Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-10-09

LEGE.
In the class of graduates for 1885 from
the Women's Medical college in this city.
was a remarkable character in the petite
person of Kin Yai Me, chinese student
who graduated at the head of the class.
Very little has been known of her because
her guardians and adopted parents have
BEN most jealous to prevent her from
being interviewed 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 we'll as its color. Like the
people she is one of, she has remarkable
memory. and this gift was one of the tell
ing qualities that placed her above the
average student.
When she was three years old she was
lett an orphan and adopted by the then
Carter. Her father was a converted
Chinaman and became Presbyterian
mission minister; he was also educated
BY DR.. Carter 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 education of his friend,
who has well performed his trust.
DR.. McCarter prepared her for the med
ical college, and both being talented and
ambitious she went Into the study of med
icine we'll coached and full of promise.
Some idea of how well she has been fos
tered by her adopted parents may be
traced in the fact that Mrs. McCarter al
ways escorted her carriage 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 return
ing. Upon the subject of marriage Yai
Me said:
ITO marry outside of China would be
an act never forgiven there; besides that,
| shall be too Old
ITO old ?" was the surprised reply.
Yes. | am an old maid. shall be
over q before return. and that is too old
tor Chinese women to marry. At % years
of age few Chinese women have any
chances to marry. All marry between II
and l9 years of ages of age"
You might be an exception, was vouch-
safed.
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 supervis-
ion, and you see l could only marry the
oldest son, and shall be too old to do
So"
How old were you when you entered
the medical college?'
Eighteen, she replied, land although
have graduated have much to accom-
plish before l take up my life work in
China"
Kin Yai Me loves her professionals in
deed an enthusiast in it. Her marvellous
memory was the comment of her class.
The determination to spare her from I'M
due publicity and note was rigidly en-
forced, but her scholarship and intended
career induce an interest that cannot Ion
ger be concealed. She is Presbyterian
in religion, while with her adopted par
ents at least, and in the observance of the
marriage customs of her own country,
she still holds her allegiance to no small
degree to the Celestial Kingdom. She
has brother who occupies some official
position in China. and she resides for the
present in Washington.
The subject of Kin Yai Mes thesis up-
on the event of graduating was Notes
on Chinese Materia Medica and Thera-
peutics." She speaks English quite as
we'll as her own native tongue.
The class of 'S5 contained some strong ell
emens aside from the remarkable little
Kin Yai Me. The missionary element
was prominent. Two appointments were
made from this class by the Missionary
society of San Francisco to Alaska, one
as a missionary physician. Another
member OF the class went into the civil
service examinations and received an APP
pointment as assistant resident physician
in the Presbyterian Hospital. Chicago.
Ill. Kin Yai Me will no doubt be an OBJ
'ect of no small amount of interest in
Washington society during the coming
winter.-N. Y. World.