The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-03-11
Letter from China.

The following letter from Lydia Lord Davis to |
the Mission Band. will be read with interest by |
the writer's many friends:
FENcHow FU SHANsI MISSION. CHINA. Dec. |.
DEAR MISSION BAND.-I have nelec.ed you for !
long time, and am real sorry. If you could |
have been here a week ago. you would have seen
the boxes from home unpacked. The boxes were
shipped from Boston in May and July. and it
seemed long time to wait for their coming. We
were at breakfast when our gate-keeper came in
and said the goods had como. So. soon after
breakfast. Mr.. Davis went to work. The covers
were soon off, and they were brought into the
sitting room and we began to take out what low
ing hearts and hands had put therein several
months ago. so many miles away. From your
dear Band was the silk quilt and the picture als
bum. o. how nice they are. and how thoughtful
of YOU to make them for me. Your busy fingers
must have spent much time upon these gifts and
prize them very highly. The names on the
lining of the quilt was happy thought. both be-
cause it brings to my mind the faces of friends.
and because it was a good way for you to get
| some money. The picture album will be nice to
show the Chinese when they come to see me. and
| perhaps will carry it with me when 1 go to call
upon them. I don't know how to thank you.
dear friends. but will try. in small way. to show
| my gratitude by writing often to you.
ssend you copy of the Lords Prayer in
| Chinese. They begin to read in the upper right
hand corner and read down. Our teacher wrote
it for me. and thought you might like to know
something about him and his ways. He comes
about in the morning We hear knock on the
gate or DOORS which sounds much like the old
fashioned knockers. The gate-keeper shouts out
and hurries to open the doors and the teacher
walks into the court. We know that a native
is coming. for their shoes come along "clump-i-
-clump," When he gets to the door of the
house he knocks and Mr.. Davis or say. ching
ching lie," which means. pleaSe come-lie mean
ing come. So he walks in and says. " chill fau?'
Have you eaten-fau meaning food. I usually
| say. shang shung lai lai." which is Teacher
t has come" He wears close fitting cap. much
like skull cap. only higher. made of black satin
with red ornament made of horse hair. on the
top. He has no beard. for, strange to say. the
Chinese rarely have whiskers until they are forty
or fifty. and he often apologies because his is SO
late in growing. He has queue. of course. and
the end is heightened by small silk cords and
, tassels. which hang down nearly to his ankles
He wears a long garment, cut straight from the
neck and buttoning on one SIDE This come:
> down to his ankles. Then a short garment with
no sleeves and large armholes. and when it ii
cold short garment with sleeves. and also a rec
hood with a cape. aud this looks very queer in
deed. On his feet are Chinese shoes. which ar,
low. more like slippers. white cloth stockings
and pants bound close around the ankle with
e ribbon. He seats himself at the table with hi
writing materials. which are. little slab or cak
i of ink. a dish containing water. a round piece o
stone and a brush. He dips the cake cf ink int,
the water. then rubs it around on the stone take
up the brush and gets the ink from the ston
where he had mixed it. you see. and holding tn
brush almost perpendicular begins to write. stop
! ping every now and then to drink tea. He has
i little porcelain teapot. and sometimes drink
: from a cup and som etimes from the teapot itseli
e He is the reader of the Sacred Edict. This Edic
consists of sixteen rules for the peace, prosper
= ity and health of all classes" 1t was written b.
one of the Emperors. when, do not know. 1t
read at one of the Temples on the LIST and 18th O
each month. and our teacher is the reader 70
= this city. On these days he wears silk garments
X and in winter long fur one. which is very hand
some. He wears hat then with the rim turnin
: up much like turban, and on the top is bras
ball. or button, as it is called. This button
given them when they successfully pass examin
ations. Different grades of scholars have button
i made of different materials. This teacher think
= more of Confucius than of Jesus Christ more q
i their heather rites and ceremonies than of tn
= worship of the true God. Let US pray tnat b
may be led to give up heathenism and worshi
= Jesus.
Il Which of you is coming to Shansi?
vi Lovingly,