Letters to the Editor

This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

The New York Sun
NY Sun
NEW YORK SUN CONTRIBUTOR

‘Landmark Historic Businesses?’


In response to the article “Landmarking Historic Businesses,” I agree with your call for a local tax-incentive to attempt to keep cultural business icons in place [John P. Avlon, Opinion, December 13,2005].


Many neighborhoods are changing very rapidly, as you say, because of New York’s real estate market. We have to remember one thing, however, as to why most of our neighborhoods are losing their icons and their traditional appeal: classic businesses are run by the classic breadwinners of New York, the middle class.


For all middle-class New Yorkers, it is becoming harder and harder to consider staying here in the long term, as real estate and other costs rise. What is also needed, for businesses and individuals alike, is a rent stabilization policy to keep both shop and household rents in line or lower than inflation to allow the struggling cornerstone of this city a stronger financial foothold.


GREG GODFREY
Forest Hills, N.Y.


‘A Christmas Gift’


I bought The New York Sun, pursuant to my sister’s urging me to read Ira Stoll’s front-page article, “Saddam’s WMD Moved to Syria, An Israeli Says” [December 15, 2005]. But that image of “The Virgin Annunciate,” attributed to Antonello da Messina, just captured my being. Philippe de Montebello is a fantastic director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art [“A Christmas Gift From the Quattrocento,” Lance Esplund, Page 1].


Mr. Esplund believes there is a Vermeer look to this masterpiece – and I do believe that is what enveloped me. However, I cannot see the foreshortened arms; to me, they are in perfect proportion.


Merry Christmas and Happy Chanukah.


NANCY JANCOURTZ
Brooklyn


Is There a Santa Claus?


Is this the same newspaper that a little girl named Virginia wrote to about 100 years ago? If so, do you still have a copy of said letter for readers to enjoy for this generation as there seems to be little hope in this country according to most newspapers?


Thomas A. Zeller
Beverly Hills, Fla.


Editor’s Note:


The Sun’s reply on September 21, 1897, follows:



We take pleasure in answering at once thus prominently the communication below, expressing at the same time our great gratification that its faithful author is numbered among the friends of 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.


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 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.



Please address letters intended for publication to the Editor of The New York Sun. Letters may be sent by e-mail to editor@nysun.com, facsimile to 212-608-7348, or post to 105 Chambers Street, New York City 10007. Please include a return address and daytime telephone number. Letters may be edited.

NY Sun
NEW YORK SUN CONTRIBUTOR

This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.


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