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Post by rockymountaineer on Nov 14, 2019 8:00:09 GMT
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Post by ptc on Nov 14, 2019 11:41:15 GMT
This belongs here.
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.
VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. 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. 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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Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2019 12:18:32 GMT
I am a big Polar Express fan. How can I not believe. My sisters from my grandmothers house. That bubbling Santa is a precious family heirloom. Dad still has it. My Polar setup under the tree. While I never overlook the true meaning of Christmas, Santa also brings out the best in folks.
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Post by Adam on Nov 14, 2019 12:20:29 GMT
Oh yeah.... you better believe I BELIEVE. Santa literally delivered THIS 2 years ago on December 19th... a few days early. So you can never stop believing!!!! It looks like you were a very good boy that year!
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Post by laz57 on Nov 14, 2019 12:33:09 GMT
DAVID, I definitely agree with ADAM, you were a good boy.
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Post by Country Joe on Nov 14, 2019 12:52:48 GMT
Joe, this is a wonderful film. "Twas the Night Before Christmas" is a favorite. Thanks for finding and posting it.
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Post by Country Joe on Nov 14, 2019 13:02:23 GMT
Brian, that wonderful article from the NY Sun was printed in 1897. My, how things have changed in 122 years. But the Christmas spirit is strong here at OGF.
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Post by Joe Saggese on Nov 14, 2019 13:05:31 GMT
Of course I do.......... this is a wonderful film. "Twas the Night Before Christmas" is a favorite. Thanks for finding and posting it. I had this on VHS a long long time ago......
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Post by josef on Nov 14, 2019 13:05:55 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2019 13:34:34 GMT
Of course I believe!
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Post by ptc on Nov 14, 2019 14:07:45 GMT
Walter, thank you so much for posting those wonderful photos. Yes, there is a Santa Claus.
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Post by ptc on Nov 14, 2019 14:10:37 GMT
Davis, I remember well the delivery and installation of your marvelous layout during the Christmas season two years ago. My, how the time has flown by. Very happy you are here to share it with all of us.
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Post by ptc on Nov 14, 2019 14:20:26 GMT
"But the Christmas spirit is strong here at OGF."
Yes Joe, the Christmas spirit is very strong here on the OGF. And, why not. For a very long time celebrating this wonderful season with model trains is synonyomus with how many of us still do.
The OGF feels so strongly about our celebration of the Christmnas season that we have one of our Founding Members (Ken) as the "official" coordinator of our Christmas activities. Expect big things from Ken and his program for Christmas, 2019.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2019 15:44:54 GMT
I always have and I always will believe in Santa Clause!!!
Gary.
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Post by JDaddy on Nov 14, 2019 16:56:34 GMT
Since I was born on Christmas Day... I AM Santa Claus!!!!
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