The most famous editorial in American newspaper history is no doubt the one that ran in The (New York) Sun on Sept. 21, 1897. Little 8-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon wrote to the editor, saying her friends told her there was no Santa Claus, "but my papa said if you see it in the Sun it's so. Please tell me the truth: Is there a Santa Claus?"
The Sun's response, written by Francis Pharcellus Church, answered in the affirmative: "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus."I'm not writing about Virginia today; I'm writing about another little girl -- someone like one of those little girls who told Virginia that there was no Santa Claus.This little girl was only 6, but already she was skeptical of the reality of Santa Claus. She was very grown-up for her age in many ways and didn't like it when people didn't tell her the complete truth.To find out if there really was a Santa Claus, she decided to conduct an experiment. Put Jolly Old St. Nick to the test.When her mother took her to sit on Santa's lap at the department store, she told him what she wanted. But when she got home and her mother asked what she had asked Santa for (a Brownie camera), she refused to say. "And if Santa doesn't bring it, then I know he's not really real."That's a pretty typical response. Lots of children wonder about Santa Claus. How can one man visit all the children in the world in just one night? Why are there Santa Clauses on every street corner? How does Santa know if I've been bad or good?But this little girl was more persistent than most.This little girl probably would have made a good newspaper reporter or police detective, because she always asked a lot of questions, trying to make sure she wasn't being given the business, as Wally and Beaver Cleaver used to say."Momma, why does Santa wrap the presents of my friend but he doesn't wrap my presents? Are they richer than us?""Momma, we don't have a chimney, so how does he get in?" Well, she was told, we give him a key. "How do we get it back?" He leaves it under the mat. "What if a robber finds it and comes in the house!"Her constant questioning about Santa Claus finally proved to be too much for her mother, who threw up her hands in exasperation. "Honey, why do you want to ruin Christmas?"And then she said the magic words that finally ended the questions."If you stop believing in Santa Claus, he stops coming."That little girl grew up and became my wife. And for her, Santa Claus is still coming 55 years later, at least in her heart.Merry Christmas to everyone, and may the Lord bless you in the coming new year.Jim Witt is executive editor of the Star-Telegram817-390-7704Twitter @jimelvisHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
