Huntsville gazette., 1885-10-31
KIN YAl NE.
The Pretty valedictorian of the New York
WOman's Medical College.

The Pretty Valedictorian of the New York
WOman's Medical College.
In the class of graduates for 1885,
from the Women's Medical College in
this city was remarkable character in
the petite person of Kin Yai Me. Chi
nese student who graduated at the
head Of the class. Very little has been
known of her because her guardians
and adopted parents have been most
Jealous to prevent her from being in.
terviewed during her college life. She
speaks English better than some of her
American friends; she wears No. ]
shoes, has the regulation almond
shaped eyes, bangs her hair, which is
long and straight, and possesses all
the politeness of her race as well as its
color. Like the people she is one of,
she has remarkable memory, and this
gift was one of the telling qualities
that placed her above the average stu
dent.
When she was three years old she
was left an orphan and adopted by the
then United States Consul in China,
DR.. McCarter. Her father was con-
verted Chinaman, and became Pres
byterian mission minister; he was also
educated by DR.. McCarter, and devoted
himself to the mission work among his
own people in China. Both father and
mother of Kin Yai Me died of cholera
when she was three years of age, and
the father left her to the care and edu-
cation of his friend, who has well per-
formed his trust. DIR. McCarter pre-
pared her for the medical college, and
being both talented and ambitious she
went into the study of medicine well
coached and full of promise. Some
idea of how we'll she. has been fostered
by her adopted parents may be traced
in the fact that Mrs. McCarter always
escorted her charge home from the
college on Second avenue during her
period of study. When she graduated
she had won the highest position in the
class, and during an interview with her
she told one of the classmates she
should return to China and practice
among the women of her race, but to
equip herself still more perfectly for
that work she should study awhile
longer before returning. Upon the
subject of marriage Yai Me said:
ITO marry outside of China would
be an act never forgiven there; besides
that | shall never marry there either.
for shall be too old.
TOO oldp' was the surprised reply.
"Yes. am an old maid. | shall
be over twenty-one before [ return,
and that is too old for Chinese women
to marry. At twenty-five years of age
few Chinese women have any chances
to marry. All marry between twelve
and eighteen years of age"
''You might be an exception was
vouchsafed.
No." she replied, ''there are other
reasons. | would not marry any but
the older son. The wives of junior
sons are all ruled by the wife of the
oldest They and their children are
under her supervision. and you see
could only marry the Oldest son, and
shall be too old to do so"
''How old were you when you en-.
tered the medical college?"
Eighteen" she replied, ''and al.
though l have graduated. / have still
much to accomplish before / take ur
my life work in China
Kin Yai Me loves her profession-is.
indeed, an enthusiast in it. Her mar
velous memory was the comment Gf
her class. The determination to spare
her from undue publicity and note was
rigidly enforced, but her scholarship
and intended career induced an inter.
est that can not longer be concealed.
She is Presbyterian in religion, while
with her adopted parents, at least. and
in the observance of the marriage Gus
toms of her own country, she still
holds her allegiance in no small de-
gree to the Celestial kingdom. She
has brother who occupies some Off
cial position in China. and she resides
for the present in Washington.
The subject of Kin Yai Mes thesis
upon the event of graduating was
.Notes on Chinese Materia Medica and
Therapeutics. She speaks English
quite as well as her own native tongue.
N y World.