The People's Atmanac, pp. author is numbered among the there a Santa Claus? Yes, Virginia,-there is a San- Santa Claus, I was filled with 1358-9. (Originally published friends of The Sun: Virginia O'Hanlon ta Claus. He.exists as certainly doubts. I asked myfather, and in The New York Sun in 1897.) Dear Editor-- Virginia, your little friends as love and generosity and de- he was a little evasive on the We take pleasure in answer- I am 8 years old. Some of are wrong. They have been votion exist, and you know that subject. ing thus prominently the com- my little friends say there is affected by the scepticism of they abound and give to your It was a habit in our fam- munication below, expressing no Santa Claus. Papa says, a sceptical age. They do not life its highest beauty and joy. ily that whenever any doubts at the same time our great "If you see it in The Sun, it's believe except what they see. Alas! How dreary would be the care up as to how to pro- gratification that its faithful so." Please tell me the truth. is They think that nothing can be world if there were no Santa nounce a word or some ques- which is not comprehensible Claus! It would be as dreary tion of historical fact was in If you are a long time subscriber or reader of La Gaceta you may have by their little minds. All minds, as if there were no Virginias. doubt, we wrote to the Ques- noticed that we run this article every year. With the help of my staff, I slip Virginia, whether they be men's There would be no childlike tion and Answer column in it by our occasionally grouchy (ahem) Publisher and approve the page or children's, are little. Inthis faith then, no poetry, no ro-: The Sun. Father would always myself. great universe of our, man is mance to make tolerable this say, 'f you see it in the The The wonderful thing about language is the interpretation of the words. For a mere insect, an ant, in his existence. We should have no Sun, it's so,' and that settled me, the article is about faith and believing in what you can not touch but intellect as.compared with the enjoyment, except in sense and the matter. know exists. boundless world about him, as sight. The. external light with "Well, 'mnjust goingto write Thank youfor indulging me, another year! : measured by the intelligence which childhood fills the world The Sun and find out the real Angie Manteiga capable of grasping the whole would be extinguished. truth,' said to father. of truth and knowledge. Not;believe ir Santa Claus! "He said, 'Go ahead, Vir- You might as well not believe,; ginia. .I'm sure The Sun will j err i. in fairies. You might get your give you the right answer, as ryi rstma: sp tQ u n u r .llo n e." papa to hire men to watch in it always does." : all the chimneys on Christmas -And so Virginia sat down eve to catch Santa Claus, but and wrote her parents'favorite even if you did not see Santa news oaer. , Claus coming down, what Her letter .fund its way Ssees Santa Claus, but that is editor, Francis P. Church. Son ,no sign that there is no anta of a Baptist minister, Church 'i .^-i ofClaus. The most real things in had covered the CivilWarfor .. ..the world are those that neither The New York Times and had children nor men can see. Did worked on The New York Sun you eversee fairies dancing on for 20 years, more recently as Sthe lawn? Of course not, but an anonymous editorial writer. that's no proof that they are Church, a sardoic man, had S not there. Nobody can conceive for his personal motto, "En- or imagine all the wonders deavour to clear your mind there are unseen and unsee- of cant." When controversial able in the, world. subjects had to be tackled on T m You tear apart the baby's the editorial page, especially rattle and see what makes the ,those dealing with theology, -orga nim a ospit a noise inside, but there is a the assignments were usually organ Anim al H ospitalveil covering the unseen world given to Church. 409 Kings Ave. South Brandon, FL which not the strongest man, Now, he had in his hands nor even the united strength a little girl's letter on a most 681-8582 of all the strongest men that controversial matter, and he S ever lived could tear apart. was burdened with the respon- Open Mon., Tues., Wed., & Fri. 7 a.m..- 6 p.m. Thurs. 7 a.m. 2 p.m. Sat. 7 a.m. 12 p.m. Only faith, poetry, love, ro- sibility of answering it. mance, can push aside that "Is there a Santa Claus?" curtain and view and picture the childish scrawl in the letter he supernatural-.beauty and asked. At once,' Church knew glory beyond. Is it all real? that there was no avoiding the Ah, Virginia, in allh this world questioni He must answer, and there is nothing else real and he must answer truthfully. abiding. Anid so he tumned to his desk, No Santa Clausl Thank and he began his reply which God! he lives and lives forever. was to become one of the most A thousand years from now, memorable editorials in news- Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 paper history. years from now, he will con- Church married shortly af- tinue to make glad the heart ter the editorial appeared. He of childhood died in April, 1906, leaving no About the Exchange children. Francis P. Church's edito- Virginia O'Hanlon went on rial, "Yes Virginia, There is a to graduate from Huniter Col- Santa Claus" was an immedi- lege with a Bachelor of Arts ate sensation,-and went on to degree at age 21. The following became one of the most famous year she received her Master's S editorials ever written. It first from Columbia, and in 1912 appeared in The New York Sun she began teaching in the New in 1897, almost a hundred York City school system, later years ago, and was reprinted becoming a principal. After annually until 1949 when the 47 years, she retired as an \ paper went out of business. educator. Throughout her life S/-'/'/. Thirty-six years after her she received a steady stream letter was printed, Virginia of mail about her Santa Claus O'Hanlon recalled the events letter, and to each reply she that prompted her letter: attached an attractive printed "Quite naturally I believed copy of the Church editorial. in Santa Claus, for he had Virginia O'Hanlon Douglas never disappointed me. But died on May 13, 1971, at the when less fortunate little boys ageof 81, in a nursing home in and girls said there wasn't any Valatie, N.Y. vi. vw ValienteHemandez ri~an BLU sO15 BEMs COLLA QARD~ soUP 80UP SOUP CERTIFIED PUBLIC E~.mar cad. dal Ug ACCOUNTANTS Pj ARIS ( AUDITORS AND E' I NTI I T I 0 N L CONSULTANTS 813/ 933.3943 Toll Free 800/ 733.3943 G. J. Hernandez, CPA Fax 813/ 933.9825 PARTNER 1715 N. Westshore Boulevard Jose E. Valiente, CPA Suite 950 PARTNER Tampa. Florida 33607-3920 The perfect package PARTNER this h o liday SeaSO *L a Np www.vigo-alessi. Com Friday, December 22, 2006/Page 13 Section B