St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1889-03-28
THE FAMINE IN CHINA.
A Distressing Condition, and an Appeal
for id 10 All Humane People.

he following letter speaks Tor IL
self The writer is a licentiate of the
Presbytery of Shantung, who has
Just returned from a tour through
the famine region. Upon hearing his
report the native church in Tung-
chow, which had previously made a
liberal contribution, resolved that in
order to raise some more they would
refrain from inviting any company
at the approaching New Year ian.
81 and each give in addition what
would otherwise be spent in this
way The boys and girls in the
schools have also been denying them
selves of a part of their food some
weeks in order to have something to
give. The missionaries are them
selves giving to the utmost of their
ability to get means to save the lives,
if possible, of the native Christians
who live in the famine district, and
it is questionable whether they will
be able to raise enough for the pur
pose. This still leaves all others un-
provided for. The foreign commu
mites in China are also contributing,
but all will not be a thOusandth part
of what is needed, especially as there
Is also famine in other parts of Chi
ma. The appeal is a heart-rending
one, and we hope will be literally re-
spOnded to- All moneys sent will be
distributed by the missionaries as
sisted by native preachers. In addi-
ton to the saving of life, there will
result the incidental good of winning
the goodwill of the people. and SO
preparing the way for the gospel.
The very distribution itself will af
ford q rare opportunity to preach
What is given must be given at once,
as there will barely be time to get the
money here by telegram III season for
distribution in the spring when the
suffering will be the severcst Send
contributions to Mrs. Cyrus w.
Field, 1913 East 31st St, Creamery
Park, New York City, or to DR.. H.
N Matur, Wooster, Ohio.
c. w MATUR,
HUNTER CORBETT
To All Benevolent PeOple-Greeting::
| write this letter in behalf of many
suffering peOple-to let you know
their sufferings, and to entreat you
to open your hearts to save their
lives The six districts of kau-Yuen,
Pin-Chio, Li-Chin, Poo-tai, Pen
Hing and Loa-An, lie along the sea
in northwestern Shantung. The
land is low and is crossed by the
rivers Ching 1.-THE former Yellow riv-
err and Yen. From the time the
Yellow river broke its embankments
in 1888 until it changed its bed in
1887, this region suffered more or
less every summer from its inunda-
ton. Many of the houses (Of sun
dried bricks) were washed down and
the growing crops swept away The
destitute people wandered abroad in
0NNiN biISNIIOll SNNhIIlS NOlllN WI ~
get d living. Thousands OF families
were reduced to beggary. In 1897
this region suffered severely from
drought. In the early part of last
year there was prospect of fine
crops, when unexpectedly III August
there arose q great storm of wind,
and unpreccdentedly heavy rains fell
for many successive days, until in
low places the water rose to the
height of ten or more feet, and the
whole country was turned into a
vast lake. All the growing grain
which was not destroyed by the
wind was covered by the water, and
the hopes of the farmers were utterly
cut off.
lust think of it What with floods
and drought for six successive years,
truly the fields were without crops,
and the barns without grain. Every
thing that would bring little mon
ey has been sold or pawned to buy
food All who were able to travel
and could get together q suit of
have fed for their lives from
this famine stricken region. The old
and the weak and the little children
remain at home enduring hunger.
They have nothing better to eat than
chaff, the husks of grain, the seeds
and roots OF grass and weeds, the
bark of trees, and the blades of grow
ing wheat
| am Il Christian man, and was
sent to preach the gospel. | have
been in person through the districts
suffering this calamity. | have been
III numberless villages and houses to
search out the truth | know that
in every family about one-half are
gone abroad as refugees, and i'll many
cases whole families have gone to-
gether, and | know that every family
is without grain. have seen that
the faces of the people are all sallOw
and thin. The things they eat are
such as pigs and dogs would not eat.
In every place the cries of the famish-
ing are heard.
One day | came to Il village of
about five hundred inhabitants.
There an old gentleman invited me
to his house | saw that his house
was large and wide, ard had many
rooms in it, and he owned much
land. He took me all through his
house and premises and Isaw a great
many grain bins, but they were all
without grain. At last | saw in one
about two bushels of millet husks;
besides this | saw about fifteen
pounds of turnips, bunch of seed
millet, and in the yard little stack
of ragweed. about as much as a man
could carry The old gentleman said
to me This is all that | and my fam
lily have to support life this winter"
Afterwards he took me to his libra
ry- There on the table stood small
bottle of whisky | Immediately ask