The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1890-03-05

Thursday it was much warmer. We stop
ped-why. 1 don't know-at village. The boats
pulled up to the shore. and we got out and
walked around. The people looked and looked
at us. They are not accustomed to our dress.
of course and we were quite curiosity.
In the afternoon we saw the first walled city
We went into 1t and passed through, and came
out another gate while the boats went on the
river. The people followed us. and Mr.. Shef.
field, who talks right to them. went behind us,
and kept them from coming too close. They
wanted to see US, that was all-no evil intent at
all. When we came out of the gate we came
on to a bridge and went down off it to get on to
the boats. Well, that bridge was just full of
people looking at us-we look strange to them,
of course. We would be glad to wear Chinese
clothes, rather than have them follow us so.
Strange people Mr. Sheffield tells us SO much
about them.
Nov. 2.-Yesterday we ate breakfast, had
prayers. and then went to our boats and com
menced to pack again. How many many times
we have done this?
At O'Clock p. m. we arrived at FASTING foo.
| We left the boats, and walked-Dr Murdock.
Chang and 1 to the home of Dr. Merritt. The
walk was about a mile through the Chinese city.
1t is walled city The large iron gates were
| open; when closed they fill the opening in the
wall. which is the gateway. 1t is an arch, and
does not extend the full height OF the wall. We
| could nave ridden in cart drawn by mule
| but preferred to walk. One of the streets was
| broad, and nice shops on either side. Then we
walked on a stone walk about three feet wide
which ran along inside the wall, and close to it
This walk was about six or eight feet above the
road SO on one side was the wall towerin g
| above. made of brick. while below was the
street. We hardly look about US as we walk
because the streets are not so clean as our pave
ments, and we do not want to soil our feet.
The city has probably one hundred and forty
thousand people. and it seems very clean. We
soon entered a walk which ran at right angles
to the street. and turning again and passing
through another gate, we were in a court the
| first we had seen. 1t is about % feet square
with the house bu 1t on the sides, while on the
front side is the gate we passed through The
court is paved with stone. On the left hard
side that part of the house is the Dr's study; on
| the right is the guest room, and what else
don't know. The house is only one room deep
In front. as we walk in, is the house proper. IT
is all one story high. bnilt of gray brick, with
tile roof. One large room is where we enter
and are met by Mrs. Merritt, large. lovely
woman. She used TO live in Brooklyn, N. Y
1
This large room is sitting-room, parlor, and
dining room. We are cordially received The
| ceiling of this room is papered with satin pa
per. nearly white; the walls are hard white
| finish; the floor is painted on the edge, and has
| Brussels carpet on the center. The windows
are glass. just about the size of ours at home.
At one of the windows Mrs Merritt has her
| plants-geraniums, roses. and crysanthemums-
| (Chinese ones) larger than ours. Their table is
nicely served. The linen is clean. but not very
fine The dishes are white, and some are brown
and white. The first course for breakfast is oat
meal. The sugar they get in China, and it looks
much like our granulated. only coarser and
| is sweeter. They thin the condensed milk and
1t tastes just like any milk. After the oatmeal
we have meat. potatoes and rice They have
one boy, and sometimes two. to wait upon the
table. don't know what they do the rest Of
| the day. Their guest chamber is large, with
| three windows facing the west. They are glass
and as large as ours at home-one little larger
In our room is a stove. hard coal, which keeps
fire all the time; set of light wood furniture
| two chairs and rocker. and table. 1t is SO
roomy and comfortable.
Onr journey from here will be by mule train
Will write you of it when we reach our place