The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1885-11-19
A Sweet Chinese Girl Graduate. q

In the class of graduates for 1885
from the Women's Medical College in
New York was a remarkable charac-
ter 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 guar
dians and adopted parents have BEEN
most Jealous to prevent her from be-
ing interviewed during her college life. |
She speaks English better than some Of
her American friends; she wears No. Il
shoes, has the regulation almond-shap-
ed eyes, bangs her hair. which is long
and straight, and possesses all the po-
liteness of her race as well as its color.
Like the people she is one of, she has 8
remarkable memory, and this gift was
one of the telling qualities that placed
her above the average student. /
When she was 3 years old she was7
left an orphan and adopted by the then
United States Consul in China, DIR. ;
McCarter. Her father was a converted !
Chinaman and became Il PRESBYTERIAN
mission minister; he was also educated
by DIR. 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 3 years of age, and the
father left her to the care and educa-
ton 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 we'll
coached and full of promise. Some
idea of how well 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 Kin Yai Me said:
''ro marry outside of China would
be an act never forgiven there; besides
that, shall never marry there either,
for shall be too DID,"
TOO old?" was the surprised reply.
"Yes. l am an old maid. l shall
be over 81 before return, and that is
too old for Chinese women to marry.
At % years of age few Chinese women
have any chances to marry. All mar
ry between IL and Is 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 I
could only marry the oldest son, and +
shall be too old to do so."
'.How old were you when you enter
ed the medical college?"
Eighteen" she replied, land, al
though | have graduated, l have still
much to accomplish before 1 take up
my life work in China"
Kin Yai Me loves her professionals,
indeed, an enthusiast in it. Her mar
Velous memory was the comment of
her class. The determination to spare
her from undue publicity and note was
rigidly enforced, but her scholarship
and intended career induce an interest
that can not longer be concealed. She
is a 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 to no small degree to
the Celestial Kingdom. She has a
brother who occupies some official po-
sition 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.
The class of '85 contained some strong,
elements aside from the remarkable
Kin ,Yai Me. The missionary element
was prominent Two appointments
were made from this class by the mis-
sionary society of San Francisco to
Alaska, one as missionary physician.
Another member of the class went into
the civil-servico examinations and re-
ceived an appointment as assistant res
ident physician in the Willard Insane
Asylum, Willard, n. Y. She was the
first woman to receive appointment in
that institution. Another was made
assistant resident physician in the
Presbyterian Hospital, Chicago.