New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-25
A BRAVE AMERICAN GIRL
MISS MEDIA HESS, OF MICHIGAN. NOW A
MISSIONARY IN ARMENIA.
AN INTERESTING LETTER TELLING OF THE Gooi
WORK BEING DONE BY THE ORPHAN

AN INTERESTING LETTER TELLING OF THE GOOD
WORK BEING DONE BY THE ORPHAN
AGE IN MARAsH.
A communication comes 10 one OF The Tribune's
correspondents from Miss Media Hess. one OF the
American missionaries stationed at Marash The
letter is full Of interest 10 ell OF our readers VINO
are interested In behalf OF the Armenians. and IT
is published verbatim. While one sympathizes
most deeply with the sufferings of the Christians
In the provinces of Asiatic Turkey, he should not
forget TO pay tribute 10 the fortitude of the mis-
sionaries who have abored earnestly to allie
vate the suffering in Armenia and have battled so
heroicay against the barbarous crueltes OF the
Moslems II will be remembered that when the
Turks began the terrible slaughters in Asiatic
Turkey the American Minister at Constantinopie
advised each Of the American missionaries IN the
field 10 go home and remain until peace should De
restored. But not of those heroic men ana
women left their post. They preferred TO die car
ing for and protecting those whom they had
brought TO a knowledge of the Christian religion
Miss Hess is Of these heroines, and Drlef
sketch Of her life is here given.
Miss Hess's home is in the State OF Michigan
She was formerly a student in the School OF Arts
and later in the Medical College Of the University
OF Michigan. at Ann Arbor. Upon the complexion
OF her studies. In ls93 she was sent out 10 Marash
in Asiatic Turkey. a missionary by the American
Board In this field she has labored most earnest
w for four years Miss Hess and Mrs. c. H. Lee
are conducting a school for the orphan boys ana
girls in Marash and the surrounding districts. In
the recent massacres this school has been place
OF refuge for many Of those fleeing from the blood
thirsty Turks. Children who in their flight have
become separated from their parents find here
welcome home The tales of suffering these chill
dren relate would melt the hardest of hearts.
In 1860 at the expiration of seven years OF labor
in the missionary field Miss Hess expects TO return
70 her home and TO pursue her studies for an
other wear in the Medical College of Michigan Uni
yersitv She will then return to Turkey as medl-
Cal missionary.
THE oRPHANAGE IN MARAsH
The letter Is follows:
1t is difficult TO obtain exact statistics In this
TTeacb the conclusion that there are about three
thousand fatherless children In our eid which M
cannot tell how many Of these children are re moth 1S
TdT many 1TS months after the the
of these children looked dark. indeed There
Se Of Starvation or else to exist like the street
dg and Ne gR IN how aa
for these children and how iar c 1eyohq our
ba1as for ' them we are ed with gratitude
God. and are deeply touched by inc di'n
generosity shown by so many glVers III Chrls"""
Ne have now sufficient funds TO support 200 emil
from Germany, the Congregatonalst orphan
d dNhf me coTSnior rand and sTiizean
contribution having come recently We nave nov, nUm
Rcuses fourth house has been scsured and
s soon as the necessary repairs ana
can be completed. OF our los orphans. IS are boys
the the remainder from Zeitoon and other Villages
Some Of our money was given especialY i0r zee iS
children from there to Marash where there are
better facilities for Christian edGca f0T ,b ann
can be under our direct supervision. All ti i
Mar fhe nge orphans are moheress as well as
fatheriess With the exception OF TWO prolherS VINO
We're already orphans before the massacre all lost
hcr O.
immediate consequence of 1t. Some of the people
dea Of fright sGe o n died Of the yphus that
RACED there so terribly. The orphans bear scars OF
tells how she got separated from her parents as
OF the most dreadful saughtcrs Little Marian lam
hid for days in cave: VINE mere ,n nia So
Gn6del dog concealed here" They searched the
cave but it dark and they dld not 1, see me
t by hnnser, she pressed forward toward zeitoon
On she saw baby trying 10 4 IRA us 81 hG ar
With other refugees and together they reached
was d Marian me sese n dT eh
dren rescued win difficulty from Mosien
and we wonder that they have survived TO be as
strong and healthy as they now are. o,,,roo Of
Christian man and wife or Of competent woman, woman
few coming from Protestant families They have
10 begin AT the beginning OF everything Ihey an
three Protestant churches. the smallest ones going
the oh bGys and srIs are
to make beds, sweep. wash and wipe dishes. pick
over wheat and rice etc. The girls Will learn TO
cook and sew; the boys Will learn trades through
the long summer vacations. and after they have
received a moderate education We venture 10
hone that speca! funds will finally be furnished
in some way 10 enable us TO give a more extended
education 10 the brightest and most promising
ones SO that some may become preachers, teachers
and evangelisis But that is question 10 be met
a few years hence The children vary In &c from
nve 10 twelve. 1t does ones heart good to
hem so bright and happy and comfortable
A few DAYS ago "A party OF ten orphans from
Zeitoon reached our premises. grimy with dirt
clothed In thin rags. shaking with the cold, the
tears streaming down their faces, just thirty
OF our orphans returned from school clean, com
fortably dressed. bright and happy. The contrast
was impressive. As set OF half-frozen children
burst into warm room one day their leader
Exclaimed Now you have reached Paradise,
The outfit of four houses is simple. Chairs,
bedsteads and stoves are not commonly lsed by
he people, and therefore are unnecessary lunuries.
rhe most important articles are bedding. mating
and copper dishes for cooKing and laundry pur-
poses: The children eat with pewter spoons from
tin plates They sit the floor round tables a
foot high. Their dress is simple and their food
plain. The latter. however, must be nourishing
enough 10 keep them In good physical condition.
With all possible economy. II costs - Turkish (x2)