In July that year, with the encouragement of her father, young Virginia wrote a letter to the New York Sun. The letter was misplaced for months but eventually ended up on the desk of Edward P. Mitchell, the editorial page editor. You probably know about the letter…
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
Mitchell asked his lead editorial writer Francis P. Church to craft a reply, according to W. Joseph Campbell, who wrote about the letter and editorial in his book, The Year That Defined American Journalism: 1897 and the Clash of Paradigms, according to CBC Canada.
It is said that Church wasn’t thrilled with the assignment, but he did write a response. It took him about a day, so he did put a great deal of thought into his reply. His editorial would go on to become the most republished editorial in the history of U.S. journalism.
“Virginia, your little friends are wrong,” he wrote. “They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds.”
The following passage would prove to be the most memorable: “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.”
While Mr. Church may not be remembered as the author of the famous editorial, his message has inspiring books, music, even an animated Macy’s TV special. According to CBS News “Sunday Morning” with Jane Pauley reports that Virginia O’Hanlon’s handwritten note has never left her family. Brock Rogers, her great-grandson, keeps it in a scrapbook.
The legacy of that editorial is alive today
Yes, there is a Santa Claus. He exists within the hearts of the nearly 100 Canadian firefighters helping Australian firefighters battle the horrendous bushfires this holiday season.
Santa is alive and well with the police departments that take needy children on Christmas shopping trips at the local Walmart, or the Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots program every year. Santa is also in the hearts of those who lend a helping hand to neighbors in need.
You get the picture, I think. The spirit of that jolly old elf lives within all of us who have love, compassion, and the selflessness to care about and help others.
