Page 4 Thursday, December 19, 2013 The Westfield Leader and The Scotch Plains – Fanwood TIMES A WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PUBLICATION ABCDICTIONOPQRSTDECEPTIONUVWXYZ The Westfield Leader The Scotch Plains–Fanwood — Established 1890 — Times Since 1959 DD Legal Newspaper for the Town of Westfield, Legal Newspaper for the Borough of Fanwood DTM Boroughs of Mountainside and Garwood And the Township of Scotch Plains Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus D And the County of Union, NJ. Diction Deception Francis P. Church wrote the fol- The most real things in the world are Below are four arcane words, each Members of: lowing editorial in response to a let- those that neither children nor men New Jersey Press Association • National Newspaper Association • Westfield Area Chamber of Commerce with four definitions – only one is cor- Scotch Plains Business & Professional Association • Fanwood Business & Professional Association ter written by Virginia O’Hanlon. The can see. Did you ever see fairies danc- rect. The others are made up. Are you letter was published in the New York ing on the lawn? Of course not, but sharp enough to discern this deception of Periodicals – Postage Paid at Rahway, New Jersey Periodicals – Postage Paid at Rahway, New Jersey Sun in 1897. that’s no proof that they are not there. diction? P.O. Box 250 • 251 North Avenue, West P. O. Box 368 * * * * * Nobody can conceive or imagine all If you can guess one correctly – good Westfield, N.J. 07091 Scotch Plains, N.J. 07076 Dear Editor, the wonders there are unseen and guess. If you get two – well-read indi- Tele: (908) 232-4407 • E-mail: [email protected] • Web: www.goleader.com • Fax: (908) 232-0473 vidual. If you get three – word expert. If I am 8 years old. Some of my little unseeable in the world. you get all four – You must have a lot of POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the offices of the newspapers at friends say there is no Santa Claus. You tear apart the baby’s rattle and free time! P. O. Box 250, Westfield, New Jersey 07091 Papa says, “If you see it in The Sun, see what makes the noise inside, but All words and correct definitions it’s so.” Please tell me the truth, is there is a veil covering the unseen come from the board game Diction Published every Thursday by Watchung Communications, Inc. there a Santa Claus? world which not the strongest man, Deception. Paul Peyton Horace R. Corbin Jeff Gruman Virginia O’Hanlon nor even the united strength of all the Answers to last week’s arcane words. ASSIGNMENT EDITOR PUBLISHER SALES MANAGER * * * * * strongest men that ever lived could 1. Lapin – Rabbit fur used in imitation Suzette F. Stalker David B. Corbin Michael L. Bartiromo Virginia, your little friends are tear apart. Only faith, poetry, love, of more valuable skins COMMUNITY ASSISTANT PUBLISHER & SPORTS MARKETING PRODUCTION 2. Lefe – Loved one; a friend wrong. They have been affected by romance, can push aside that curtain 3. Parget – Plaster or wall coating Betsey Burgdorf Ben Corbin Robert P. Connelly the skepticism of a skeptical age. and view and picture the supernatural EDUCATION & ARTS SERVICES BUSINESS OPERATIONS 4. Mear – A boundary They do not believe except they see. beauty and glory beyond. Is it all TAMANOIR They think that nothing can be which real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world 1. A deep cut or gash SUBSCRIPTION PRICE www.goleader.com/subscribe is not comprehensible by their little there is nothing else real and abiding. 2. The three-toed anteater One-year – $33 • Two-year – $62 • Three-year – $90 minds. All minds, Virginia, whether No Santa Claus! Thank God! He 3. A slaughterhouse for cattle they be men’s or children’s, are little. lives and lives forever. A thousand 4. A wine cellar or place where wine is In this great universe of ours, man is years from now, Virginia, nay 10 times sold or kept a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect 10,000 years from now, he will con- WINNOCK 1. A one-horse carriage as compared with the boundless world tinue to make glad the heart of child- 2. An old work horse about him, as measured by the intel- hood. 3. A window ligence capable of grasping the whole 4. A fish net of truth and knowledge. WETHER Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. 1. A castrated ram He exists as certainly as love and 2. To entise or trick generosity and devotion exist, and 3. A small cleaning cloth 4. To chill or harden you know that they abound and give TALION to your life its highest beauty and joy. 1. A guardian spirit Alas! How dreary would be the world 2. Punishment that exacts a penalty if there were no Santa Claus! It would just like the crime be as dreary as if there were no 3. Winged sandals Virginias. There would be no child- 4. An outside staircase like faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We Letters to should have no enjoyment, except in the Editor sense and sight. The external light with which childhood fills the world Merry Christmas, would be extinguished. Not believe in Santa Claus! You Happy New Year might as well not believe in fairies. From my family to yours: With You might get your papa to hire men the Christmas holiday and the begin- to watch in all the chimneys on Christ- ning of a new year almost upon us, I mas eve to catch Santa Claus, but am sure many of you have the same I Tried to be Careful, Mr. Jones; even if you did not see Santa Claus thought I always seem to have around coming down, what would that prove? this time, “where did the year go?” It Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is is this thought that reminds us that, as no sign that there is no Santa Claus. time doesn’t wait for anyone, we Thank You Santa for Understanding should remember the importance of ’Twas the Night Before Christmas, enjoying each waking day. I am hope- When I was a young boy, admittedly a long time It must have been the right thing to do because ful that each of you can reflect upon ago, Christmastime was a time of great joy, wonder- Santa did get me the Lionel train that I had so longed Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas this past year with much happiness, ment, warmth and merriment. True, Santa Claus was for. And next year I got the red Western Flyer gratitude and joy. Major Henry Livingston, Jr. (1748-1828) the roof The prancing and pawing of Christmas is a time for family and on my mind. I thought I’d been good bicycle. ’Twas the night before Christmas, each little hoof. As I drew in my hand, friends to come together to celebrate most of the year and that Santa would Christmas then was also such a when all through the house, Not a and was turning around, Down the God’s gift to us. Amid the beautiful be good to me. happy time of the year – everyone creature was stirring, not even a chimney St. Nicholas came with a decorations, delicious food, and gifts He’d understand that when I broke smiled and wished all a Merry Christ- mouse; The stockings were hung by bound. we exchange with each other, let us the chimney with care, In hopes that He was dressed all in fur, from his remember to make room for every- Mr. Jones’ window with the foul ball mas and a Happy New Year. For a one at our tables and share our good that it was an accident. I was sure moment at least, there was “Peace on St. Nicholas soon would be there; head to his foot, And his clothes were fortune with those in need. And on Santa would also understand that Earth and Goodwill Towards Men.” The children were nestled all snug all tarnished with ashes and soot; A this holiday, as we should on every in their beds, While visions of sugar- bundle of toys he had flung on his when we heard the shattering glass, I didn’t understand political cor- day, let us remember those in service plums danced in their heads; And back, And he looked like a ped- to our nation at home and in distant there was a moment of panic. Yes, we rectness back then. The only thing I mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I dler just opening his pack. lands. Let us pray for their safety and all ran and even thought we’d get believed was that “Merry Christmas” in my cap, Had just settled His eyes — how they that they may be reunited with their away with it – undiscovered. was the warmest possible greeting down for a long winter’s nap, twinkled! His dimples how families soon. Our mothers knew about that bro- that one person could give to an- When out on the lawn merry! His cheeks were like I feel fortunate and grateful to be there arose such a clatter, I roses, his nose like a cherry! part of this community, our township ken window before we even got other. It was only pure good in the and this country. I resolve that in the home. A stern lecture and direct or- intent. sprang from the bed to see His droll little mouth was what was the matter. Away drawn up like a bow, And coming year I will endeavor to do my ders to go over to Mr. Jones and Well, after all those years, I might to the window I flew like the beard of his chin was part in contributing to its well-being. confess that I did it – that’s what I have broken a few other windows From my family to yours, let me a flash, Tore open the shut- as white as the snow; wish you a Merry Christmas and a got. Mr. Jones tried to be very stern The first time I saw Santa Claus since – but I always owned up. I tried ters and threw up the sash. The stump of a pipe he Happy New Year. and asked if I’d rake and weed his to be careful, Mr. Jones. And thank The moon on the breast held tight in his teeth, And Mayor Kevin Glover garden to help pay for it. I did. you Santa for understanding. I still think it’s okay to of the new-fallen snow the smoke it encircled his Scotch Plains He then thanked me for owning up and asked that say “Merry Christmas.” Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects head like a wreath; He had a broad I be more careful next time. I think he even smiled, In the warmest sense, Merry Christmas everyone below; When, what to my wondering face and a little round belly, That GET OUT THE MILK eyes should appear, But a miniature shook, when he laughed like a bowl- now that I look back on it. – and Happy New Year! sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer, ful of jelly. AND COOKIES With a little old driver, so lively and He was chubby and plump, a right quick, I knew in a moment it must be jolly old elf, And I laughed when I Bah, Humbug! Ebenezer Scrooge; St. Nick. More rapid than eagles his saw him, in spite of myself; A wink of coursers they came, And he whistled, his eye and a twist of his head, Soon and shouted, and called them by name; gave me to know I had nothing to “Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, dread; It’s Not the Ghosts of Christmas Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! on He spoke not a word, but went Be not like Ebenezer Scrooge, with his snorting of the wintry snow. The boughs against your window- Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen! To straight to his work, And filled all the “Bah, Humbug,” declaring that Christmas is a fraud. panes are really from the inside, boughs of holly, as the top of the porch! To the top of the stockings; then turned with a jerk, Be neither like his forlorn clerk Bob Cratchit, who is part of the wonderment embodied in symbolism of wall! Now dash away! Dash away! And laying his finger aside of his Dash away all!” nose, And giving a nod, up the chim- about to be deprived of Christmas joy, no gift, no your Christmas tree. As dry leaves that before the wild ney he rose; holiday. The bells ringing at your door do not foretell of the hurricane fly, When they meet with He sprang to his sleigh, to his team Should you hear all the bells in three ghosts; they are a harbinger an obstacle, mount to the sky, So up to gave a whistle, And away they all your house ringing loudly and fear of your neighbors calling with good the house-top the coursers they flew, flew like the down of a thistle. But I of chains clanking while perceiv- cheer, laden with all the fixings for With the sleigh full of toys, and St. heard him exclaim, ere he drove out ing an eerie red glow, think not of holiday eggnog to dip your ginger- Nicholas too. of sight, “Happy Christmas to all, and the supernatural, Marley’s – the bread man. Their voices caroling And then, in a twinkling, I heard on to all a good-night!” ghosts of Christmas Past, Christ- are the sounds outside. mas Present and Christmas Future. Be in the best of cheer this Christ- Think not of the strange voices mas season. and sounds outside – and the bang- Leave cookies and milk for Santa. ing at your door. Think not of the And if you know of a Bob Cratchit, winter wind howling, grating and then you know of a soul in need of scratching of the boughs against your windowpanes. a thoughtful gift. Lend your voice to the carolers’ Think not of the chilling draft sweeping from your refrain, even though out of practice, your perfor- chimney. Think not of the darkness or the gusting mance would otherwise bring disdain. snow. Build a snowman; find the coal for his eyes, a top Think instead of your friends and family, the joy of hat and carrot for his nose. the season and the anticipation of ‘ol St. Nick – he’ll Join the children on the block – they’ll show you plug the draft in his descent. For the chains clanking how to dream. are likely the harnesses jingling of the reindeer on Be not of fear, be of good cheer. your roof, and the eerie red glow is Rudolph and his Tis the season to be jolly. nose – his presence made possible by the warmth of