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PAGE SIX
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
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TUESDAY, DICEMBER 19, 1950
TUESDAY, DICEMBER 19, 1950
"All truth is safe and nothing else is safe; and he who keeps back truth, or withholds it from men, from motives of expediency, is either a coward or criminal or both." - Max Muller.
Is There A Santa Claus?
Editor's note: In the New York Sun, Dec. 21, 1897, the editorial, "Is There A Santa Claus?" first appeared. It was written by Francis P. Church in answer to a little girl's letter to the editor asking him whether there was a Santa Claus. He told her there was a Santa Claus and went on at length trying to bolster the myth. The editorial is reprinted every Christmas season in many newspapers and this editorial is written to counteract its effects.
No, Virginia! There is no Santa Claus. We realize that you'll be disappointed because we've destroyed this illusion, but we feel that it's far better that you are disappointed now, than to live in a world of mythology and fantasy for the rest of your life.
These children have to face the realities of life from the day they're able to walk until the last shovelful of earth hits them in the face. They have to scrounge in garbage for a meal, crawl in trash piles for the few rags they call clothing, and beg on the streets for the few coins they may use for what they would call luxuries.
No, Virginia! There is no Santa Claus, and the sooner you get used to the idea, the better off you'll be. Later in life, you won't be expecting gifts from an illusion or be laboring under the misapprehension that you can get something for nothing.
When we tell you that there is no Santa Claus, we want to impress upon you the fact that throughout the world, despite the enterprise of American high-pressure advertising, there are millions of children who have never heard of this legendary character and have no illusions about his loudly-proclaimed generosity.
For these millions, Christmas is just another miserable day of the year on which they can starve, freeze, or die of disease as easily and as frequently as on all other days of the year. They don't have any figment of the imagination to recite a long list of unnecessary trivialities to, nor do their parents have to deceive them with fairytales when they don't get the biggest doll or the brightest bicycle.
Sure, you're disillusioned now, but you'll soon realize that some one has to work and sacrifice to give you that Christmas morning pleasure and that when you're older you'll have to sweat for every moment's pleasure.
Wake up, Virginia! You're more than three years old, so leave your dreams in the cradle and face reality.
John A. Bannigan.
They Crossed The Pacific On A Raft
"Kon-Tiki" is a story of high adventure on the South Pacific. It is a true story told by Thor Heyerdahl about a strange and exciting voyage from Callo, Peru across 4,300 miles of open sea on a balsa log raft.
Heyerdahl had a theory that the ancient Peruvians had left their homes in South America, and drifted across the Pacific until they landed
on the Polynesian islands. He discovered in his studies, before he set out to prove his theory, that the
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"Hand me that rag, Ed, you musta split beer on these binoculars."
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same stone statues were to be found in Peru as there were on the Polynesian islands, the same language was used, and the same gods were worshipped by both groups of people.
The author tried to get back for his theories from noted scientists, but no one would listen to this man with the strange idea about sailing across the Pacific on a raft. Finally with the support of various exploring clubs, and several branches of the army, Heverdahl and five other men went to Peru to start their long journey.
journey. This group of six men boarded the strange looking raft on April 28 and started the trip with only the trade winds and ocean current to push them across the ocean. In the weeks that followed, they were nearly destroyed by typhoons, fought huge fish, and once passed land, all of which will make it hard to lay down the book after one starts to read this adventure.
Dolph Simons
Jaily Hansan
For sheer reader interest, "Kon-Tiki" is another volume like the thrilling mountain climbing of "White Tower," or the escape from the Philippine Islands in "They Were Expendable."
University
The average person would not think that a deliberate ocean voyage on a raft would provide much entertainment, but the 296 pages of Heyerdahl's story are crammed with thrilling and exciting sentences, and suspense is high from first to last page.
The book was published first in Norway in 1948, and in the United States in 1950. This is the fifth printing and it has been translated into Swedish, Dutch, Finnish, German, Danish, Italian, and other languages.
Those who are looking for calm and peaceful reading had better pick something else from the shelf because "Kon-Tiki" is packed with action and excitement.
Member of the Kansas Press Assn.
National Press Association.
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News Room Adv. Room K.U, 251 K.U, 376
Student Newspaper of the UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
Editor-in-chief John A. Bannigan
Managing Editor Business Manager Emily C. Stewart Gerald Mosley
Arthur Mcintire.
City Editor...John Corporon
Assistant City Editors: Dewayne Oglesbee, Charles Price, Bud Rodgers, Dean
Asst. Managing Editors: Edward Chapin,
Francis, J., Kelley, Patricia Jansen,
Joseph L.
Evans, Marion Klewler.
Photograph Editor ... Harold Benjamin
Advertising Mgr. Joseph Ward
National Adv. Mgr. Charlotte Gesey
Circulation Mgr. Joseph Lewis
Migr. Mgr. Virtue Virgil
Promotion Mgr. James Murray
Staff Statement
The editorial "Is There a Santa Claus?" is being run in today's Kansan over the protest of other student executives. The staff wishes to emphasize that the editorial represents the opinion of the editor-in-chief and not that of the Kansan staff as a whole. This is the case at all times, but we feel that it is particularly necessary today to restate this fact.
Emily C. Stewart,
Managing Editor.
A Letter From Korea
Yonpo Airfield Hamhung, Korea Dec. 4 (?)
We started to evacuate Wonsan on an hour's notice. I came up on the first plane—to set a place for us to operate and to find living quarters. That was two days ago. All the squadrons and supporting units have left Wonsan; are now operating here. The master plan, as I get it, is to maintain three large perimeters of defense—one here, one at Seoul, and the other at Pusan. The Chinese were cutting across the penisula and there were insufficient U.N. forces to defend both Wonsan and this area.
Everything has speeded up to a rapid pace in the last 10 days and this may be the last chance I will have to write for some time.
The big problem at this time is to evacuate our forces, mostly Marine, from the plateau and reservoir area. There is less than one Marine division there surrounded by at least five Chinese divisions. However, with utilization of all aircraft, we should be able to cover their retreat to Hamhung.
daily support missions up there. I have gotten an excellent bird's eye view of the big picture of the war on this side of the peninsula, and it is not a pretty one. Contrary to anything you may read, we have been outfought and out thought by the opposition-sure would like to get my hands on the Army generals who said, "The war is over." The 1st Marine Division, under Army control, was ordered to take too large an area and lost most of its strength when regiments, battalions, and even companies were sent off in different directions with their almost non-existent lines of supply and communications.
However, they are now regrouping at Hagaruin and I believe could hold out there through the winter. They do not want to retreat and morale is high.
We have ceased to carry belly tanks because we are now closer to the target area and do not need extra gas, consequently, can double our bomb or napalm load. Targets are excellent, there are so many Chinese around we can't miss. They have suffered heavy casualties and I do not understand how they are supplied with food or ammo.
As you can see, I hope, the war has taken a definite turn for the worse, and there is an excellent chance that this area may become untenable. Flying
There is a big reshuffle in our squadron which will drastically alter our organization. VMF 312 is to go aboard a carrier as soon as the Marines are safe in Hammung, which should be in a few days. However, about half of us are not carrier-qualified, and it looks like we might be transferred to another outfit which will remain here, or they might make a new squadron out of us, or send us back to Itami, Japan, or send us home. I am trying to talk my way into going aboard the carrier, but it is doubtful as I have no experience in that line.
Glad to hear the M.U.-K.U. score! (He's a Missouri graduate Ed. note). Also heard Navy took Army. Glad to hear you sold my car. Let me know when money is in the bank. Will send some more money if I ever see the paymaster again.
. . . We had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner, almost as good as home.
Harry and I may be split up on this carrier deal, as he was on a carrier in the last war.
We had our Christmas here yesterday when the Air Force PX closed out, preparatory to moving to Pusan. I got ten boxes of candy bars, dozen bars of soap, toothpaste, 8 boxes of Kleenex towels, Ritz crackers, etc.
Merry Christmas.
1st Lt. Franklin H. Stratton.
Editor's Note: The writer of these letters from Korea is the brother of Bill Stratton, sports editor of the University Daily Kansan.