The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1895-04-03
LETTER FROM LYDIA LoRDDAvIs

| JEN IsUN CHANSI, CHINA, Jan. Is, 1895.
DEAR FRIENDS: [ want to write you first
about the two Christian weddings which took
place in Fenchofu last May. One was DR.. At
woods cook, a Christian young man, reserved
in his manner neat in appearance, rather slow
| in his movements saving in money matters, and
cool in his Judgment and feelings, one would
| judge. The custom for marriage is to have a
man who sees the PARENTS of the bride and
groom and decides whether or not the match
will be suitable. The bride and groom them
| selves do not have their wishes considered, and
often do not see each other at all until the day
of the wedding. Well. the cook, Shoe Shong by
name, saw girl on the street whom he thought
| he would like to have for a wife, and nothing
else would do. She had unbound feet, too,
| which he thought great advantage. He must
marry her, and marry her at once! She, with
| her parents and brother, were living in a hut
outside the city-mere beggars-or more prop
erly speaking, refugees, who were here begging
a living. DR.. Atwood warned him, fearing that
when the money about thirty dollars
paid, the girl, father, mother and all would be
gone, no one knew where. But the cook thought
| otherwise. and so the wedding was arranged,
the day set, the invitations sent out, and the
| marriage took place. They sent carts for us
early in the morning to go to Doctors, which
which would be the home of the groom. When
| we arrived-the musicians-if so they might be
called-who were stationed near the gate began
to play loudly, piping and drumming at a rate
which was noise without harmony to our western
ears, but which to them was doubtless as sweet
as Mendelssohn's Wedding March. The groom
met and saluted us, dressed in fine borrowed
clothes. We went into the room where the guests
were arriving, and where they had eaten break
fast. After some time, and when it was about
l al, H..
to the house of the bride, and in about an hour
returned with her. She was dressed in a red
calico garment, fastened, as 1 remember it, with
leather girdle, and heavy crown on her head
with long red veil concealing her face. These
garments and crown were rented with the chair
When she alighted from the chair two women
met her and escorted her to where the groom
was waiting. The marriage ceremony was then
performed by Dr. Atwood, consisting of the mar
riage service, singing and prayer. The young
people who were married on our place were Mr.
Wang to Miss Tein, we would say, Mr.. King
to Miss Field. 1t came about in this way: Mr.
King lives at the village where we spend the
Summer. We had Miss Fields uncle and aunt
come out to conduct school, and they arranged
the match before we knew anything about it.
He wanted to be married at once, but we per-
suaded him to wait and let her come into the
girls school for time So she was in the scheol
part of last year. She has been under christian
instruction part of the time for three years. and
has improved greatly. We hear now that he saws
he is suffering some persecution from his neigh
bors, who won't let him plant his fields unless
he woEships idols. 1t is not always smooth for
these early Christians.
The 18th of this Sth moon, our harvest moon, :"
is one of their special days for worshipping. and
| on this day they always eat a certain kind of
cake, called moon cake
This yea we at the river and invited
several who are interested in the doctrine to our
home. We held hristian srrvice, and gave
them a dinner. 1, as usual. sat on the hang, ~
and waited on the women, which was much ca
sier than it would have been to eat their food.
1t looks well. but oh the taste!
The first of October we came here to Jen T'sun
where Mr.. and Mrs. Thompson live This is a
village about sixty-six miles from Fen Chu Flu.
We came only to visit month, but have decided
to remain during the Wint' r, and perhaps per
manently. have written you of Jen T'un, but
1t was nearly four years ago. 1t is rich village
and there are many houses in it, which is sign
of wealth. The compound where Mr.. T, lives is
called - The North Flower Garden" 1t was built
by a wealthy man for Summer pleasure place,
and is truly pretty, which cannot be said of most
of the places here in Shansi. Alas! 1t was in
its glory half century ago, and is now falling
into ruins, while the proprietor sleeps under the
sod, with mound of earth above some fifteen
feet high and shaped like haystack, is above
the grave. His descendants-why do they let it
fall into isuse? Opium! Opium the greatest
curse of this Celestial race. The buildings are
nearly all lattice-work, which looks very airy
and pleasant in Summer, but will not answer
for Winter accommodations; so Mr.. T. has had
mud walls put up. This will sound odd to you,
but the mud here is much more adhesive than at
home, and when plastered over and whitewashed
it makes a good wall.
Mr.. and Mrs. 7. are doing village work mostly.
There three or four villages where Mrs T.
and go regularly, and many more where Mr.. T.
goes. He distributes tracts and talks to the
people.
The people do and say many queer things,
sometimes. For instance: DR.. Atwood had a
man in his hospital, which he was the means of
curing. Not long after, the man came around
with few apples to sell-forty, 1 believe. He
wanted 16 cash, each while cash were as much
as they were worth. He talked and talked, until
DR.. was tired and sent him off, saying he didn t
want them at any price. After few hours the
man returned, bringing the apples saying that
as DR.. had saved his life, he would let him have
the apples for ten cash. Afterward, the same
kind were bought in the market for cash each.
Sample of gratitude. Another answer, queer to
US: Mr.. Thompson, on Sunday, as an illustra-
tlOn to their being pleased to go to Heaven,
asked a man if he would not be pleased to re-
ceive call to go to Peking to see the Emperor.
:" 0. no." the man replied, 81 would have to pay
my own travelling expensesr r'
People who come into our homes to call are
always anxious about new things. One day a
man noticed the scales, and turning to another
caller, said, with great wisdom: THAT is a
washing machine"
Mr.. Atwater has new teacher; a man who
has never been with foreigners-a frank hea-
them we would say. He was explaining to Mr..
Atwater that they-the hinese-have a great
and wonderful book, which but few can under
stand, look into the depths of it-"The
Canon of Changes a book of divination $50
great, so deep, why, it COULD NOT be carried to
foreign countries; were it placed on the boat,
the steamer would be unable to move-it would
stop"
One day asked our boy who does the wash.
ing to lead the donkey around the court, for the
children to ride. He few into a rage and de-
clared in the loudest of tones, and with the
widest of gestures, that he wouldn't. He would
do any kind of work, but to lead the donkey for
the children to ride-"No! Never!' When he
subsidized somewhat he explained that he was
afraid they would get hurt, and he would be held
responsible.
These illustrations give you an idea of the
character of the people: Their lack of graft
tude; their first thought of money; their great
wisdom, which is empty shell; their uncon-
troued temper. These, we band Of men and
women, brought up in Christian land, have
come to root out, not in own strength, and
plant the Gospel of Christ.
Yesterday went to village seven miles away
to teach two women whom Mrs. T. visits regu-
larly. One is learning to read rapidly. The
other, while not quick at her books. is gath
ering in quite number of neighbor women to
listen They paid quite good attention, but it
was hard to get them to repeat anything. If
only they will come again--wiII be ready to be
taught!
Today is the 23rd of the Chinese last month,
and tonight they say their kitchen god ascends
to heaven. Such superstitions, such foolishnessI
Why won't they turn to the one true God, whom
we worship? They will in time, we have the