Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1897-10-28
FROM FAR JAPAN.
DR.. Mary l.. Burnham Writes of her
Trip to the Mission Field.

THE AMERICAN has had the privilege
OF reading letters from DIR. Mary L. Burn
ham, daughter OF Mr.. and Mrs. Orrin r.
Burnhsm, Of this city, who is on her way
to the mission field at Chefu, in the in
terror of China.
The letters were mailed at Japan, here
Miss Burnhsm stopped for a few days en-
route She writes Interestingly of her
trip across the American continent and
the Pacific ocean. They are the letters OF
a bright, observing American girl, with
an eye for the humorous as well a. the
serious side OF life.
OF her trip across the American conti-
nent by the Canadian Pacific railroad she
writes Il cannot 60 into the details OF
the wonderful scenery that was before us
on the last three days OF our overland
journey. 1t is sufficient to say it was so
wonderful that it seems now to be mar
velous dream
On the train and at Vancouver, b. C..
Miss Burnbsm made congenisi friends
many OF them missionaries like herself
bound for China or Japan. Forty mis-
sionaries sailed from Vancouver with her
on the Empress OF China. On the day
before sailing they were given a farewell
service at the Methodist church in Van
couver.
The steamer had a good passage across,
with but few rough days. Miss Burn ham
writes interestingly of the daily routine
hir,h I'd he ND
lunches, the promensdes, the concerts in
the saloon, the games on deck, the relig
ions services and missionary meetings.
An interesting feature OF a trip across
the Pacific is the dropping OF day from
the calendar. I'VE have had no Mon
day" writes Miss Burnham. ut is Gus
tomary, in order to make the reckoning
meridisn."
Like most ocean voyagers. she fails
naturally into character udy. She sees
the globe trotterh who has lots OF
money, and spends 1t lavishly; he is on
every steamer. Then there is the father
aud two interesting daughters, making a
tour OF the world. An English lawyer
passengers; also a locomotive nanuisc-
turer, with his wife, and an engineer WHO
Is introducing his locomotives in China
Then these little glimpses Of two fsmi-
lar characters Opposite TO me at the
table Is drummer from Maine. msg
inc he is working for some brewery, al
though | am not sure. He is not a gen
tieman."
There Is civil engineer who is going
up on the same boat with me 10 Chefu,
He does not look like a very virtuou-
youngster.h
That Miss Burnham Will be interested
in her chosen work j. assured by this re-
mark concerning the Japanese and
Chinese, who formed a large part Of the
second and third class passengers. Her
comparison j f.sttcring to the Chinese:
Il think shall love them. They are
more attractive to me than the japanese,
" no seem to have all OF Americas civili-
zation, even to her cigarettes,
Then a. the steamer nears land Miss
Burnhsm's mind turns TO the work be
fore her She writes: There is a great
deal OF curiosity in my mind now for the
unknown life that is before me. The
first introduction TO China is not yet, but
Japan, her more energetic cousin, is be-
fore me"
In a later letter, Miss Burnham tells OF
a visit to the Met hodist mission school at
Yokohama, Japan.
the interior is furnished Tor rat her is
not furnished, for Japanese houses are
very scantily furnished). Their tables
are Just high enough for them to sit on
the floor. Their bed is blanket which
is rolled up in the day time and put In
closet. The girls sleeping rooms had just
one little desk for furnishings; the din
ing room three long tables; the reception
room a vase and table.
The floors, which are used for seats,
are very soft; they are covered with mat
ting which is padded in squares about
yard wide. This gives the room "a check
err board appearance. The soitness and
daintiness are quite surprising.
The grounds about the buildings are
very pretty. There is deepness to the
green that is new TO Us Americans"
In closing Miss Burnham thus EXPRESSES
a feeling which has come to all travellers
far away from home:
1T is SO strange that this is /, SO far
away among strange people"