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THE CHRONICLE, Clinton, S. C M December 26, 1968—17 x , . . m V, /■ / -/ 'Yes, Indeed! 'Virginia, your little friends are wrong. <9't They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age —they do not believe except what they see —tney think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible to 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 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 aa if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tol erable 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 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 —nobldy can conceive or imagine all the wonders that are unseen and unseeable in the world. "You 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, or even the united strength of all the strongest men, that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside the curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty of all glory beyond. "Is it all real?—ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else more real and abiding. "No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever — a thousand years, from now, Virginia, nay, ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the hearts of childhood.” — Francis B. Church The New York Sun ***+*******+********************#************ BUMGS OP CHRISTMAS! ••‘.'.N , ' 4 "When they saw the Star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.” As the message of the manger shines anew, we wish for all a truly wondrous Christmas. May your blessings be bountiful. Grateful thanks to you. jiE Caroling f t Christmas caroling is al most as old as Christmas itself. An early historian wrote that in the Second Century the his hop of Rome urged his people to sing “in celebration of our Lord". Christmas hymns go hack to the Fifth Century, when most of them were written in iMtin. St. Francis of Ass is is re garded as the father of carol mg as known today. In 1223, St Francis placed a creche (miniature Nativity scene), m a hermitage m Grecchio, Italy After this many churches he gan displaying a Nativity scene at Christmas, and soon the people began acting out the Christmas story. The actors composed carols to sing with their Nativity plays and after the plays thi>y would stroll down the street, singing In that way; street caroling began So if you should go caroling this Christmas season, think of other carolers of years gone by, of the people of Charles Fhck ens’ time in their heaver hats cut away coats, of English vil lagers m hose and jerkin, of good St. Francis, and of the priests of the time of (he Christ tan Roman Empire who, he fore caroling as we know it existed, sang “in celebration of our Lord* \ JJQishes for ristmai ! Christmas is a special time filled with merriment for everyone. We hope yours is exceptionally happy since you made us happy by being a customer and becoming a good friend t LYNN COOPER 302 East Main Street ‘Your Volume Dealer” 833-1741 % it y The stockings are hung by the chimney with care... there’s an air of breathless expectation as the children eagerly listen for the sound of Santa’s sleigh bells. As this glad spirit of Christmas spreads through every home, we wish for you and your family all the joys of giving and receiving, all the true blessings of the season. May your holiday be rich in good health and good cheer. To everyone, sincerest “Merry Christmas” greetings . . . and “Thank You”. K- Cox Home & Auto Supply Sears KAM, BOKBUCK AND CO. Cmtlrnt SmUi Ofict 130 MUSGROVE STREET CLINTON, S. C. — 833-2411