News' View: Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus
The following editorial was originally printed in the New York Sun on Sept. 21, 1897, after 8-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon wrote a letter to the paper's editor. It has become the most reprinted editorial of all time and remains pertinent today, 111 years after its original publication.
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...
Then, Anonymous, you must be enduring a banal existence indeed. What a sad place the world would be if every person possessed the same narrow-minded pretension that plagues your reasoning.
Classic, well-written article.
..cherry nose
cap on head
suit that's red
beard thats white
special nite
"MUST BE SANTA"
Interestingly, a relative of the girl who wrote the letter was recently on Antique Roadshow. She had the orignal letter, the printed response and a photograph of the young girl (Virginia). The "value" of the material was estimated at auction as > $50,000.
I bet Virginia didn't get it
Great editorial! thanks for reprinting (had never read it in full)
Thank you YDN! What a wonderful Christmas editorial.
Very classy.
What is the point of publishing this? Boring and religious ... in short, northing worthwhile!
Yes VIRGINIA. There is a Santa Claus. He is impossible to see because if you could see him people would just say they believe because they saw him. The only way you truely believe is what you feel in your heart.
Anti-reason garbage