The Atlanta constitution., 1900-07-09
40 SourelaDd 9ye.. 9tIaDea. Ga.

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and women smoke and drink I'm the first
class coach and IL Is there that some of
the most wanton scenes take place. But
this Is not about my Sunday school. IS
1T Well. there are fifteen children that
come regularly and over thirty who have
books and come when they can OF the no.
ton strikes them. The Buddhists have
started a sewing school for Sunday morn
ing and that takes some nice girls did
have. You see the girls knowledge of
sewing has a great deal to do with he-
getting married and that is the greatest
end and aim OF Japanese families-to mar
~ of the girls
There are some such interesting chill
dren. They average about like the chill
dren I'm America / believe their memo
ries are better. but II is at the expense
OF their reasoning powers. This language
IS a fearful tax on the memory. There
are thousands of things that must be
memOrized. That sounds like exaggera-
tion. but when 1 tell you that We must
memorize 80 characters the first year.
$50 the next and a thousand the next. and
50 on. you can see what the natives must
have from childhood.
There are two little girls who have never
missed one time. They are stolid looking
children. but they learn all right and
generally answer. a trait we have to culti-
vate. About four months ago / noticed
the round-shaved spot on the youngest
sisters head was a little sore. BY next
Sunday Il was pretty bad; then for a time
or two I did not notice II. as she sat
further away. After that II was as large
as a silver dollar and seemed deep. 1
got troubled and suggested TO my japanese
helper that We take some medicine to
use on IT
Why" she said "they make Il sore"
And I've since been told that the poor
little children are bound TO be n mass OF
sores any way: therefore. q deep sore spot
is made. In order TO get the bad blood
out OF the system. Truly the sins OF the
parents are visited upon the children. In
Sunday schools OF this sort one cannot
have lesson books. for the lesson must be
adapted 20 the crowd. We tell them the
stories of the Old Testament and about
Jesus; how the world was created: ask
them questions and teach them the differ
ence between the gods OF wood and stone
and Jehovah. These children know the
Lords Prayer. FIVE songs and a number
Of verses from the Bible.
Every Sunday when | get off the train
end see sometimes one. and sometimes
half a dozen children waiting for me.
feel reproached because 10 was such an
effort TO get there. The train leaves a
little after 2. My japanese helper and
I always take q lunch. We have the chill
dren with US until noon. Then. after
dinner. If II is cold we sit over the little
charcoal fire until half-past 1. We have
to get In the train then. or perhaps miss
a seat The train waits there Until after
?. so II f. nearly half-past 3 when We get
home In pleasant weather we walk
seN en- miles and half and get kurumas
for the rest Of the way. and that brings
Us home at 3. Some of you may say II
IS un-Christian to ride on the sabbath.
Well. that question seems merged into
tho greater one. "How shall these people
know Of God and JesusT' There is no
body TO go on any day except Sunday,
and It is rather far To walk there and
back. My helper and give out tracts TO
tho people on tho train. and some time
will tell YOU the questions and CONVEX
saticns that these trasss call forth.
We are told 10 SOW beside all waters.
and when q priest sits near me he gets
a ITact. too. Believe and worship the
true and living God " is one tract. and
why 10 you object 10 ChristianityY' Is
another that / give out every Sunday.
The latter tells the people or the good
tliT Ks they have accepted from foreign
ers and why not At least honestly inVes-
tIgate Christianity
Lar me! / believe 7 began this letter
with ghe promise % tell " Il OF the Hat
sukaichi Sunday school When l tell you
that every thing L write Is interrupted
written Ia odd moments half an hour be-
fore school. "A few minutes At noon, and
4 few lines before the retiring len at
ni.ht. yOfI will pardon all that seems 0is-
Connected I am quite sure
About the time you are going TO bed on
Saturday nights our Sunday begins.
\ ant each one to please remember TINT
and pray that our words may be from
G.d. THAT all We do and teach may
have Gods blessings. that the children
I'm the Sunday schools and the parents at
hCme may bc cony srted from their Idols
aud superstitions. Ask this believing and
such a mighty intercession Will besiege
tho throne Of grace that Japan will sure
IL see ami believe.
Praying that the God OF peace may en-
fold You in His mantle OF love and that
ycur lives may be spent in His service.
1 am faithfully yours,
LIZZIE o. THOMAS.
Hiroshima. Japan.