happiness.
To me, joy is feeling wind in my face; to me, giving is when I am given respect by an
other person or giving respect to someone else; to me love is being heard and cared
for; to me peace is being free to move and breathe; and to me happiness is being
close to someone and being able to love them. I hope Santa and Christmas live on
forever in the hearts of many people.
I think this editorial is important to people of all ages because it speaks of love,
poetry and hope as being stronger than any man alive.
Lucia, age 9
Dear Virginia,
Santa Claus isn’t just a man who leaves you presents on Christmas Eve. He
is much more than that. Santa symbolizes hope, love, belief, imagination and
the true spirit of Christmas. Eventually, we reach an age where we try to find
explanations for everything. We lose the excitement in wonder and magic, and
become more and more skeptical. Some people, like your friends, stop believing in
Santa but don’t let them convince you.
I believe that the best things in the world are those that you can’t see and that
life would be very boring if there were no imagination, hope or belief in them. You
couldn’t play, there would be no books, no toys or any games! We need imagination,
hope and belief for all of those things to exist. Without them there would be no
creativity or fun. There are many things in science that you can’t see either. You
can’t see germs, air, or gravity, but you know that they’re there. Well, it’s the same
with Santa. You may not have seen him, but that’s no reason not to believe in him.
Your friend,
Samuel, age 11
Santa Claus is as real as you or me. He brings with him the spirit of Christmas, he
brings everyone together, and we can feel his effect on us, even if we can’t see him.
He resides in our hearts, and in our imaginations. It is a shame that Christmas Eve
is the only time people believe he comes to us. Santa Claus is the Christmas Spirit
embodied and he inspires those feelings of delight, love, wonder and happiness,
which should be part of our lives all year round.
We are much too dependent on what we can see, leaving the unseen less
accessible to us. Why and how do we believe in love? Can love be seen? Love in
the very essence of the word; I don’t know about you but I don’t see it. I feel the
effects of love, like I feel the effects of Santa, however I don’t need to see them
to believe love is there. If I didn’t trust enough to believe that love was there, an
intangible, invisible connection, I would be terribly sad and alone. And that is what
I think Mr. Church is saying. We must trust what we cannot see and put our faith in
the unknown. If we abandon what is unknown to our senses, how can we truly know
anything? And so, I think Mr. Church’s letter is important for everyone to read, so we
don’t forget what we don’t forget what we don’t see.
Jenan, age 13
Dear Virginia,
I too believe in Santa Claus. Although I am at an age where most adolescents
start to become skeptical, I have avoided this as much as I can, and to me Santa
Claus is real.
What makes me believe in Santa Claus are the feelings of confidence and faith
that he gives me. I have confidence in my future, and faith in my abilities. Through
my laughter, joy, and belief in the unseen, he is real to me. That is what Mr. Church
is trying to convey, not only to you but to everyone of all ages. What would we all
do if there were no Santa Claus? He is a beacon that guides us to our bliss and
laughter at Christmas time.
Believe in things you can’t see. It’s great! It puts our imaginations to work,
it leads to discoveries, and most importantly, it may lead to jubilant thoughts!
The editorial response you received from Mr. Church is important because he
wants us all to know that belief plays a big role in our lives and that by believing
we all can be united as one.
So remember, Virginia, seeing isn’t always believing, but as long as your
feelings are passionate, your beliefs are real.
Neyanel, age 12
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