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A 'lil HooHaa

Messing with the blogging world since 2005

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Timeless Words: Yes, Virginia

December 24, 2017

In 2011, I published this post on the blog. I thought it would be a good one to bring back each year. I want to repeat that post in the holiday spirit. Enjoy!

More than 100 years ago, one of the most famous lines in newspaper history was printed in the New York Sun.

“Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus.”

Virginia O’Hanlon, via Wikipedia public domain.

Those words were penned by Francis Pharcellus Church, one of The Sun’s editors. The words were in response to a letter written by 8-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon.

As the story is told, young Virginia asked her father whether or not Santa Claus was real. To that, Dr. O’Hanlon told his daughter to write The Sun, which was one of the top newspapers in New York City at the time. As Virginia noted in her letter to the Sun, her father told her “If you see it in The Sun, it’s so.”

Her letter made its way to Church. The editorial, which is reprinted on a yearly basis in newspapers and on websites, has been used in books, for songs and movies. It is the most reprinted editorial in history, according to Newseum, which also noted it was an editorial without a byline.

Though it has a Christmas theme to it and is mainly reprinted around Christmas, the original ran Sept. 21, 1897.

Virginia wrote this to The Sun:

“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.”

Enter Church, a former Civil War correspondent.

His response is an amazing work. Somewhat buried in the paper, it reportedly got quite the response. And as history has shown, that response is one of the most famous things in a newspaper.

Even in today’s standards, this is one heck of a good piece of work. (Realize that the style of writing between 1897 and now is night and day).

So, without further ado and with the history of this piece done, allow me to give to you — in the spirit of Christmas — Church’s excellent response to young Virginia O’Hanlon.

***

VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] 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.

Church, via Wikipedia public domain.

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.

This editorial originally was published in The New York Sun on Sept. 21, 1897.

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook! You can also follow me on Twitter @softball29!

Filed Under: My world Tagged With: christmas, editorial, famous editorial, Francis Pharcellus Church, holidays, new york sun, newspaper, santa claus, the sun, virginia, virginia o'hanlon, yes virginia, yes virginia there is a santa claus

1 Comment

Yes, Virginia … timeless words for the holidays

December 24, 2015

In 2011, I published this post on the blog. I thought it would be a good one to bring back last year after a few tweaks. I want to repeat that post in the holiday spirit. Enjoy!

More than 100 years ago, one of the most famous lines in newspaper history was printed in the New York Sun.

“Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus.”

Virginia O’Hanlon, via Wikipedia public domain.

Those words were penned by Francis Pharcellus Church, one of The Sun’s editors. The words were in response to a letter written by 8-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon.

As the story is told, young Virginia asked her father whether or not Santa Claus was real. To that, Dr. O’Hanlon told his daughter to write The Sun, which was one of the top newspapers in New York City at the time. As Virginia noted in her letter to the Sun, her father told her “If you see it in The Sun, it’s so.”

Her letter made its way to Church. The editorial, which is reprinted on a yearly basis in newspapers and on websites, has been used in books, for songs and movies. It is the most reprinted editorial in history, according to Newseum, which also noted it was an editorial without a byline.

Though it has a Christmas theme to it and is mainly reprinted around Christmas, the original ran Sept. 21, 1897.

Virginia wrote this to The Sun:

“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.”

Enter Church, a former Civil War correspondent.

His response is an amazing work. Somewhat buried in the paper, it reportedly got quite the response. And as history has shown, that response is one of the most famous things in a newspaper.

Even in today’s standards, this is one heck of a good piece of work. (Realize that the style of writing between 1897 and now is night and day).

So, without further ado and with the history of this piece done, allow me to give to you — in the spirit of Christmas — Church’s excellent response to young Virginia O’Hanlon.

***

VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] 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.

Church, via Wikipedia public domain.

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.

This editorial originally was published in The New York Sun on Sept. 21, 1897.

24

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog [at] gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook!

Filed Under: My world Tagged With: christmas, editorial, famous editorial, Francis Pharcellus Church, holidays, new york sun, newspaper, santa claus, the sun, virginia, virginia o'hanlon, yes virginia, yes virginia there is a santa claus

2 Comments

Timeless words to Virginia

December 24, 2014

In 2011, I published this post on the blog. I thought it would be a good one to bring back this year. I’ve tweaked a few things but, for the most part, the story remains as I wrote it in 2011. Enjoy!

More than 100 years ago, one of the most famous lines in newspaper history was printed in the New York Sun.

“Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus.”

Virginia O’Hanlon, via Wikipedia public domain.

Those words were penned by Francis Pharcellus Church, one of The Sun’s editors. The words were in response to a letter written by 8-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon.

As the story is told, young Virginia asked her father whether or not Santa Claus was real. To that, Dr. O’Hanlon told his daughter to write The Sun, which was one of the top newspapers in New York City at the time. As Virginia noted in her letter to the Sun, her father told her “If you see it in The Sun, it’s so.”

Her letter made its way to Church. The editorial, which is reprinted on a yearly basis in newspapers and on websites, has been used in books, for songs and movies. It is the most reprinted editorial in history, according to Newseum, which also noted it was an editorial without a byline.

Though it has a Christmas theme to it and is mainly reprinted around Christmas, the original ran Sept. 21, 1897.

Virginia wrote this to The Sun:

“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.”

Enter Church, a former Civil War correspondent.

His response is an amazing work. Somewhat buried in the paper, it reportedly got quite the response. And as history has shown, that response is one of the most famous things in a newspaper.

Even in today’s standards, this is one heck of a good piece of work. (Realize that the style of writing between 1897 and now is night and day).

So, without further ado and with the history of this piece done, allow me to give to you — in the spirit of Christmas — Church’s excellent response to young Virginia O’Hanlon.

***

VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] 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.

Church, via Wikipedia public domain.

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.

This editorial originally was published in The New York Sun on Sept. 21, 1897.

24

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog [at] gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook!

Filed Under: My world Tagged With: christmas, editorial, famous editorial, Francis Pharcellus Church, holidays, new york sun, newspaper, santa claus, the sun, virginia, virginia o'hanlon, yes virginia, yes virginia there is a santa claus

2 Comments

Years later, getting to drive a Zamboni still a great memory

January 17, 2013

How many of you are fans of hockey?

If so, I’m sure at some point during your life, you’ve wanted to drive a Zamboni.

And I don’t mean an ice-surfacing machine — I mean an actual name brand Zamboni. Coming out on the ice during the intermission of an ice hockey game and putting down a new sheet of ice.

The Zamboni making the ice ready at a recent college hockey game I attended.

Ahhh, we can all dream.

This post would have been better if it had run Wednesday. Alas I didn’t realize it would have been the 112th birthday of Frank Zamboni, the inventor of the wonderful ice resurfacing machine. Not only was it his 112th birthday, but Google had a playable doodle in his honor.

When I was in grad school, I wrote for a few weekly papers as I tried to make ends meet. At one of them, one of my beats was covering a solid high school hockey team. I really enjoyed it and the coach helped me land a solid interview with the main guy who drove the Zamboni. I did an interview with him and then he took me on a spin with the Zamboni.

Then it happened.

Though he didn’t let me drop a new ice surface (I had no training and those things are quite expensive, you see), I got the chance to take a lap around the rink driving the Zamboni.

Way too cool.

So, I went digging and found the old article. I’m not sure if this was the printed version or the version I originally sent in, so I did a little editing to shorten it, but here’s the bulk of that story I wrote several years ago.

But, before you read the story … I’d encourage you to hit play on this video and listen to the Gear Daddies and their song “Zamboni.”

—-

Meet Northford’s “Zamboni Man”

North Haven Post (April 3, 2003)

It’s a hockey fan’s dream.

Drive a Zamboni around the ice, drop a new sheet and park. It sounds simple.

Not so fast.

Ice resurfacing machines aren’t as easy as they look. It’s not just hopping on them and taking a spin around the ice; these machines are complex. From adjusting blades to worrying about the amount of water being used, it’s not effortless.

No matter what rink one enters to watch a hockey game, there’s going to be some version of an ice resurface machine.

At Northford Ice Pavilion, there are several drivers to cover the crazy schedule at the rink, but one full-time driver sticks out.

Greg “Griz” Belcher is in his fourth year at Northford, and eighth overall at driving an ice resurface machine, and is Northford’s only full-time driver.

Yale grad

“People ask where I learned to drive,” Belcher said. “I tell them I got my bachelor’s degree at Yale.”

It’s a joke Belcher said he likes to play because it shocks people. The truth is Belcher earned his stripes at Ingall’s rink on Yale’s campus.

Before his entrance into the world of resurfacing ice, Belcher was working for a beer distributor as a driver, and the drivers on strike. After others replaced the striking drivers, Belcher was jobless.

“A friend talked me into coming down to drive,” Belcher said. “Which I thought was interesting. It’s not ruining my body like going up and down stairs and in and out of cellars delivering beer.”

Belcher started to learn the fundamentals of a Zamboni at Yale and soon he was mastering the machine.

“It took me a good month or so,” he said. “The hardest part is adjusting the blade. If you have figure skaters, it’s not as bad as when there are hockey players.”

“Once you get used to it, it all falls into place.”

In his years of driving the machines, however, he’s had the chance to get to know players, coaches and everyone else involved with the rinks. North Haven coach Mike Violano said he’s known Belcher for years.

“Griz has a great attitude for his job,” Violano said. “You get a guy that knows his job and he understands what it means to each team. That’s why he’s an important part not only to the game, but to the rink.”

Northford’s “Pond”

Most rinks are home to only one or two teams. Not the Northford Ice Pavilion. Try two colleges, five high schools, four club teams and a precision skating team. That doesn’t even include youth leagues, clinics and open ice time.

“It gets hectic all the time around here,” said rink manager Bill Maniscalco.

The facility has two rinks; a pro-shop, snack bar and two ice resurface machines – a Zamboni and an Olympia. Some nights, the ring could face having three games of high school or college level.

“During the wintertime, we’re constantly going,” Belcher said. “All the teams are fighting for position time to play and practice.”

Maniscalco, who pitches in driving the machines among his other roles, such as scheduling, working the snack bar, billing and whatever else needs to be done. He has a staff of around six drivers. Some include Quinnipiac University hockey players.

“It’s not as easy as it looks,” Maniscalco said. “You have to know the group that’s out there. You have to leave a good sheet, because if not, I’m the one who hears about it.”

But with all the teams practicing and playing at Northford, teams know what the rink has to go through to get things going.

“We’re treated well at Northford,” Violano said. “The Northford facilities are good and the people take pride and care of them.”

Violano said hockey parents and families have a network of knowing which facilities are good and which aren’t. Spending as much time in rinks as they do, they know which have the best ice, snack bars and every other aspect.

“Parents talk about rinks,” Violano said. “It’s almost like having Rink U.S.A. and ranking the rinks. They would give Northford one of the better stars.”

Complicated Machines

Ice resurface machines aren’t toys. Although it looks fun to drive one, when it’s on the ice it’s doing some serious work. With razor sharp blades, it’s making sure the ice is perfect to skate on.

It’s actually a complicated procedure. But basically, it shaves ice. The water that comes out of the machine is usually at 150 degrees or hotter.

“You’re cutting ice while you’re making ice,” Belcher said. “Hot water is sent down, which fills in cracks and makes better ice.”

The procedure of how the ice resurfacer works is just as complicated. Someone couldn’t just jump out of the crowd, start one up, go on the ice and work the machine.

“You just don’t put someone on the machine and say ‘go do it,’” Belcher said.

But what the machines do is something hockey people value. Fans don’t always understand how important an ice resurface machine is to a rink.

“The people that understand hockey know how to appreciate it,” Violano said. “It’s like any other profession. They take care in their job.”

With throwing down a new surface, hotter water equals better ice. A towel behind the machine spreads the water evenly. Belcher said the hot water hitting the cold ice is one thing some people wonder about.

“That’s why a lot of times people see the machines on the ice and they see steam,” he said.

The machines

Not every machine is a Zamboni.

The name Zamboni is a brand name, and is trademarked by Frank J. Zamboni & Company, Inc. Northford has two different machines, an Olympia and the popular Zamboni.

Zamboni, however, is the brand name most people think of when they see a machine come onto the ice. The Zamboni website (http://www.zamboni.com) charts the machine back to 1949, created by Frank Zamboni.

He owned an ice rink and needed to figure a way to resurface the ice. Back then, they used a tractor with a scraper behind it, and then had people get rid of the shavings, spray water and then use a squeegee to clean it off. This took about an hour.

He was soon working on a machine to make the process easier. The first Zamboni came in 1949. The machine improved and changed with just about every one that was made.

Now, one of these machines can clear and resurface an ice in about 10 minutes.

The Olympia is newer to the market, and is a bigger machine. The big difference between the two is the engine. The Zamboni is made with a Volkswagen engine, the Olympia with a 350 Chevrolet engine.

“If you look at our rims, it says Chevy truck,” Belcher said. “If you drive down the road and pull next to a Chevy truck, that’s our Olympia.”

With the bigger engine, the Olympia has more power. Belcher said he doesn’t have a preference to which he would rather drive.

“I like both of them,” Belcher said. “The Olympia we have is bigger and holds more snow and water. I could cut both sheets without dumping or filling with water.”

No matter the machine though, driving almost seems like it might have been something Belcher was destined to do. Resurfacing ice came natural to him, even when he was younger and playing pond hockey.

“When I skated on ponds, we used to break a hole into the ice, grabs someone’s trash pail, fill it up with watcher and dump it on,” Belcher said. “It just makes it smoother.

“You don’t want big ruts out there; someone could break an ankle.”

The Perks

Although the novelty of driving has somewhat worn off for Belcher, he still enjoys it.

“It was fun, but now it’s like a regular job,” Belcher said. “But everyone looks at you like ‘wow, that’s the coolest job going. There’s still fun in it.”

It doesn’t hurt that Belcher is a hockey fan. One thing Belcher said he really enjoys is the children that run up to the glass and wave and scream as he passes by. Fans of all ages love to cheer for the “Zamboni man.”

“Little kids are always waving at you so that’s fun,” Belcher said. “When you make the turns, that’s where everybody wants to stand and wave. A lot of times I smile, but they won’t be able to see it.”

Belcher’s smile is hidden by his bushy beard, but he does notice the children waving and cheering, even though he was always taught at Yale not to look into the crowd, a rule he still follows to this day. Jumping and screaming children catch his eye, however, and he can’t help but to smile.

Belcher said he can’t complain about where he is now. He enjoys work, has a good time and works in a positive environment. Even though the hours in the winter can get long with a lot of games and teams playing and practicing, he doesn’t mind.

“I like it here,” Belcher said. “It’s busy, so it keeps me busy. You’re never bored.”

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog [at] gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook!

Filed Under: My world, Sports, Writing Tagged With: driving a zamboni, frank zamboni, hockey, news, newspaper, north haven, north haven connecticut, northford, northford ice pavilion, zamboni, zamboni driver

4 Comments

Timeless words: Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus

December 23, 2011

More than 100 years ago, one of the most famous lines in newspaper history was printed in the New York Sun.

“Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus.”

Those words were penned by Francis Pharcellus Church, one of The Sun’s editors. The words were in response to a letter written by 8-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon.

Viriginia O'Hanlon (1890s). Courtesy Wikipedia via the commons licence for public domain.

As the story is told, young Virginia asked her father whether or not Santa Claus was real. To that, Dr. O’Hanlon told his daughter to write The Sun, which was one of the top newspapers in New York City at the time. As Virginia noted in her letter to the Sun, her father told her “If you see it in The Sun, it’s so.”

Her letter made its way to Church. The editorial, which is reprinted on a yearly basis in newspapers and on websites, has been used in books, for songs and movies. It is the most reprinted editorial in history, according to Newseum, which also noted it was an editorial without a byline.

Though it has a Christmas theme to it and is mainly reprinted around Christmas, the original ran Sept. 21, 1897.

Virginia wrote this to The Sun:

“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.”

Enter Church, a former Civil War correspondent.

His response is an amazing work. Somewhat buried in the paper, it reportedly got quite the response. And as history has shown, that response is one of the most famous things in a newspaper.

Even in today’s standards, this is one heck of a good piece of work. (Realize that the style of writing between 1897 and now is night and day).

So, without further ado and with the history of this piece done, allow me to give to you — in the spirit of Christmas — Church’s excellent response to young Virginia O’Hanlon.

***

VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] 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.

***

To see the original clipping of this editorial, check it out at Newseum.

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog [at] gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook by clicking the button on the right side of the page!

 

Filed Under: My world, Writing Tagged With: christmas, editorial, famous editorial, Francis Pharcellus Church, holidays, new york sun, newspaper, santa claus, the sun, virginia, virginia o'hanlon, yes virginia, yes virginia there is a santa claus

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Harper is counting down to Santa Paws! You know, Harper is counting down to Santa Paws! 

You know, of course, Santa Paws travels with Santa Clause, making sure to find treats and toys for all the good little doggies! (We know they are all deserving, right?) So, Harper put out some milk for the big guy, carrots for Rudolph and the reindeer, and special cookies for Santa Paws! She is ready! 

#SantaPaws #Christmas2022 #HarperChristmas #MyDogHarper #GoldenRetriever #DogsofInstagram #PhotoOfTheDay #Photography #Christmas #IPhoneography
One of the best parts about having Harper as my be One of the best parts about having Harper as my best friend… ❤️
Couldn't resist stopping on the way to work to sna Couldn't resist stopping on the way to work to snap this shot. The colors in the sky were fantastic and the scene was nice looking (though, to be fair, I drove by what I think would have been a better scene -- the valley and hills full of snow etc.)

#Snow #Winter #Sky #Color #InstaLove #photooftheday #picoftheday #iPhoneography #nature #love #instalove #photography #happy #smile #photo
The best of times??? 🤪🤪🤪 The best of times??? 🤪🤪🤪
Just a break on our morning walk … #goldenretri Just a break on our morning walk …

#goldenretriever #dogsofinstagram #mydogharper
Tired. Tired.
Harper is ready for tonight! Let’s go Phillies! Harper is ready for tonight! Let’s go Phillies! 

#phillies #ringthebell #baseball #dog #goldenretriever
I look at her and sometimes still can’t believe I look at her and sometimes still can’t believe I have her. It’s been a year and four months and she makes me smile and laugh more each day. It’s amazing how much a dog changes your look on life, and how much joy they can bring. 

#goldenretriever #dogsofinstagram #dog #goldenretrieversofinstagram #harper_dublin #akc #photography #photooftheday #love #mydogharper #harperdublin #instagood #happy #picoftheday #fun #iphoneology #retrieveroftheday #ilovemygolden #dogstagram #dailygolden #dogsofinsta
I’ve recently realized how many photos I have to I’ve recently realized how many photos I have to post here, as well as on Harper’s (@harper_dublin) account). So, as I start to transfer photos, I’ll try and catch up. So photos coming could be from all seasons and who knows when. 🤣

This one is recent from the courthouse square in Delhi. We had some pretty good fall colors this year. 

#fall #delhiny #seasons #iphoneonly #love #photography #photooftheday #instagood #happy #picoftheday
From a few weeks ago. I was trying to get Harper t From a few weeks ago. I was trying to get Harper to put her paws on the bridge and looked out, but she was more content jumping on me and looking up. I do love the way she seems to be looking at me.
Instagram post 17992900117561614 Instagram post 17992900117561614
Couldn’t resist a quick stop this morning with t Couldn’t resist a quick stop this morning with the fog and frost settled in. 

Hamden Covered Bridge 

#coveredbridge #coveredbridges #bridge #fog #frost #nature #upstatenewyork
Harper’s friend Lucy is around this weekend! #g Harper’s friend Lucy is around this weekend!

#goldenretriever #dogsofinstagram #dog #goldenretrieversofinstagram #harper_dublin #akc #photography #photooftheday #love #mydogharper #harperdublin #instagood #happy #picoftheday #fun #iphoneology #retrieveroftheday #ilovemygolden #dogstagram #dailygolden #dogsofinsta #outside #sunshine #friends
So… @harper_dublin wants to know why she can’t So… @harper_dublin wants to know why she can’t have @mallons_homemade_sticky_buns.
This is why we can’t have nice things. Saw this This is why we can’t have nice things. Saw this on me morning walk Friday with Harper. Likely some college kids, but also as chance at local hooligans. I had Harper so not a lot I could do, but I managed to get the cart off the chair. (See second photo) This was in a local park.
Harper is ready for #nationalfetchday on October 1 Harper is ready for #nationalfetchday on October 15! @chuckitfetchgames 

Should be fun! @discgolfdarren @harmm23
Starting to feel like fall! #fall #nature #autum Starting to feel like fall! 

#fall #nature #autumn #colors #foliage #instagood #seasonchange #leaves #leaves🍁
Street lights hidden in a tree. #life #light #wa Street lights hidden in a tree. 

#life #light #walk #explore ##instagood #photooftheday #photography #happy
Finally learning this Canon M6 MarkII before my tr Finally learning this Canon M6 MarkII before my trip starts this weekend. Really like it now that I took the time to set it up and learn the differences between this and my 7D MarkII. This and the iPhone will do most of the work on the trip. 

Photo is inside on a dark and dreary day. Transferred to phone and edited with #snapseed. 

#canon #m6markii #dog #dogsofinstagram #goldenretriever
Life is good. Life is good.
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P.J. Harmer

P.J. Harmer
A video looking at my first year and a half of owning a golden retriever, my first dog. It's had its ups and downs, but I've truly loved the ride and look forward to the future. 

Music: Happy before we get old by Michael Shynes via Artlist. 

► My blog: http://www.hoohaa.com
► Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hoohaa29/
► Follow Harper on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harper_dublin/
► Like on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HooHaaBlog

Thank you for watching. :)
When these boxes come, there usually some excitement. But this one ... is the ultimate unboxing! 

#cielovideo52 #52weekchallenge #week5 #weeklychallenge

Music: Happy to be Happy (Dapun)

► My blog: http://www.hoohaa.com
► Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hoohaa29/
► Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/softball29
► Like on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HooHaaBlog
I hate being in front of the camera, but also realize sometimes it's not the worst thing in the world. So, I'm getting better with it. Week 4's theme was all about us and having us in front of the camera, so I tried to come up with a creative way to do it. 

#cielovideo52 #52weekchallenge #week4 #weeklychallenge

Music: Infinite Wonder (Ben Fox)

► My blog: http://www.hoohaa.com
► Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hoohaa29/
► Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/softball29
► Like on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HooHaaBlog
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