The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1890-03-19
Letter from Mrs. Lydia Lord Davis
TO the Mission Band.

sHAEsI MISSION OF THE AMERICAN BoARD1
L. o DDREss: TIENTsIN CHINA. (
SHANSI CHINA, Nov. 30. 1850. }
Dear Mission Band:
This pleasant evening 1 am sitting in my
home. way off. 10. 600 miles away from Ravenna.
and yet my thoughts very near you.
Several things l want to tell you. One is
about my first sunday in Japan. 1t was rainy
day, but we put on our gossBmers and rubbers
and rode to, a Mission Sunday school, which
vas held in a room where they held day
school. They sang for us the familiar tune of
Jewels. but the words were in an un nown
tongue" Then all the heads went down, and
they repeated the Lords Prayer in Japanese
Pretty little faces. and sweet voices, Just as we
find at home.
one of The ladies VI ho came out with us went
to a Japanese wedding and she told me about
it. The room was bare. there being no furni-
ture in it; the floor was covered with whi5e fur
mats or rugs The guests came in and sat UP IN
the floor. and the bride and groom came in
They Were Christians, and were married with
our cerefRony. in japanese language. of course
Then ~ minister turned to the guests, and the
lady missionary who was telling me, said it
sounded just as if he said All who wish to,
may view the remains" What he probably
said wss congratulations " They did not talk
each in turn went forward. shook hands and
sat doYn. When all had shaken hands with
hemarried couple the bride and groom left the
room. Cake was passed around in little boxes
and the welding as over-.he boxes not o3cn-
ed untR they reached home.
At the wedding the lady met an old japanese
woman whom L am sure is very good, because
so anxious to work for Jesus. They have a
girls scnQol in Kioto, where she lives, and she
wanted SO much to help in the school; but there
seemed to be nothing for her to do. so she went
into the Kitchen and washed the dishes.
At Nagasaki we visited Methodist girls
school, where the girls were reading in English
and Japanese: They were also learnir & to sew
and to crochet. One of the teBchers told us
that they did everything the opposite way from
us. They baste their sewing as we do, and then
call that sewing. occasionally sewing it as we
do, and leaving the 'basting threads in for or
naments. They are pretty little girls, and
Chri- -tians, too, which is all the better.
Japan is beautiful country, but Corea is not
We stopped at two places in that country, and
would not like to live there. L am sure; but then
the people need missionaries there for they are
heather just as much as the Chinese The peo-
pie dress all in White The men wear loose
baggy trousers7very loose, and gathered in
about the ankle, Their hair they wear br aided
down their back, until they are married, and
then comb it up on top of the head aad braid it
in little braid, about three inches high. which
sticks straighS up. Their hats are made of
horse hair; fhe brim Is about six inches wide.
and the crown. which was much too small for
their heads, was about four inches high. They
tie them on with string under the chin Queer
people! They are very poor. Their houses are
mud hutss and are heated in a strange way
They put the fire ina tile hUle on tho outside
of the house, and the heat and smoke pass un-
der the House and come out of low chimney
on the other side.' The spectacles which they |
wear are very queer-large round glass, with
bows not made of gold or steel. tut of tortoise
she'll The glass and tortoise rim a1e about
two inches in diameter.
We landed in China October 23d. Strange