Wednesday, December 21, 2011

FAITH, FANCY, POETRY AND ROMANCE TO MAKE GLAD OUR HEARTS

Eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York's Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897. The work of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church has since become history's most reprinted newspaper editorial, appearing in part or whole in dozens of languages in books, movies, and other editorials, and on posters and stamps.


"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?"

[TO] 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 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.




With sincere thanks to my beautiful granddaughters: the Devine Ms. D and our new little AYngel;



to me, they are pure joy, true wonder, and my delighted hope for the future!


Happy Christmas, all.












Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Holiday Hours for the Market at Serendip

The holiday shopping season has been so much fun for us at Serendip! Our customers have been wonderful, full of the joy of the season. We have wonderful art, crafts, and gift ideas from our long-term artists as well as some great new ones! Please stop by!

We've modified our hours a bit to try to accomodate all your holiday shopping needs. These are our operating hours for the happy holli-days ahead!!

Wednesday, 12/21 ***** 10:00 - 8:00

Thursday, 12/22 ***** 10:00 - 8:00

Friday, 12/23 ***** 10:00 - 6:00

Saturday, 12/24 ***** 10:00 - 3:00

***** Closed Christmas *****

Monday, 12/26 ***** 10:00 - 6:00

Tuesday, 12/27 ***** 10:00 - 6:00

Wednesday, 12/28 ***** 10:00 - 8:00

Thursday, 12/29 ***** 10:00 - 8:00

Friday, 12/30 ***** 10:00 - 6:00

Saturday, 12/31 ***** 10:00 - 3:00

***** Closed New Years Day *****

Monday, 1/2 ***** 10:00 - 6:00

SPECIAL ATTENTION FOR SERENDIP!

Some time ago, reporter/writer Garth Bishop, who writes for Columbus City Scene magazine, said he was working on an article on unique gifts. He asked for some photos of Jim Burrowes' work. (His wife Jennifer Bishop is one of Serendip's photography members and he'd particularly noticed Jim's work when we last visited.)


It came to my attention today that we did get a mention in City Scene, so I wanted to pass it on to you all.


Hope you can check out this link and look at page 23--http://issuu.com/thepublishinggroupltd./docs/cityscenedecember2011?mode=window&backgroundColor=%23222222


Many thanks to Garth Bishop for his support of local businesses... and to woodturner Jim Burrowes for his sensational art!