The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-04-15
Address by Miss Mary A. Danforth.

Address by Miss Mary A. Danforth.
After the Photographic entertain
ment given from . to o'clock by Frank
b. Glover, of 5SS McDonough street,
Brooklyn, the anniversary of the Wo-
mems Missionary society was held,
Mrs. Manley S. Hard presiding. Miss
Hill presented the annual statement,
which showed that the total receipts
from the districts were s5,697, being an
increase of 1855, the Wyoming district
subscribing s2,3S2. Mrs. Furey, super
intendent of bands, also presented an
interesting report of her work.
Miss Mary A. Danforth was intro
duced, and at the outset of her speech
attracted the undivided attention of
her immense audience, which listened
throughout in rapt attention and with
evident admiration. AS q prelude to
her address, Miss Danforth referred to
the prominent position of Japan in the
eyes of the whole world, and, with
delicate cynicism said that it was a
country of whom everybody who re-
turned from it, except missionaries
wrote books and newspaper articles
and painted pictures. AS the public
knows SO much of the country she
would content herself by describing the
adventures of two American girls Miss
Wilson and herself) who left this coun-
try six years ago in response to a call
from the interior of Japan for assist
ance in missionary work.
AS a humorist Miss Danforth delight
cd hpr, anIippna with fhair nlUnptpras
in travelling hundreds of miles into the
interior to reach their destination. AL
though in perilous positions at the time
and alone with the natives in wild
mountainous district, Miss Danforth
was able to look back upon that part
of their foreign adventures with conf
paratively light feelings. Having ar
rived at their destination they were
owing to the opposition OF the heather
priests, unable to rent house for a
considerable time, but when they were
successful their difficulties We're not
ended, but rather aggravated by the
swarms of reptiles, centipedes and
lizardlike creatures which infested the
house, climbing chairs, beds and dinner
dishes on the table.
Established Girls School.
Eventually she was successful in es-
tablishing a gri's school, the methods
employed in which Were most charm
ingly described. 1t was absolutely
necessary in order to carry on any
practical work in their district, or else
where in the interior of Japan, to be-
come acquainted with the people in a
social way by entertaining and visiting
the natives. Her experiences in this
respect We're brimful of humor. especi-
ally where entertained at a six hours
feast. sitting legs cross-wise on the
floor; she was unable to move, as ii
was considered gross breach of
Japanese etiquette. Having secured the
affections of the people. Miss Danforth
set to work to learn the native lam
guage. so that she could labor "volce
to voice and heart to heart" and the
mistakes essential in her attempts were
described to the infinite delight of her
audience.
Miss Danforth having spoken in a
vein of polished humor. showed, how
ever, her depth of feeling when she
spoke of the serious part of her work.
A school of eighty-six pupils and twelve
native teachers had been organized,
and in course of time the girls of the
school became familiar with most of
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