Editorial: Is Santa real? Enjoy Jack's answer
It's been almost 15 years since the passing of Jack Mabley, the legendary columnist who graced our newsroom and the pages of the Daily Herald in the last two decades of his life.
He was a generous man but not a fan of commercialism. He believed that the Christmas-buying season had gotten so out of hand that it took away from the meaning of the holiday. At Christmas, he preferred to donate the money that he might otherwise spend on presents.
Jack died at age 90 on Jan. 6, 2006. On the front page of the paper on Christmas Eve that year, in remembrance of him, we shared this piece from the Mabley archives, originally a column on Dec. 23, 2001.
Let us share it again today, one lasting gift from a dear friend.
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Santa Claus doesn't always fly down from the North Pole or wherever his office is up there.
Some years ago, Santa decided to come to Chicago on a lake freighter carrying newsprint from Canada to the Chicago Daily News, which had a dock on the Chicago River.
My city editor told me to go interview Santa Claus on the boat. My interview must have been persuasive because the News printed it across the top of Page 1, under the headline:
"Is Santa Claus Real? Well, Here's What He Says About Himself."
I wrote that Santa Claus granted me one of his rare interviews on the ship that is speeding him to S-Day festivities in Chicago.
"Normally, I don't give newspaper interviews," Santa said to me.
I told him, "Some of our readers don't believe in Santa Claus."
Santa was on the quarterdeck, checking addresses on some packages.
I pressed him. "Yes, there are some doubters. Frankly, that's what I wanted to talk to you about."
Santa laughed. "Then you don't want me to hold my belly and shout, 'And how have all the little boys and girls in Chicago been behaving this year?'"
"No, we did that last year. What I want to know is ... are you real?"
Santa was thoughtful. Then he replied:
"When a little child runs into a living room Christmas morning and sees a tree full of presents, is her laughter real? Do you believe in it? Is that wonderful feeling inside of you real?
"When you go to worship Christmas Eve, and sing the lovely Christmas carols in the candlelight, is the feeling of peace real? Do you believe in that?
"Why do you ask if Santa Claus is real? Are you one of those persons who has to see and feel something to believe in it? Do you believe only in a slice of ham or a silver dollar?
"I have a suggestion for you.
"Come downtown in Chicago Saturday when the boys and girls come to welcome me. Find a little girl about 4 years old. Don't look at me. Look at the little girl.
"Just watch her eyes. You'll know then whether I'm real."