BEAUTY OF BELIEF.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 16, 24 February 1914, Page 4

BEAUTY OF BELIEF.

IS THERE A REAL SANTA CLAUS ?

Once again the New York "Sun" has printed its famous editorial reply to the little girl who wanted to know if there really was a Santa Claus. The article is headed by the following editorial statement: — '' Every Christmas season for 16 years the ' Sun' has been asked by many of its friends to reprint the editorial article entitled 'ls There a Santa Claus?' which first appeared on September 21, 1897. Sometimes we have complied with the request; sometimes it has seemed better not to do so. Every year, also, it has given the ' Sun' pleasure to furnish copies of the Santa Claus article to other journals all over the land, to weekly newspapers,- to magazines, to the producers 6f Christmas cards and souvenirs and limited editions, to the compilers of anthologies, to hundreds of applicants who have wanted the text for republication. '' Perhaps it is not too much to say that it must be classed with Lincoln's Gettysburg address respecting the number of those who knew its phrases and regard affectionately its sentiment and teachings." SCEPTICS. The following is the. article:— We take pleasure in answering at once and thus prominently the communication below, expressing at the same tim|| our great gratification that its faithful author is numbered among the friends of the "Sun":— "Dear Editor, —I am eight years old.

"Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. "Papa says: 'lf you see it in the 'Sun' it's so.' "Please tell me the truth: is there a Santa Claus? " Virginia 0 'Hanlon. "115 West Ninety-fifth--Street." Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the scepticism of a. sceptical age. They do not believe except they v 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 grasp;, ing the whole ,of truth and knowledge. A DBEABY WOELD. 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 havejob enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished. - Not believe in Sauta Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies. You might get your papa to hire men to wateh in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, x what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is

no Santa-Claus. The mo?t real thinra,, in the world are those that neither ehil-,' dren nor men can sec. Did you ever fairies dancing on the lawn? Of eguree\ not, but that's? no proof that they aro'_ not' there. Nobody can conceive imagine all the wonders there are unreen.and .unseeable in the world. * You may tear apart the baby"s rattled and see what makes the noise inside, 1-ut;;. there is a veil covering the unseen world" i"which hot the strongest man, ncr e'en-,* the united strength of all the fctronge i'\ men that ever lived, could tear apart ,j Only faith, fancy, poetry, love,■romance'-"* can push aside the curtain and view and : picture the supernal beauty and trior/''beyond. Is it all real'? Ah, Virginia,, in x all this world there is nothing real and abiding.-. • No Santa Claus! Thank God he I'.-.err-and he lives 1 for ever. A thousand year.?-' - from now, Virginia, nay, ten time- ten, tinue to make glad the heart of child-; hood.