Dear Editor—
I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no one who cares and does good in the world. Papa says, “If you see it in The Ambassador, it’s so.” Please tell me the truth, is there such a person?
Virginia O’Hanlon
The Editor’s Response-
Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except 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 are Rotarians. They exist 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 Rotarians! 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 external light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.
Not believe in Service Above Self as Rotarians do! You might as well not believe in Santa Clause. You might get your papa to introduce you to Rotarians at the Rotary Club of Hamilton. These great people, local men and women, meet weekly and do good work in the community. Projects like Polio eradication, literacy and anti poverty initiatives, as well as hands on service project all make members of the Rotary Club of Hamilton special people.
Most Rotarians do their work behind the scenes, quietly without anyone seeing it being done. Not everyone knows it is a Rotary project, but that is no sign that there is no Rotarians. 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.
No Rotarians! Thank God! They live and live forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, they will continue to make glad the heart of childhood. Rotarians make the world a better place for all!