The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-05-08
OUR ANTIPODEs.
How the People Live and Look
in China.

We are permitted topublish the fol
lowinginteresting extracts from letter
dated Shanghae, China, March, 25,
1879, written by Miss Lochie Rankin
to her fathers family here. 1t will
be remembered that she is the first
female missionary sent to China by
the NJ. E. Church, South. In this
connection we will state that a move>
ment is on foot TO arrange woInan's
missionary society here on the first
Sunday in June, when DIR. Wilson,
the Missionary Secretary Of the
Church, visits our town. Milan
ought to almost support her mission
airy in China. Read the letter.
feel that to you is due the first
glimpse / have had OF walled city.
To-day l went into the native city and
saw a new phase of work among the
heather. My companion was an
English woman, and, being rapid
walker and all old resident, l could only
give hasty glances where l would
liked to have spent minutes at least.
As we neared the city gate, two men
were fighting after the fashioa of
school boys, in the middle of the way.
We left our jinrikshaws, crossed the
narrow bridge and with one wonder
ing glance at the vast pile of earthen
vessels, some of them doubtless of six
ty gallons capacity, passed within the
wall. Imagine streets from six to
eight feet wide, a row of buildings on
either side, toe compact to allow II
glimpse of daylight, save at long in
tervaIs, when there is break in the
shape of two-foot alley. In this
narrow street we met water-carriers
who had long poles with bucket at
tached to each end, chair coolies with
chairs, some occupied and some not,
blind beggars with little bits of steel
which they constantly clicked to
warn passersby, beggar women sitting
in the street asking for cash, and bur
den-bearers of too many kinds to men,
ton. One little child had a baby
strapped to its back, and both looked
as though they had come out of the
gutter. We passed a temple where
numerous candles were burning, and
a hired musician rasping the air with
discordant sounds. A little far;he on
was shop where the idols were made,
and l actually saw man carving a
deity's nose. One shop seemed to
have only kites for sale. You may
not be able to imagine it, but one man
found room in this narrow street to
plant his frying pan ard was actually
cooking in the street. How the grease
sputtered and Kissed when he put the
awful-looking things in. Laborers
almost nude were turning drills, or
rather, / should say, were drilling
holes by string power. 1t is funny
process, ASSURE you. In front OF the
meat market the street was a pool of
blood. Like an oasis was view of
the London Mission Chapel. We
were to meet, by appointment, some
women vino were anxious to hear more
particularly about the new faith, and
our destination was little school
room kept under the supervision Of
my companion. To reach this room,
we must pass through the woman's
house who owns it. Don't ask me to
describe the interior of a Chinese
house. The landlady was sitting in
the first room making mock money.
There were the ever>present tea drink
ing vessels the floor was bare earth,
and the passages leading to and from
the room were so dark one could
scarcely see. The schooi-reom is a
long, narrow apartment, with a Lind
of stone floor, and one long, shelf-like
apparatus, on either side of which
we're little benches for the pupils.
Only three or four women came at
first, but before the close there were
more than twenty. Some brought
their children, and some were nicely
dressed, others were not, but all list-
ened very quietly for Chinese. Miss
Bear first read part of the second
chapter of st. Luke, and explained,
allowing any to ask any question they
chose. We sang, 81 am so glad Jesus
loves me-" after which the school
teacher led in prayer. Portions of
scripture were read from Matthew
and commented upon by the teacher.
We sang, Come to Jesus" 81 have
Father in the promised land, Hap
ply land" and Jesus loves me-" Gloss
ing prayer by Miss Bear. Then came
the questions and inspections in which
l was prominent. Returning, We
glanced into a few opium dens, tea
shops and gambling places. Bishop
wondered how anyone escaped
alive from a Chinese city, and |, in
addition, wonder how he managed 10