Evening Star Newspaper, December 21, 1927, Page 16

THE .EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON. D. C. WEDNESDAY. 'DECEMBER 21, 1927. PLEADS FOR FAITH IN SANTA LEGEND Virginia 0’Hanlon, Recipient of Famous Editorial, Asks Children to Believe. Dispatch _to The Star and Mpact * American Newspaper Allianc N YORK, member Virginia O'H; tle girl of ¥ who had doubts Santa Claus before Chr wrote to the New York St reassured through editorial which has been reprinted and quoted more often than any other? : Of course there is a Santa Claus Frank Church, the writer of the edi: toriar told Virginia, because the world couldn’t get without one. has to ist use Santa Cl stands for the faith the world lives b: Such reasoning was over Virgin head but now, 30 vears later she is a widow, with 13, and is a school tea Jittie girl of the 90s underst agrees. Many Lack Confidence. #And I do wish,” says this same Vir- ginia O’Hanlon as another Christmas Approaches, “that it could be made easier for a Santa Claus in Church meant My only doubt, when I was small, the identity of Santa Claus. 1y playmates were skeptic al. nts were under sus an to wonder whether esents really came und whether the e would be filled fellow from the way that Mr about Some of m heir own pa picion. So 1 be my Christmas dow by A ctures 1d the North Pole. “But I'm afraid there thousands of children confidence tha be filled by anybody heen so, but it seems cause the children now, om poor g <, by their teachers in the schools and see all of the dolls toys that more fortunate children will receive. “Half dazed, the poor little things are led through aisles with the most wonderful and expen- sive toys. and then they are presented to the store Santa Claus and he asks them what they want. Timidly they speak of a doll or a drum or some trinket of no consequence in the lux- wriant stock of a big store. And they mention it only to be polite. There may be a Santa Claus, but not for them. Last Christmas there wasn't any. A Sentimental Wish. “Isn’t there some way to keep every child from being entirely disappointed on Christmas day? Couldn't the teachers in the schools find out the simple, modest desives of these wist- ful children and then couldn't the | community provide the money to give | small cl the particular 7 that he craves? v be impracticable, but it is more than a sentimental wish. 1 think | OPEN EVENINGS THIS WEEK ;{g&mma’a&ms, KAHN—on 7th St. %mmm&: ! AR OENEAE SRS Men'’s or Ladi Fine Quality Wrist Watches. Excellent tim e keepers and guaranteed. Your choice of either 207, Dix Discount nois watches. CHOICE e cases. Any man Elgin or Waltham Wrist Wa would appreciate a gift like this. Your ;.r neket Watches. A Sl 31 5 choice . o 207 Discount on Diamonds i % § i g i d i i i i i ¥ # i fi ¥ i i i . 3 b4 North a 1l children to believe in| homes | overflowing | Discount on Di $7.50 on all grades of Elgin, Waltham, Hamil- ton, Howard and Illi- fidence and faith that are typified by a belief in Santa Claus. I don’t mean that perfect trust in the integrity of parents, which begins before a bab; discovers the moon and the grass an jce cream and Christmas and ends | when he finds certain packages tucked away in the closet, about the middle of I | December. | “That perfect trust is lovely and | touching, and something .to make thoughtful parents feel meek and in- adequate, but it can pass without seri- ous consequences. I mean belief in people and in the goodness of life, and | in the spirit of Christmas.” | This, the grown-up Virginia thinks, as she looks with her grave eyes of isty blue upon the Santa Claus ¢, is what the editor swer to her. Reply By Editor. | is what he said Virginia, there is a Santa He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and vou know that they abound and & cour life its highest beauty and jo 5. How dreary would be the world there were no Santa Claus. Tt wouid be as dreary as if there were no There would be no child- | aith. then, no poetry. no romance | to make tolerable this existe We | should ha o enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light | | with wnich childhood fills the world would be extinguished.” Since that was first printed lette have come to Virginia O’Hanlon eve! Christmas. for the editorial was tra |lated into many languages, even Chi- nese. These letters are addressed in | her maiden name, but they reach her at the house of her father, Dr. Philip O'Hanlon, where Christmas is kept | precisely as it was in 1 There is d Laura Virginia, the daugh- other Virginia, hangs up her stocking mbol of Trust. In the course of the years Virginia | O’'Hanlon has become alegend. who doubted Santa Claus, is appealed | to by lonely people, whose faith in all | things is ¢n. To them she has become the symbol of trust and also of everlasting childhood, for many of | them seem to think that she is still | only 8 years old With her they feel that they penetrate again the cherubic and m) tical kingdom of lullabies and nursery rhymes, that is sealed to all unfortu nates incapable of the Santa Claus be- | lief—espec:lly in a time when chim- neys have gone out of fashion. and | ,Christmas trees are electrified and | bells on sleighs pulled by reindeer are | seldom heard on the housetops. The latest letter was from Austra The writer had no notion that Vir- | ginia O'Hanlon was a college graduate with a degree of master of arts from | | Columbia University and a position | as assistant principal in the public schools. The widow who was Virginia O'Han- | | Ton in 1897. and who wishes her pre: | ent name withheld from this article, | still lives 'n West Ninety-fifth street. New York, near Central Park. The 1 house is only two doors from the ad- dress that appeared in her -letter to | the editor. A slender woman. of ; |charm decidedly girlish. she shrinks | from public attention, insisting that | she only made an occasion for a bit of | Christmas writing that has stood the test of vears so well. (Copyright. 1927_in All Countries. hy North American Newspaper Alliarice.) . i Modern women’s garb has more lat- itnde than longitude. that every child should have the con- ’ y d in part Jew Open face. gold filled. $150 Blue-white, Perfect Solitaire Diamond Ring, very fine cut and flery gem: Iady's 18kt. white gold mounting studded with 4 diamonds and 8 sapphires. — arat Blue-white Soli- e Diamond Ring. An exceptionally fine and flery gem. Lady's 18-kt. whife gold mounting, studded with sapphires. Cost orig- inally $250. Must be sold at once. sl 50 Blue-white Solitaire Dia- mond Engagement Ring: platinum mounting studded ith 26 fine cut diamonds. t originally $400. Party must sacrifice. 75 — 5 Blue-white, Perfect Solitaire Diamond Engage- ment Ring, lady’s platinum g studded with 20 ds. A real bargain. $450 PESNEES Real Paladinm Diamond Flexible Bracelet; 20 large diamonds and 20 sapphires. A real bargain. s | EUEE B B EE SR B EU B EO RS B EU L ’ ’ b4 ’ () y y y y y Store Open This Week Until 9 P.M. KAHN OPTICAL CO. 617 7th St. N.W. amonds, Watches, Silverware, Etc. Bargains MISTRIAL VERDICT IN FAISON'S CASE Richmond Man to Have New Hearing on Charge of Slaying Woman. By the Associated Pr RICHMOND, Va., December 21.— John Wesley Faison, former Hermit- age Club speretary, charged with the murder of Mrs. Eisie Holt Snipes in her apartment here last November, | heard a jury of his peers tell . Mathews in Hustings « that it was . whereupon juror and de- | 1 ppointed ofer the ver- | e ating his faith that ultima* ly he will be given his free- | dom, the former Sunday school super- | intendent said the matter of apply- in_ for bail is in the hands of his at- torneys. He said he still hopes to Get Your Fruit and Nuts for Xmas at Orange Grove 1749 Pa. Ave. N.W. ORANGES ,%5. $1.00 Grapefruit o $1.00 Mixed Basket....$1.00 Oranges by the dozen, 25c Paper Shell Pecans, perdb. ........ . .49¢ Drive Your Auto Over and Get Your Bargains $3.50 Philadelphia | $3.25 Chester $3.00 Wilmington AND RETURN Next Sunday, Dec. 25 Lv. Washington . . 7:35 AM. Ar. Philadelphia . . 10:47 AM. RETURNING Lv. Philadelphia . . Lv. Chester . . . Lv. Wilmington . . Day Conasult Ticket Agents 7:30 P.M. 7:50 P.M. 8:10 PM. 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Although the case went to the jury on Saturday night at 11:09 p.m., the jurymen actually deliberated only ¥ hours and 35 minutes. 7 When the jury filed in at 10 o'clock yesterday morning, Juror A. Percy Diggs asked the court to instruct the jury clearly “if mere possibility should in any sense be construed as a reason- able doubt.” Monday Mr. Diggs had asked the court to define reasonable doubt. Judge Mathews told the jury that a You'll be all “steamed up” over this delicious flavor WILKINS ( BREAKFAST | Sold In 1 Ib. & 15 1b. Cartons ‘mere possibility cannot be construed as a reasonable doubt. Mrs. Faison, who has stood loyally by her husband, conferred with Faison privately after the court announced its decision shortly after 1 o’clock. “We are not going to stop fighting” she 'told newspaper men. During the seven days' trial the de- fense has maintained that Mrs. Snipes shot herself with Faison’s pistol when she realized that she was losing his affection. The State contended that Faison, who was alone with the young THE music teacher at the time of the shooting, kiiled the woman through Jealously. Arabic Records Censored. The Egyptian government has de- creed that all phonograph records made in the Arabic language shall be censored. The move has been made to itop the entrance of canned stories and songs of an obscene nature. Such records will be returned to the sender collect. NEW ORTHOPHONIC VICTOR RECORDS Make Charming Christmas Gifts Droop’s Music House, 130 G -0 For Last Minute Shoppers Don’t let the eonfusion—the hustle and bu h fus st the last minute induce you to select a “;)ite tcnf- miss gift.” We have the prescription f Gift Satisfaction, viz: n s Glass Tops and Mirrors Glass Tops cut to any desired size for Tabl Buffet. You could not select anything be':t:r:‘: unless it would be a mirror! Plain, but dignified borders feature mirrors here in all shapes and sizes. 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It's one of the few styles ' with two drawers—a deep drawer for linens and a small plush-lined drawer for silverware. Walnut or mahogany. §59.75 Handsomely matched mahog- any veneers beautify the drop leaves of this Grand Rapids made Tea Wagon. Glass tr: drop handle and of good size. $41.50 Seventh St. Here's a Grand Rapids made Tea Wagon in ma- hogany principally that locks much more than $29.75. Automatic leaf supports, glass tray and drop’ handle.. The top of this Tea Wagon, when leaves are up, will turn around. It's in walnut chie and the top is handy for cards At Left This Tea Wag- on is here in both the mahogany and golden oak fin- ishes. The leaves are ' automatically supported and and there is s glass tray. Made in Grand Rapids, This Tea Wagon has semi-round leaves and tistic artillery wheels. It's in an attractive mahogany finish and has a glass tray for serving. : $37.50 Good size Tea Wagon with glass tray, large ar- tillery wheels, and a mel- low open - grain finish. 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